Active Audio and APG form ‘Fabriqué en France’ alliance
Published: WORLD
WORLD: French loudspeaker manufacturers Active Audio and APG have formed a ‘Fabriqué en France’ alliance, with Regis Cazin of Active Audio becoming CEO of both companies. Under the terms of the agreement, Active Audio has purchased a 60 per cent majority shareholding in Paris-based APG, with the remaining 40 per cent of shares divided equally between APG’s leadership.
Formally announced at the recent Pro Light & Sound exhibition, the relationship is being presented as a partnership rather than a takeover, with Mr Cazin stressing that both companies will continue to trade as normal. ‘We have decided to invest in APG with the aim of keeping the two companies as separate entities that share a common strategy and common shareholders,’ he explained. Accordingly, the workforces of both companies are currently being expanded, while distributors will remain unaffected.
The news follows a period of change for both brands during which APG has expanded into Asia with two joint ventures, APG South East Asia in Singapore and APG North East Asia in Hong Kong. Equally, Active Audio received investment from Focal founder Jacques Mahul in December 2014. Discussions between the two brands reportedly began towards the end of 2015 and progressed rapidly due to the ‘synergies’ shared by the new partners.
‘This alliance is very exciting,’ enthused Gregory Dapsanse, now marketing and business development director for APG. ‘The two companies have the same kind of culture, size and business model. Sometimes when companies form an alliance, they are not the same size and they don’t have the same ideas and as a result some issues can arise. With APG and Active Audio, the relationship is very smooth. We are very happy to welcome Active Audio as our partner.’