Focal and Naim to Get a New Owner as Barco Moves Into High-End Audio

Belgian technology giant Barco is acquiring the parent company behind two of hi-fi’s most respected brands in a €135 million deal aimed at creating fully integrated audiovisual systems.

Two iconic names in high-end audio — Focal and Naim Audio — are about to change ownership.

Their parent company VerVent Audio Holding has reached an agreement to be acquired by Barco, a global leader in professional visualisation, cinema projection and collaboration technology.

The deal, valued at around €135 million, marks a significant move by Barco to expand beyond video and display technologies into high-end consumer and professional audio.

A Strategic Move Into Audio

Barco is best known for its cinema projectors, medical displays and enterprise visualisation systems, technologies widely used in cinemas, hospitals and large corporate environments.

With this acquisition, the company plans to combine its expertise in visual technologies with premium sound systems.

According to Barco CEO An Steegen, the move is part of a broader ambition to create fully integrated audiovisual experiences where sound and image work seamlessly together.

In practical terms, that could mean new opportunities for integrated solutions in areas such as:

• Luxury home cinema systems

• Professional cinema installations

• Corporate and public presentation spaces

• High-end residential AV setups

  
  

The addition of Focal and Naim strengthens Barco’s ability to deliver complete audio-visual ecosystems, rather than just display hardware.

What VerVent Brings to the Table

The acquisition includes the entirety of VerVent Audio Holding, a Franco-British audio group headquartered in Saint-Étienne, France.

Through its brands, VerVent produces a wide range of audio products including:

• High-end loudspeakers

• Premium headphones

• Studio monitors

• Wireless music systems

• Automotive and yacht audio systems

• Custom installation and home theatre solutions

  
  

Its products are distributed globally through more than 80 branded boutiques and thousands of retail outlets worldwide.

Financially, VerVent generates roughly €110 million in annual revenue, making it a relatively small but highly specialised addition to Barco’s much larger technology portfolio.

The Brands at the Heart of the Deal

The two brands most familiar to audiophiles are, of course, Focal and Naim.

Focal

Founded in 1979, Focal has built a reputation for high-performance loudspeakers and headphones, including flagship products such as:

• Focal Stellia

• Focal Bathys

  
  

The company is known for designing and manufacturing many of its speaker components in-house in France, including proprietary drivers and beryllium tweeters.

Naim Audio

Founded in 1973 in Salisbury, England, Naim is renowned for high-end amplification and streaming systems.

Its lineup ranges from traditional hi-fi separates like the Naim NAIT 50 to modern streaming systems such as the Naim Uniti Atom and wireless speakers like the Naim Mu-so 2.

The two companies have worked closely together for years under the VerVent umbrella, combining Focal’s speaker expertise with Naim’s electronics and streaming platform.

Why Barco Wants Premium Audio

Barco’s move reflects a broader trend in the AV industry toward fully integrated entertainment ecosystems.

The global premium audio market — including audiophile hi-fi systems and high-end home cinema — is estimated to exceed €3 billion, driven by growing interest in immersive audio and connected entertainment products.

By acquiring VerVent, Barco can potentially offer complete solutions combining projection, display and high-end audio, especially in:

• Home cinema installations

• Professional cinema systems

• Luxury residential AV

• Commercial and public entertainment spaces

  
  

After the acquisition closes, VerVent will become part of Barco’s Entertainment division, which already focuses on cinema and immersive visual technologies.

What Might Change — and What Might Not

For now, Barco says it intends to support VerVent’s existing strategy, which focuses on:

• Premium high-end audio positioning

• Expansion of digital and connected products

• Continued development of active speakers and streaming systems

• Leveraging its global retail network

  
  

The transaction has not yet been fully completed and still requires regulatory approvals and consultation with employee representatives before closing.

Barco has also reaffirmed its long-term goal of achieving a 15% EBITDA margin by 2028, suggesting the acquisition will need to contribute to future profitability.

What This Means for the Hi-Fi Industry

Industry observers see the deal as another sign of ongoing consolidation in high-end audio, where traditional hi-fi brands increasingly become part of larger technology groups.

However, the strategic logic is clearer than it might initially appear.

Barco already dominates in professional visualisation and cinema projection. By adding premium audio brands like Focal and Naim, the company can move closer to delivering complete audiovisual solutions under a single umbrella.

Whether this ultimately leads to new product categories — such as integrated high-end home cinema systems combining Barco projection with Focal and Naim audio — remains to be seen.

Final Thoughts

For audiophiles, the news may come as a surprise: a company known primarily for medical displays and cinema projectors is becoming the owner of two of Europe’s most respected hi-fi brands.

But strategically, the move reflects a growing convergence between video, audio and immersive entertainment technologies.

If Barco follows through on its vision, the future could see Focal speakers and Naim electronics paired directly with Barco’s visual systems, creating tightly integrated audiovisual platforms for both home and professional environments.

For now, though, the message from all sides is reassuring: business continues as usual — at least in the short term.