Sonova

Sonova Group
Public
Traded as SIX: SOON
ISIN CH1012549785
Industry Hearing instruments
Founded 1947 (company), 1985 (holding)
Headquarters Stäfa, Switzerland
Key people
 Robert F. Spoerry, Chairman
Beat Hess, Vice-Chairman
Lukas Braunschweiler, CEO
Products Various
Brands Advanced Bionics
Phonak
Unitron
Revenue 2,071.9 Mil. CHF (2015/2016)[1]
Number of employees
 10,894 (31.03.2016)[1]
Website www.sonova.com

Sonova Holding AG (Phonak Holding AG before 1st of August 2007) is an internationally active Swiss company headquartered in Stäfa that specializes in hearing care solutions (hearing instruments, cochlear implants, wireless communication solutions). It is one of the largest providers in the sector worldwide. The group operates through its core business brands Phonak, Unitron, Hansaton, Advanced Bionics and AudioNova.

On August 1, 2007 Phonak AG officially changed its name to Sonova Holding AG.

History

A man running the New York Marathon wearing the company's Advanced Bionics brand waterproof cochlear implant

The group traces its roots back to the Zurich-based AG für Elektroakustik, which was founded in 1947. Ernst Rihs acquired a majority shareholding in 1965, renaming the company Phonak AG. His two sons, Hans-Ueli and Andy Rihs, also went on to join the firm, along with Beda Diethelm; after Ernst Rihs’ death, the two sons took over his shares while Beda Diethelm became a shareholder with equal rights.

Phonak Holding AG was founded in 1985 as a holding company for the Phonak Group. The company was floated on the SWX Swiss Exchange[2] in 1994 and renamed Sonova Holding AG on 1 August 2007, although this change applied only to the holding company; all the subsidiaries (including Phonak AG) and product names have remained unaffected.

Company

Sonova develops and markets hearing care solutions in two segments, hearing aids and cochlear implants. The Sonova Group is represented in more than 90 countries and employs 10,894 staff (figures correct as per March 2016)[1]. The company recorded sales of CHF 2,071.9 million[1] in the 2015/2016 financial year.

The Group consists of more than 30 constituent companies.[2] Its research facilities are located in Switzerland, Canada, and the USA, with manufacturing plants in Switzerland, China and Vietnam. Distribution is handled by its in-house wholesale network and independent sales partners. The Group also owns retail outlets in selected countries.

In November 2009, Sonova announced the takeover of the Advanced Bionics Corporation, which specializes in developing and manufacturing cochlear implants.[3] The purchase was successfully completed in January 2010.[4]

In March 2015, Sonova announced the takeover of Hansaton Akustik GmbH, a Hamburg-based, family-run wholesale hearing instrument company.[5] The purchase was successfully completed in April 2015.[6]

In May 2016, Sonova announced agreement to acquire AudioNova International B.V., one of Europe’s largest hearing aid retailers,[7] and successfully completed the acquisition of AudioNova in September 2016. The combination of AudioNova and Sonova creates one of the broadest hearing aid retail service networks in Europe.[8]

Social engagement and sponsoring

The Phonak Group sponsored the Phonak Cycling Team for seven years between 2000 and 2006, although its involvement in competition cycling and the successes it achieved were somewhat eclipsed by several doping affairs in which top riders from the Phonak Cycling Team were repeatedly implicated. On July 28, 2006, Phonak announced it was discontinuing its sponsorship activities in competition cycling.

In the fall of 2006, the Group’s Phonak AG subsidiary launched the Hear the World Foundation. The Foundation’s aim is to create a world in which each person has the chance of good hearing.[9]

The Foundation became a group-wide initiative of Sonova in October 2012.[10]

Brands

Sonova operates through its following core business brands:[11]

Phonak

Phonak manufactures a wide range of digital hearing instruments and integrated wireless communication systems. Phonak constantly strives to optimize the miniaturization and performance of its products.[12]

Unitron

Founded in 1964, Unitron partners with hearing care professionals to provide support for successful clinical outcomes and to enhance the patient experience with optimized products, services, and resources. Unitron sees its role as an extension of its customers’ service teams and has carved out a niche for itself within the industry for its approachability and collaborative style.[13]

Advanced Bionics

Advanced Bionics was founded in 1993 and has been a subsidiary of the Sonova Group since 2009. Advanced Bionics develops cochlear implant technology designed to help children and adults with profound hearing loss enjoy clear, high-resolution acoustics, optimized speech comprehension in noisy surroundings, and an outstanding experience of music.[14]

AudioNova Group

AudioNova Group is Sonova’s international professional service network of hearing care providers.

In addition to AudioNova the group also operates under brands such as:[15]

In 2014, Connect Hearing USA incorporated just short of 50 hearing care companies into the Connect Hearing brand, including Newport Audiology and Jones Audiology & Hearing Aid Centers.[16]


References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Annual Report Sonova 2015/16
  2. ↑ Annual Report Sonova 2012/2013
  3. ↑ Media Release 11/09/2009
  4. ↑ Sonova Media Release 01/04/2010
  5. ↑ Media Release 03/02/2015
  6. ↑ Sonova Media Release 04/16/2016
  7. ↑ Media Release 05/04/2016
  8. ↑ Media Release 09/15/2016
  9. ↑ "Corporate Social Responsibility at Sonova". Sonova.
  10. ↑ Hear The World Press Release 15.10.2012
  11. ↑ "About us: Brands". Sonova.
  12. ↑ "About Phonak". Phonak.
  13. ↑ "About Unitron". Unitron.
  14. ↑ "About us". Advanced Bionics.
  15. ↑ "Who we are". AudioNova.
  16. ↑ "Connect Hearing Rebrands Nationwide". Connect Hearing. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
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