HARMAN International Industries, Incorporated Acquires Martin Professional A/S

Christian Engsted (Martin), Blake Augsburger (HARMAN), Jens Bjerg Sørensen (Schouw & Co.)

We are pleased to inform you that Schouw & Co., parent company of Martin Professional, has entered into an agreement with the global infotainment and audio company HARMAN International Industries to sell Martin to HARMAN. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals, and is expected to close in Q1 2013.

Through this new combination of two worldwide industry leaders, HARMAN and Martin are convinced that their comprehensive offering of audio, lighting and video solutions for the live stage and events, as well as permanent venues and installations, will provide new, exciting opportunities and will take customer satisfaction to even higher levels.

This transaction will create a One-Stop-Shop for the professional entertainment market. Adding Martin to HARMAN’s USD $4.4 billion organization and combining two of the largest R&D budgets in the audio and entertainment lighting industry will enable the companies to grow and improve the lighting and video product offering to the benefit of all existing and new customers.

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The companies are confident that not only will they cement their respective positions in their industries, but will additionally and not least make their customers more successful by providing new, innovative and improved products, services and solutions in the future.

Blake Augsburger, Executive Vice President and President of the HARMAN Professional Division, is looking forward to welcoming Martin to HARMAN and states: “Martin product lines are an excellent complement to our professional audio business. After the transaction closes, we will be able to offer a full line-up of audio, lighting and video solutions for the live stage as well as permanent venues and installations.”

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Christian Engsted, CEO of Martin Professional commented: “We very much look forward to exploring the mutual benefits this change in ownership offers and continuing to develop our business relationship with our customers and partners across the globe.”

Martin Professional
Founded in 1987 and headquartered in Aarhus, Denmark, Martin Professional is a world leader in the creation of dynamic lighting solutions for the entertainment, architectural, and commercial sectors. Martin also offers a range of advanced lighting controllers and media servers, as well as a complete line of smoke machines as a complement to intelligent lighting. The company operates the industry’s most complete and capable distributor network with local partners in nearly 100 countries.

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HARMAN designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of audio and infotainment solutions for the automotive, consumer and professional markets — supported by 15 leading brands, including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon® and Mark Levinson®. The Company is admired by audiophiles across multiple generations and supports leading professional entertainers and the venues where they perform. More than 25 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems. HARMAN has a workforce of about 13,900 people across the Americas, Europe and Asia, and reported net sales of $4.4 billion for year ended June 30, 2012.