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13/01/2022 | 17:30 CET | Company announcement

Ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR

Sonova to increase presence in US market: Acquisition of leading audiological care network

Stäfa (Switzerland), January 13, 2022 – Sonova Holding AG, a leading provider of hearing care solutions, has signed an agreement to acquire Alpaca Audiology, one of the largest independent networks of audiological care clinics in the US. Founded in 2011, the company has over 500 employees and operates around 220 clinics across the country. The purchase price amounts to USD 310 million (CHF 285 million) on a cash and debt free basis and will be financed through the existing cash balance. The transaction is pending regulatory approval and expected to close before the end of financial year 2021/22.

Highlights:

  • The acquisition significantly expands Sonova’s direct consumer access in the US market
  • Alpaca’s network of clinics in the US Northeast, Midwest and South and its offering of state-of-the-art hearing health services is highly complementary to Sonova’s existing store footprint in the country
  • Alpaca is expected to contribute annual revenues of around USD 120 million (CHF 110 million) and achieve an EBITDA margin (adjusted for transaction and integration costs) in the high teens
  • Sonova expects the transaction to make a positive contribution to the earnings per share from financial year 2022/23 onwards

Arnd Kaldowski, CEO of Sonova, says: “This is an exciting step for Sonova. The addition of Alpaca Audiology to our Audiological Care business will significantly increase our presence in the US, the world’s largest audiological care market. With the acquisition, we are doubling our network in the country, strongly expanding our consumer access.” 

Sonova’s Audiological Care business offers professional audiological services through a network of more than 3,200 locations in 20 key markets worldwide. In the US, the business is mainly represented by its brand Connect Hearing, and has more than 500 employees in around 220 clinics.

Goldman Sachs International (“GSI”) acted as financial advisor to Sonova on this transaction.

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Ad hoc announcement (PDF)