MBL Seeks Investors After Filing for Insolvency

[Nikhil]

MBL Seeks Investors After Filing for Insolvency

High-end speaker and audio electronics maker MBL—best known for its groundbreaking Radialstrahler loudspeakers—has hit a financial rough patch. The Berlin-based company filed for insolvency on May 27, 2025, and is now actively seeking investors.

www.stereophile.com

High-end speaker and audio electronics maker MBL—best known for its groundbreaking Radialstrahler loudspeakers—has hit a financial rough patch. The Berlin-based company filed for insolvency on May 27, 2025, and is now actively seeking investors.

The court tapped restructuring expert Frank Brachwitz of PLUTA Rechtsanwalts GmbH as provisional insolvency administrator. MBL says it's business as usual: manufacturing and sales are ongoing, and the roughly 50 employees across its two German locations are still getting paid thanks to Germany's insolvency fund. MBL's U.S. branch isn't affected.

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[Beast_of_burden]

Beyerdynamic sold to Chinese. Chinese might not be interested in this uber niche brand.

 

[Mayasandra_l]

Wonder how such expensive brands survive an economic downturn..

Hang On-----Is the downturn round the corner??

 

[sidvee]

Beyerdynamic sold to Chinese. Chinese might not be interested in this uber niche brand.

mbl has a new owner, says future is secure | Stereophile.com

German speaker and electronics manufacturer MBL Akustikgeräte has been acquired by MBL International GmbH, a new subsidiary of China’s Chow Tai Seng. MBL says the deal secures the company's long-term future and is a step toward resolving ongoing insolvency proceedings. Chow Tai Seng, whose core...

www.stereophile.com

Cheers,
Sid

 

[Beast_of_burden]

I had forgotten about my post , that didn’t age well. When there are no takers the Chinese seem to be the only ones to come forward.

On related news, Sound United sold to Harman at a significant loss. Auralic has shut down citing Tariffs as the main reason for a 80% drop in sales. Tough times ahead for the industry.

 

[sidvee]

I had forgotten about my post , that didn’t age well. When there are no takers the Chinese seem to be the only ones to come forward.

On related news, Sound United sold to Harman at a significant loss. Auralic has shut down citing Tariffs as the main reason for a 80% drop in sales. Tough times ahead for the industry.

I wonder, though, if MBL will survive. In this case the Chinese buyer is also distributor of the brand and a proclaimed fan of MBL, though his main business is jewellery. So it seems more like a passion buy rather than something that will make proper business sense. Hopefully I am wrong. Dartzeel is another high end brand that's in trouble in addition to ones you mentioned. I am sure there are many more in trouble (not yet come to light), especially due to the US tarrifs - I would be concerned with Swiss brands in particular (Dartzeel is Swiss), like CH Precision, Weiss, Piega etc. I think Nagra may be well insulated, but not sure.
Cheers,
Sid

 

[Beast_of_burden]

Chinese strategy acquiring western brands is well worn. MG and Volvo are examples where the Chinese are able to sustain the brands. Audiolab, wharfedale, Quad, Mission, castle and most notably Luxman are owned by IAG. KEF too sold. One could say these brands have been revived under Chinese ownership. Even non Chinese owned brands like Tannoy, Klipsch et al, almost everything is made in China. Which means tarriffs are going to hurt the industry.

Uber luxury brands are different, most rarely survive ownership beyond the founders. Most have revenue in the tens of millions and barely profitable. Most sustained by near zero interest rates and the US market. Consolidation progressing rapidly.