The Australian company The Freedman Group has acquired U.S. manufacturer Lectrosonics. The Freedman Group is the parent company of the audio brand RØDE.
Who is The Freedman Group?
The Freedman Group was founded by Peter Freedman in Sydney, Australia, in 1989. It’s now a global leader in professional audio and video production solutions. Many video makers will be familiar with RØDE microphones and audio devices. The Freedman Group also produces Mackie live performance sound equipment and Aphex signal processing technology. Other brands include SoundField ambisonic microphone systems, Event studio monitors and Crate guitar amplifiers.
Who is Lectrosonics?
Lectrosonics is a globally renowned U.S. manufacturer of UHF professional wireless audio systems. The company was founded in 1971 and is headquartered in New Mexico. It’s been at the forefront of wireless audio technology for film, broadcast and high-end theatre for over 50 years. Also, in 2017, Lectrosonics received an Academy Award for its Digital Wireless Hybrid Technology.
Peter Freedman AM, the founder and owner of the Freedman Group said, “We are thrilled to welcome Lectrosonics to The Freedman Group family. For decades, Lectrosonics has been synonymous with the highest possible performance along with unmatched reliability and innovation in professional wireless audio. Their uncompromising commitment to quality perfectly aligns with our own values and strengthens our position as a global leader in professional audio solutions.”
Freedman went on to say, “I am beyond excited and genuinely humbled that Lectrosonics is joining our team. They are without doubt the world’s leader in wireless communication for the entertainment and broadcast markets. Being able to now offer our customers the finest sounding wireless technology in the world is, without exaggeration, something that is very special to me.”
Exciting new chapter
Wes Herron, President of Lectrosonics, stated, “Joining The Freedman Group represents an exciting new chapter for Lectrosonics. With its global reach and shared passion for audio excellence and in-house manufacturing, we look forward to accelerating product development and expanding our market presence while maintaining the quality and reliability our customers expect. Over the years, we’ve garnered interest from some of the biggest names in the global audio industry, but RØDE was the only one that truly felt like the right fit.”
What next?
The financial terms of the acquisition have been kept under wraps. However, it has been confirmed that the deal includes the Lectrosonics brand and its complete intellectual property portfolio. It also covers the company’s factory buildings in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, along with production machinery and equipment. In addition, Lectrosonics will continue to operate from its existing facilities in New Mexico, keeping the current management team remaining in place to ensure continuity.
What we think
Although you may not know the name of The Freedman Group, you will know many of its brands. Similarly, in the film, broadcast and theatre world, Lectrosonics is equally well regarded. Both companies are also known for their innovative products. As such, their partnership should deliver more exciting new technologies in the future. Additionally, The Freedman Group will benefit from having a U.S.-based presence, which might help to mitigate the impact of the current array of import tariffs.
