Two of the most recognizable names in high-end audio are about to change hands.

Belgian technology company Barco has reached an agreement in principle to acquire VerVent Audio Holding, the parent company behind Focal and Naim, in a deal valued at approximately €135 million. If completed, the acquisition would bring the well-known hi-fi brands under the umbrella of a company better known for projection systems, visualization technology, and professional cinema equipment.

The move signals a broader shift in how companies across the AV industry are thinking about the relationship between sound and picture.

Barco, headquartered in Kortrijk, Belgium, has built its reputation around display and projection technologies used in cinemas, corporate environments, healthcare imaging, and large-scale visualization systems.

With the VerVent acquisition, the company is expanding into premium audio in a much more direct way.

VerVent Audio Holding is based in Saint-Étienne, France and oversees the Focal and Naim brands, both of which have strong reputations among hi-fi enthusiasts and custom installation professionals. Together, those brands cover a wide range of categories, including:

• High-end loudspeakers
• Integrated hi-fi systems and amplifiers
• Headphones and portable audio gear
• Studio monitors
• Automotive and marine OEM audio systems
• Custom installation and home theater products

VerVent also operates a global distribution network that includes more than 80 premium boutiques and thousands of retail sales points around the world.

Instead of building a consumer audio presence from the ground up, Barco is effectively stepping into an already well-developed ecosystem.

According to Barco, the acquisition is part of a broader plan to offer fully integrated audiovisual solutions, combining its visualization technologies with high-end audio systems.

In practical terms, that could mean tighter integration between projection systems, displays, and premium sound systems across several areas, including:

• Luxury residential home theaters
• Professional cinema environments
• High-end commercial AV installations
• Premium home entertainment systems

The idea is fairly straightforward: future AV experiences may increasingly come from companies that control both the picture and the sound, rather than treating them as separate pieces of the system.

Barco CEO An Steegen framed the deal as part of the company’s larger push into entertainment, where image and sound are designed to work together as one cohesive experience.

“Today marks an important step in Barco’s ambition to shape the future of immersive audiovisual experiences. By welcoming VerVent and its iconic Focal and Naim brands into the Barco family, we accelerate our strategy to deliver fully integrated solutions where image and sound reinforce each other seamlessly. Building on our leadership in visualization, we go all-in on Entertainment,” Steegen said.

“The addition of high‑fidelity audio strengthens the overall experience of our offering across high‑end residential and broader consumer/home entertainment environments, as well as in professional markets. This combination expands our reach, deepens our technology capabilities, and positions us to capture new opportunities across the audiovisual value chain. We are excited to embark on this next chapter together.”

The move also reflects confidence in the premium audio market.

Barco estimates the combined market for high-end consumer audio and home cinema systems at more than €3 billion, with several trends helping drive demand:

• Growing interest in immersive audio formats
• Continued growth of active and wireless speaker systems
• More integrated audio setups designed for whole-home use
• Direct-to-consumer sales through brand-owned stores and online platforms

Focal and Naim already operate in many of these areas, particularly with their loudspeakers, streaming amplifiers, and custom installation products.

If the acquisition is completed, VerVent will become part of Barco’s Entertainment division.

Barco says the plan is to continue supporting VerVent’s current strategy, which includes maintaining a premium position in the market while expanding in several directions:

• Development of digital and connected audio products
• Greater use of active speaker technologies
• Streamlining product portfolios across categories
• Expanding the reach of VerVent’s existing retail and distribution network

That approach could create new opportunities in integrated home theater systems and luxury residential installations, where Focal speakers and Naim electronics are already widely used.

At the same time, changes in ownership often raise questions among long-time hi-fi fans about how product direction and brand identity might evolve under a larger technology company.

For now, Barco says the goal is to support VerVent’s existing strategy, not replace it.

The acquisition has not been finalized.

Barco says the transaction still depends on employee consultation requirements and other customary closing conditions. Once those steps are completed, VerVent would formally join Barco’s Entertainment division.

What’s clear already is that Barco sees premium audio as a key part of its future.

And by bringing Focal and Naim into its portfolio, the company is taking a significant step toward becoming a full-spectrum AV player, one that wants to control both the picture and the sound of the experience.

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