Sonova
| Type | Public |
|---|---|
| Traded as | SIX: SOON |
| Industry | Hearing instruments |
| Founded | 1947 (company), 1985 (holding) |
| Headquarters | Stäfa, Switzerland |
| Key people | Robert F. Spoerry, Chairman William D. Dearstyne, Vice-Chairman Lukas Braunschweiler, CEO |
| Products | Various |
| Revenue | 1.073 Bil. CHF (2006/2007) |
| Employees | 5,339 (2011) |
| Website | www.sonova.com www.phonak.com www.phonak-communications.com |
Sonova (Sonova Holding AG) – till 31 July 2007 Phonak (Phonak Holding AG) – is a Swiss company that specializes in hearing and wireless systems. The Sonova Group consists of four divisions - Phonak Hearing Systems, Unitron Hearing, Phonak Communications and Advanced Bionics, Connect Hearing Australia.
On August 1, 2007 Phonak AG officially changed its name to Sonova Holding AG.
Sonova, Phonak traces its roots back to the "AG für Elektroakustik" which was founded in 1947. The company was bought by Ernst Rihs in 1965. As of September 2007, the group employed about 4,200 employees worldwide.
Phonak was the title sponsor of the UCI ProTour team Phonak Hearing Systems, active between 2002 and 2006.
On October 2, 2006, the Phonak Group agreed to a share-purchase agreement with GN ReSound in an acquisition worth a total of $2.65 billion. However, European regulatory agencies blocked the merger bringing an end to a period of large scale consolidation within the industry [1].
In the fall of 2006, Phonak launched the initiative "Hear the World" which creates awareness for the topic of hearing and hearing loss and promotes good hearing across the planet. The goal of Hear the World is to educate the public about the importance of hearing, the social and emotional implications of hearing loss, and the available solutions for those with hearing impairment. World renowned musicians such as Plácido Domingo, the Vienna Philharmonic, Bryan Adams, and Joss Stone support Hear the World as ambassadors.
The company produces the following products:
- Hearing aids and assistive devices
- Wireless communication (FM) systems
- Hearing protection devices
- Cochlear implants
- Covert communication systems and accessories
- Tour guiding systems
[edit] External links
- Official websites: www.sonova.com / www.phonak.com / www.phonak-communications.com
- Verve Hearing Aids
- Hear the World initiative website
