MC2 Audio and XTA Electronics To Merge
Two UK sound reinforcement concerns, amplifier manufacturer MC2 Audio and processing specialist XTA Electronics have announced a merger.
The deal has been in negotiation for three months. XTA and MC2 will retain their respective bases in Stourport-on-Severn and Honiton. Moreover, they will continue to operate as separate companies, albeit with a shared directorship that sees MC2 co-founder Ian McCarthy assume the role of overall managing director, and fellow MC2 co-founder Terry Clarke and XTA’s John Austin become technical directors.
Quested Monitoring Systems, in which McCarthy and Clarke have majority interests, is also part of the new arrangement. Roger Quested will continue as technical director at that part of the business.
XTA co-founder Andrew Grayland, however, has opted not to be a part of the combined operation, although Austin notes that he may well work for the new group on a consultancy basis in the future. His departure follows that of sales and marketing manager Guy Lewis, who recently left XTA to establish Audioforce, which assumed exclusive UK distribution responsibilities for Lab.gruppen earlier this month.
The Future: A good play between these two companys who could become much bigger as a combined entity than they could ever achieve as individuals. The sound reinforcement market is moving in the direction of DSP being included inside amplifiers so there’s obviously some serious growth potential.
More information on MC2 Audio and XTA Electronics..
