Harman International Industries, Inc.

What does Harman International own?
Harman International owns a portfolio of approximately 15 audio and technology brands including JBL, Harman Kardon, AKG, Mark Levinson, Infinity, Revel, Lexicon, Crown, Soundcraft, Studer, dbx, AMX, and BSS Audio. The company also acquired Roon Labs in 2023, agreed to acquire Bowers & Wilkins in 2025, and acquired ZF's ADAS division in December 2025 for 1.5 billion euros.

Is Harman International publicly traded?
No. Harman International was delisted from the New York Stock Exchange following Samsung Electronics' $8 billion acquisition in March 2017. Harman now operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary. Its parent company, Samsung Electronics, trades on the Korean Exchange under ticker 005930.

Who founded Harman International?
Sidney Harman and Bernard Kardon founded the predecessor company, Harman Kardon, in 1953 in Westbury, New York. Both were engineers who had worked at the David Bogen Company. Harman International Industries was incorporated in 1980 when Sidney Harman repurchased company assets from Beatrice Foods after serving in the Carter administration.

Where is Harman International headquartered?
Harman International is headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, USA. The company maintains corporate offices and executive leadership functions in Stamford, with manufacturing facilities and research centers across the United States, China, Hungary, India, Mexico, and Germany.

How many brands does Harman International own?
Harman owns approximately 15 audio and technology brands spanning consumer audio, professional audio, and automotive audio. The most recognized brands include JBL, Harman Kardon, AKG, Mark Levinson, and Infinity. The company has expanded its portfolio through acquisitions including Roon Labs (2023), Bowers & Wilkins (2025), and ZF's ADAS division (2025).

Who owns Harman International?
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. owns Harman International as a wholly-owned subsidiary. Samsung acquired Harman in March 2017 for $8 billion in cash. Harman operates as one of four Samsung business divisions and maintains operational autonomy over its brand portfolio and product development while benefiting from Samsung's component supply chain and global resources.

How profitable is Harman under Samsung?
Harman reported FY2025 revenue of $10.9 billion with operating profit of $1.1 billion and a 9.9% operating margin. Since the 2017 acquisition, revenue has grown 2.2-fold from $7.6 billion and operating profit has grown approximately 27-fold from 57.5 billion won ($48 million). In Q4 2025, Harman posted 4.6 trillion won in consolidated revenue and 0.3 trillion won in operating profit.

Sidney Harman and Bernard Kardon founded Harman Kardon in 1953 in Westbury, New York. Both were engineers who had worked at the David Bogen Company, a manufacturer of public address systems. Harman wanted Bogen to develop high-fidelity audio for home consumers. When Bogen declined, Harman left and took Kardon with him. Each invested $5,000 in capital. Their first product was the Festival D1000, an integrated receiver that combined an AM/FM tuner, amplifier, and preamplifier in a single chassis, a novel design at the time.

Harman bought out Kardon's stake in 1956 and continued expanding the company. In 1976, Harman accepted an appointment as Under Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce under President Jimmy Carter. To avoid a conflict of interest, he sold the company to Beatrice Foods, a conglomerate that proceeded to dismantle significant portions of the business.

After leaving government service in 1980, Harman repurchased approximately 60% of the company's assets from Beatrice Foods for $55 million and established Harman International Industries. The receiver group, which had been the core of the original company, had been sold separately by Beatrice to a Japanese firm. Harman reacquired the receiver group in 1985, restoring the company to its pre-1976 form.

Harman International went public on the New York Stock Exchange in 1986. The IPO proceeds funded a series of acquisitions through the late 1980s and 1990s. The company acquired JBL (already part of the Beatrice portfolio), Infinity Systems in 1983, Soundcraft in 1988, dbx, Studer, Lexicon, AKG, BSS Audio, Crown International in 2000, and Mark Levinson. These acquisitions built a portfolio spanning consumer, professional, and automotive audio markets.

The automotive business grew significantly in the 2000s as car manufacturers sought premium branded audio systems and connected car platforms. Harman established OEM partnerships with BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, and other automakers, supplying factory-installed audio systems and infotainment platforms. This automotive focus differentiated Harman from pure consumer audio companies.

In 2017, Samsung Electronics acquired Harman International for $8 billion in cash. The deal was controversial among Samsung shareholders, who filed lawsuits opposing the acquisition. Samsung Chairman Jay Y. Lee pushed the acquisition through, declaring that Samsung's next growth engine was automotive electronics. At the time of the acquisition, Harman generated $7.6 billion in annual revenue with operating profit of 57.5 billion won ($48 million).

The acquisition has proven financially successful. By FY2025, Harman's revenue had grown to $10.9 billion with operating profit of 1.53 trillion won ($1.1 billion). Operating margin approached 10%, a meaningful profitability level. In Q4 2025, Harman posted 4.6 trillion won in consolidated revenue and 0.3 trillion won in operating profit, driven by expanded automotive product supply to European OEMs and new portable and true wireless sound product launches.

In December 2025, Harman acquired the ADAS (advanced driver assistance systems) division of German automotive electronics firm ZF for 1.5 billion euros. ZF's ADAS division ranks first globally in smart camera modules for autonomous driving. Samsung expects synergies between ZF's autonomous driving data and Harman's integrated automotive operational capabilities. In Q2 2026, Harman posted improved earnings on expanded automotive segment sales and strong audio sales led by portable products.

Harman's most significant corporate controversy relates to the 2017 Samsung acquisition. Samsung shareholders filed lawsuits opposing the $8 billion acquisition, arguing that the price was excessive for a company generating relatively modest operating profit at the time. The lawsuits were ultimately resolved, and the acquisition proceeded. The financial performance since 2017 has substantially validated the acquisition rationale, with operating profit growing approximately 27-fold over the decade.

Harman has not faced significant regulatory action or public controversy as a standalone entity. The company's automotive business is subject to standard automotive industry regulations including product safety certifications and supply chain compliance requirements across multiple jurisdictions. No material regulatory fines or enforcement actions have been publicly reported.