Bose buys Skullcandy to widen its consumer audio brand portfolio

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Bose Corporation announced on October 21, 2026, that it has acquired Skullcandy, the lifestyle audio brand founded in 2003 in Park City, Utah. Bose bought the company from a fund managed by Mill Road Capital Management LLC, a private investment firm based in Connecticut. Jones Day acted as legal counsel to Bose. The financial and other terms of the transaction were not disclosed and, according to the announcement, will remain confidential.

From partnership to ownership

The deal follows a multi-year partnership between the two companies, under which Sound by Bose technology was already used in Skullcandy earbuds and headphones. Bose said the companies plan to combine its audio expertise, technology and global reach with Skullcandy's design work, knowledge of its consumers and community connections to develop new products and accelerate growth. The company describes the acquisition as part of its evolution into a multi-brand products and technology company. Its portfolio already includes the Bose, McIntosh and Sonus faber brands.

Skullcandy will remain a separate brand within Bose's Premium Consumer Audio business and will continue to be based in Park City. According to Bose, Skullcandy's roots in boardsports and its links with communities in music, gaming and fitness give Bose new ways to reach consumers in areas where it has less presence today. Bose plans to invest in Skullcandy's growth by providing access to technology, resources, global distribution and commercial relationships, while leaving the brand free to develop in line with its own identity.

What the executives said

Lila Snyder, chief executive officer of Bose Corporation, said the company is expanding how it reaches listeners through its own products, technology partnerships and a growing portfolio of brands. She pointed to the company's status as a privately held business: "As a privately held company, we have the freedom to make bold, long-term investments in opportunities we believe in, and Skullcandy is a great example of that." Skullcandy chief executive Brian Garofalow said joining Bose gives the brand the opportunity to bring more of Bose's audio expertise and technology into its products. He described the transaction as a win for Skullcandy and its fans.

Skullcandy makes headphones, earbuds and speakers and has its origins in action sports culture. Bose, which has operated for more than 60 years, makes premium and luxury audio products for the home, on the go and in the car, and also works with companies in other industries to bring its audio technology into their products and platforms.

Source: Bose Corporation Acquires Skullcandy, Expanding Its Consumer Audio Portfolio to Reach New Audiences