The world’s largest audio-visual integrator has changed hands, with its new majority owner hailing the “expanding market” it operates in.
US-based AVI-SPL yesterday announced it has swapped majority private equity backers, with 26North Partners replacing Marlin Equity at the helm.
Ranking 136th in Oxygen 250 2025, AVI-SPL’s UK arm generated 2024 revenues of £33.6m, according to recently filed accounts.
AVI-SPL marks 26North’s third investment by its private equity platform, following its 2024 acquisitions of ArchKey Solutions and Onelife Fitness.
In a statement, Mark Weinberg, Head of Private Equity at 26North, said AVI-SPL “exemplifies” the kind of business it seeks out.
“It operates in an expanding market, holds a leadership position, and serves a diversified, blue-chip customer base,” he said.
“World’s largest AV integration company”
According to its recent UK accounts, AVI-SPL is “the world’s largest and leading AV integration company” with 2024 revenues “expanding towards” $2bn.
It now claims to have over 4,400 employees across over 70 offices worldwide, and to have completed over 120,000 projects in more than 100 countries.
The AV market has suffered something of a come down in recent times following a post-pandemic boom, with global AV distributor Midwich characterising the market backdrop in its calendar 2024 period as “challenging”.
Citing figures from Futuresource Consulting, Midwich claimed the Pro AV distribution market endured a mid-single-digit decline last year, with several mainstream categories suffering double-digit tumbles.
Worth $325bn globally, the Pro AV market is set to grow by 5.4% per annum to 2029, Midwich added, however, citing figures from AVIXA.
Marlin invested in AVI-SPL in 2020 before merging it with its existing AV portfolio company Whitlock.
It will retain a minority stake in the Los Angeles-based outfit.
“From merging two industry leaders at the outset and subsequently working closely with the management team to build a market-leading platform organically and with acquisitions, we are proud of what we have been able to accomplish together,” stated Marlin Managing Director Alex Beregovsky.
“We are enthusiastic to continue our partnership with the team, together with 26North, to support AVI-SPL’s next chapter of growth.”
“AVI-SPL is at the forefront of redefining how organizations connect digital and physical spaces,” added 26North Managing Director Tyler Sipprelle. “Their sustained momentum reflects the company’s ability to meet the growing demand for seamless collaboration. We’re excited to support AVI-SPL as it continues to scale organically and through strategic acquisitions to better serve customers around the world.”
