Amplifon falls after pricey GN Hearing deal

GN Store Nord A/S

16/03/2026 09:05

** Shares in Italy's Amplifon AMPF.MI fall around 6.5% after the hearing aid maker announced the acquisition of GN Store Nord's GN.CO hearing business for 2.3 billion euros ($2.6 billion)

** Shares trade at their lowest levels since February 2017 and are among the biggest losers of Europe's STOXX 600 index .STOXX

** "The valuation isn't cheap and implies a significant business change for the group, which has always denied the possibility of upstream integration," an analyst who asked not to be named told Reuters

** However, the transaction represents Amplifon's first step in addressing the structural changes in the industry, the analyst said, calling this "a necessary step for the transformation that should allow the group to have greater control over its technology"

** GN Store Nord shares soar around 35% after the announcement

** Including Monday's fall, Amplifon has dropped around 29% YTD​

($1 = 0.8744 euros)

(Reporting by Mirko Miorelli)

((Mirko.miorelli@thomsonreuters.com))