Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (KKR) and the Investment bank Goldman Sachs have taken over the American electronic company Harman International Industries for approximately 7.8 bn US$. Harman is active primarily in the Audio sector. Included in this group are the Austrian microphone and earphone manufacturer AKG, the German car radio company Becker and the hi-fi equipment manufacturer Harman Kardon and JBL as well as the real-time software specialist QNX in Canada.

In 2006 Harman achieved a turnover of 3.2 bn US$ and made a profit of 255 M US$. Dinesh Paliwal (49) has been named as the new chief from the 1st of July 2007. He comes from ABB and replaces the current interim CEO and company founder Sidney Harman.