DEI Holdings
DEI Holdings is the Vista, California-based parent company of several brands of consumer audio electronics and vehicle security/remote start systems. DEI Holdings is owned by New York City and Boston-based private equity firm Charlesbank Capital Partners. History. The company that became DEI Holdings was founded by future US Representative Darrell Issa and his wife Kathy in 1982 as Directed Electronics, with Darrell Issa serving as the first CEO. In 2000, Darrell Issa was elected to the House of Representatives, and Jim Minarik replaced him as CEO. In 2004, the firm bought speaker company Definitive Technology ; in 2006, it bought Polk Audio. In 2008, the companies adapted a holding company strategy, and their parent became DEI Holdings, Inc. In 2011, the company was bought by private equity firm Charlesbank Capital Partners. In April 2013, the company combined Polk, Definitive Technology and the Boom Movement brands into a new division called Sound United. In August 2016, Kevin Duffy was named the company's CEO, replacing retiring CEO Jim Minarik. In March 2017, the Sound United audio division acquired New Jersey-based consumer electronics company D+M Group, whose various brands included Denon, HEOS by Denon, Marantz, and Boston  Acoustics. At the time, D+M was the world's largest supplier of audio/video receivers. In October 2020 Sound United LLC acquired Bowers & Wilkins. In March 2021 Sound United LLC acquired Australia's leading importer and distributor of premium home entertainment systems QualiFi Pty Ltd. QualiFi Pty Ltd was the Australian importer and distributor for Blustream, Denon, Elan, Forte, Furman, HEOS, Jamo, Klipsch, Marantz, Niles, Stealth Acoustics, Sunfire, Thorens and Xantech brands of high-quality Home Entertainment components and systems. Australian-owned QualiFi was based in Mt. Waverley, Victoria and incorporates a fully equipped Service Department for the servicing and  repair of all products distributed by them. Brands. DEI's Sound United organization is an audio electronics division which includes Denon, Marantz, Boston Acoustics, and HEOS by Denon (under D+M Group); Polk Audio; and Definitive Technology, Bowers & Wilkins.