Sound deal bang on

Danish high-end stereo and television maker Bang & Olufsen will cooperate with Aston Martin to deliver audio systems for the British maker of luxury and performance cars.

Bang & Olufsen said the deal was expected to have a positive effect on its results in the coming years, but its shares fell as much as 4 per cent on disappointment the deal was not with a larger manufacturer. The Danish firm already has a similar contract with Germany's Audi.

Jyske Bank said the total yearly sales of Aston Martins were one-third of those of Audi's top A8 model, meaning the contract would have limited economic value for Bang & Olufsen.

Jyske said it had hoped Bang & Olufsen would announce Mercedes-Benz as its new partner, and that shares in the Danish firm had risen over several days on expectations of a deal with a larger producer.

- REUTERS