French IPTV leaders add enhanced gateway capability to Pace`s converged digital
TV offering
SALTAIRE, United Kingdom–(Business Wire)–
Pace plc, the leading developer of digital TV technologies for the payTV
industry, today announced that Pace France has signed a conditional agreement to
acquire Bewan Systems SA, the Paris-based IP and cable gateways specialist. The
consideration for the acquisition, part of which is subject to achievement of
earn out targets, will be payable in cash and will not exceed €12.5 million. The
transaction is expected to be completed during the second quarter of 2010.
Bewan`s residential gateway capabilities – including expertise in xDSL and cable
DOCSIS 3.0 IP connectivity technologies – will combine with Pace`s existing
gateway business, enabling Pace to offer converged gateway and digital TV
solutions to payTV customers. Additionally, the strong relationships Bewan has
with several customers in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East will further
widen Pace`s growing global presence.
Neil Gaydon, Chief Executive Officer, Pace said; “Pace`s vision is to become a
world leader in converged digital TV entertainment. As payTV operators develop
converged home entertainment services, advanced residential gateways will become
increasingly important – both as standalone devices and integrated into set-top
box products that drive whole home networks.
“Bewan will further diversify the Pace Group`s technology and product offering,
helping deliver on our convergence vision. Bewan`s management team has built a
successful, innovative business; its technologies, intellectual property,
excellent products and highly skilled engineering teams, in combination with our
business, will further reinforce our IP connectivity capabilities.”
Pace already has an excellent pedigree in IP connectivity; Pace`s hybrid devices
include the Le Cube box for French operator, CANAL+ – Europe`s first satellite /
IP hybrid set-top box to use the Ethernet port for video-on-demand (VOD)
services – and a hybrid HD PVR for Viasat in Scandinavia and the Baltics. Pace
has also developed both set-top boxes for the UK`s BT Vision service, including
the recently launched Vision+. Pace has demonstrated early leadership in the
nascent convergence market – our Home Content Sharing product in the US was the
first commercially available platform of its type.
Eric Teissandier, Chief Executive Officer, Bewan, commented; “Pace has built a
very successful global business, with an enviable track record of delivering
technologically advanced products to many of the world`s payTV operators.
Bewan`s know-how will further enable Pace to offer a compelling converged
gateway proposition to the market; we`re excited about becoming part of it.”
About Pace plc
Pace plc (LSE:PIC) is a leading technology developer for the global payTV
industry, working across satellite, cable, IPTV and terrestrial platforms. Pace
has one of the world’s most experienced specialist engineering teams, developing
intelligent and innovative products and services for both payTV operators and
retail markets across the world.
Pace employs over 1000 people in locations around the world, including France,
the USA, India and China. Pace’s international headquarters are in Saltaire,
West Yorkshire, UK. For more information on Pace, please visit www.pace.com.
About Bewan
Founded in 1996, Bewan is a leading European supplier of secure network
solutions and unified communications, for the home and office users as well as
for Telecoms and Internet operators.
Our R&D department has mastered technologies such as xDSL, Cable, VoIP, Wi-Fi
and PLC to promote the development of interactive family applications. The
company offers a comprehensive range of easy-to-deploy hardware and software
solutions designed to accelerate the digital convergence process and allow
universal access to the Mobile Digital Home.
Today, our solutions are used daily by millions of users and around a dozen
major telecoms operators in Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
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UK
André Labadie
Pace plc
T: +44 (0) 1274 538133
E: andre.labadie@pace.com
or
France
Céline Cattoen
Pleon
T: +33 (0)1 56 02 35 12
E: celine.cattoen@pleon.com
Copyright Business Wire 2010
