The sale of BBC Broadcast has excited plenty of interest with a total of 18 bidders including Apax Partners, the venture capital group that is advised by former director general Greg Dyke, lining up to buy the business.
The sale of BBC Broadcast has excited plenty of interest with a total of 18 bidders including Apax Partners, the venture capital group that is advised by former director general Greg Dyke, lining up to buy the business.

The list of companies released today shows interest from both financial buyers, including Apax Partners - which has Dyke on its media advisory board - and The Carlyle Group as well as industry specialists Ascent Media Group and Thomson Technicolor. A total of eighteen bidders have been placed on the list for the BBC's commercial playout business, which is expected to gather bids of up to£150m.

The winning bidder, due to be confirmed by the end of summer, will take the reins of the BBC's channel playout and media access services - including subtitling and signing and video via mobile phone and broadband - for the remaining eight years of its contract.

Five companies chose to remain anonymous, which a BBC spokeswoman confirmed were a mix of both private equity groups and trade organisations.

The announced list of bidders include: Advent International, Apax Partners Worldwide LLP, Ascent Media Group, Bank of Scotland Corporate, Barclays Private Equity, Bridgepoint, Exponent Private Equity, HgCapital, Kleinwort Capital Limited, Montagu Private Equity, Palamon Capital Partners LP, The Carlyle Group and Thomson/Technicolor.

The 18 bidders will be cut down to a shortlist of around five by the end of May.

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