SES has bought Israel-headquartered digital media services company RR Media for $242m (£175m) and plans to merge it with its own SES Platform Services division.
RR Media’s Europe Media Centre is based in North Acton, London.
Ayal Shiran, the chairman of RR Media’s board of directors, said the acquisition would create a “global digital media services powerhouse”.
The deal, which provides a 52% premium on RR Media’s share price, has been approved by the company’s directors but is subject to regulatory approvals.
Avi Cohen, the current chief executive of RR Media, who will head up the combined company, said: “With the combined infrastructure and industry expertise of SES Platform Services and RR Media, the new organisation will have the capability to deliver innovative solutions to upper tier clients, emerging markets and global customers.”
On completion of the deal, the newly combined organisation is promising to offer “full continuity and enhanced service to existing customers” of both companies.
SES Platform Services chief executive Wilfried Urner added: “RR Media has successfully developed the capability to manage and deliver premium content effectively, helping its customers to reach a global audience over multiple satellite, cable TV, IPTV, online and mobile platforms. SES, as the largest global platform for video in terms of reach and channels, adds global scale and considerable insights from the successful development of SES PS in Europe.”
At the same time, former WRN Broadcast chief executive David Treadway has been appointed as joint managing director of RR Media in Europe.
RR Media (formerly RRsat Global Communications Network) acquired Acton-based content services firm JCA in 2013.
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