Arqiva To Acquire BT's Satellite Broadcast Business

Arqiva has announced the signing of a Sale & Purchase Agreement (SPA) with BT to acquire the full-time service components of BT's Satellite Broadcast Services business for £25 million.
The deal, which is agreed, subject to regulatory approval, will see Arqiva acquire customers and operations in France and the USA. Included are several long-term customer contracts, operations and personnel located in the USA, France, Italy and the Netherlands, as well as the UK. Deal completion is subject to regulatory approval in the UK and Germany.
BT's Satellite Broadcast Services business currently provides both full-time and occasional-use satellite services from six teleports, three of which are in the UK, two in the US and one in France. Arqiva will acquire the full-time business, including the US and French teleports and one in the UK, while BT will retain the occasional-use part of the business.
Nick Thompson, Managing Director of Arqiva's Satellite Media Solutions division, said: "This acquisition gives us an international footprint with a significant presence in France and the US as well as increasing the scale of our activities in the UK. It will give us improved satellite reach and the ability to serve customers on a world-wide basis. It is an important strategic step for Arqiva."
Barry Bonnett, CEO of BT Media & Broadcast, added: "We're delighted to have reached this agreement with Arqiva and believe it's an excellent outcome for customers and staff alike. This is core business for Arqiva and they have previously demonstrated successful integration capabilities. A feature of the deal is that Arqiva will become a partner to BT in providing Satellite Broadcast Services to integrate into media solutions for our customers. We expect a smooth transition with no disruption for customers and excellent prospects for staff transferring."
(DS)