NEP Acquires Outside Broadcast and RecordLab

NEP Group Inc. acquired Outside Broadcast NV and RecordLab TV & Media GmbH (“RecordLab”).  The transaction was finalized on April 30.  Financial terms were not disclosed.  This transaction brings one of Europe’s leading providers of solutions for outside broadcast, studio production, ENG, news crews and post production into NEP’s worldwide network of brands.

NEP is a leading worldwide provider of outsourced solutions to the broadcast and live event industries, offering technical services for outside broadcast, studio production, video display, host broadcasting and post production.  Headquartered in the United States, NEP has offices in the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Germany, Finland, Switzerland, Dubai, and Australia. The acquisition of Outside Broadcast expands NEP’s reach right into the heart of Europe and adds greatly to their worldwide pool of resources.

“Outside Broadcast has a fantastic reputation in Europe.  I am excited for Managing Director Timo Koch and his entire team to join the NEP worldwide network,” says NEP’s CEO, Kevin Rabbitt.  “This deal will greatly expand NEP’s presence in Europe, including Germany – which we view as a very important market – and offer a great opportunity for us to work with Timo to continue to grow Outside Broadcast as part of NEP.”

Outside Broadcast is one of Europe’s leading providers of solutions for outside broadcast.  In addition, they offer studio production through their Insight Studios and ENG, news crews and post-production throughMediasense.  Based in Belgium, Outside Broadcast services clients across the European broadcast and corporate industries.  Based in Germany, RecordLab provides outside broadcast solutions for the sports and entertainment industries.

“We are thrilled to become part of NEP.  Their worldwide presence and outstanding depth of resources will give us a tremendous platform to continue our growth in Europe,” said Outside Broadcast Managing Director,Timo Koch.  “I am excited to explore the opportunities that this will offer to our staff and our clients, both from Outside Broadcast and RecordLab.”

This transaction will be finalized tomorrow in conjunction with NEP’s acquisition of Mediatec, which was announced earlier this month.  With Mediatec, Outside Broadcast and RecordLab now part of NEP, the company offers over 110 high-definition (HD) outside broadcast units; HD flypacks, satellite uplink trucks; smaller camera systems and other audio visual packages; specialty and wireless cameras; post-production facilities in Dublin, Oslo, Helsinki, Zurich, Munich and Leuven (Rotselaar); studio facilities in Los Angeles, New York, Connecticut, London, Sydney, Melbourne, Oslo, Helsinki and Brussels (Londerzeel); thousands of plasma, LED, and projection video display solutions; a fleet of mobile LED trucks across North America andEurope; as well as an industry-leading team of engineers and technical experts.

Previous to this transaction, Outside Broadcast was majority-owned by BNP Paribas Fortis Private Equity Expansion NV (“BNPPFPE”) since the management buy-out transaction by Timo Koch in 2006. BNPPFPE further supported the growth of the company through a selective buy-and-build strategy in which Mediasense, Insight Studios and RecordLab were acquired.

Through this transaction, NEP acquired both Outside Broadcast and RecordLab entirely.  NEP is majority-owned by Crestview Partners, with a significant ownership stake held by NEP’s management team.