NEP Acquires Outside Broadcast and RecordLab

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 through Mediasense. 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 and Europe; as well as an industry-leading team of engineers and technical experts.

Background
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.

About Outside Broadcast NV and RecordLab TV & Media GmbH
Outside Broadcast NV, established in 1989, is a technical service provider for the broadcast industry. It employs 76 TV-professionals and owns five HD outside broadcast units. With these resources, the company services clients in Belgium as well as throughout Europe. Over the years, it has built up an international portfolio of clients. RecordLab is a young subsidiary of Outside Broadcast, based in Cologne (Germany) with exactly the same business, but focussed on the German and Austrian market. For more information, visit: www.outside-broadcast.be and www.recordlab.de.

About NEP

With the world’s most advanced equipment, largest fleet of mobile units and global production studios to suit every genre, NEP enables its clients to execute, deliver, and display exceptional productions on any platform around the world. For more than 30 years, NEP has ensured its clients’ success by delivering superior service and building lasting relationships with a passion for continuous innovation. NEP’s talented staff is committed to acting with integrity and working as a team to deliver comprehensive solutions for remote production, studio production, video display and technical services for host broadcasting that set the global industry standard. For more information, visit www.nepinc.com.