WEST PALM BEACH, FLA. — It was one of the biggest announcements, and discussion topics, to come out of the 2022 NAB Show in Las Vegas.
Thomson Broadcast signed a definitive agreement to acquire GatesAir from an affiliate of The Gores Group. The transaction was expected to close in the second half of 2022.
That’s correct. In fact, the deal closed on August 1.
As such, the venerable, 100-year-old GatesAir is now a branded unit inside France-headquartered Thomson, which maintains a U.S. presence through main offices in West Palm Beach.
Commenting on the completion of the deal, for which terms were not disclosed, Thomson Broadcast Chairman Ylias Akbaraly said, “Today opens an exciting new era in the rich history of two companies and trusted brands that have each been delighting customers for more than 100 years. Today’s announcement is also exciting for our customers and employees. The combined force of these ideal strategic partners will support each other’s growth and the growth of the industry at large.”
Akbaraly also believes that, with the purchase, “Thomson Broadcast is perfectly positioned to ensure the success of GatesAir’s operations over the long term. We are convinced that this great combination will create a very strong platform with improved reach and value-added solutions and services delivered to our customers.”
While GatesAir in April celebrated a century of service, Thomson Broadcast also has 100 years of experience, and today is known for its presence in the fields of Digital Terrestrial Transmission (DTV) and AM Radio, including DRM.
“Yesterday’s milestone marks the completion of a robust process that evaluated strategic options for GatesAir to accelerate our strong growth to date,” said Bruce D. Swail, who remains CEO of GatesAir. “We are delighted with the final outcome of the acquisition process and look forward to working together with our new partners for this next chapter in our eventful story.”
Aby Alexander, who is based in Florida but is presently in Jamaica for ATSC build-out and testing projects, added, “GatesAir and Thomson Broadcast combine century-old dedication to the broadcast industry to innovate and bring cutting edge solutions to the market. This acquisition will strengthen our presence globally to be the leader in the industry.”
