Following Advanced-Television’s November 2017 revelation that it was looking for a buyer for its former NDS video software division, Cisco Videoscape, reports suggest that the unit will be sold back to its previous leading shareholder, Permira Securities, with the sale price reported to be up to $1 billion (€820 million).

Cisco acquired NDS for some $5 billion in March 2012, with the aim of complementing and accelerating the delivery of its Videoscape platform, completing the deal in August 2012.

NDS was established in 1988 as an Israeli start-up company, and was acquired by News Corporation in 1992. In 2009, Permira and News Corporation announced a $3.6 billion arrangement for buying the public holding in NDS, turning it into a privately held company. Permira held 51 per cent, and News Corporation approximately 49 per cent.

Other posts by Colin Mann:

1. Analysis: SVoDs drive $220bn content spend
2. A TikToking clock heading towards regeneration – or not?
3. European pay-radio: Getting ready

Categories: Articles, Business, M&A, Middleware