Harmonic Acquiring Thomson Video Networks; IBM Buying Clearleap
It appears that a few companies are buying their own holiday gifts this year. Harmonic, a video delivery infrastructure company based in San Jose, California, has made a binding offer to acquire Thomson Video Networks, a video compression specialist based in Rennes, France. Harmonic will purchase all of TVN for roughly $75 million in cash, as well as up to $15 million in post-closing adjustments. The offer is in the form of a put option agreement, and requires a consultation with TVN's employee works council, and the selling shareholders to exercise the put option.
The combined company will have an edge in video innovation, stressed Harmonic president and CEO Patrick Harshman. It will benefit by blending its research and development teams, as well as its global sales departments. There's less than a 50 percent overlap between the two company's customer bases, so Harmonic expects the move to bring it new opportunities to sell a joint portfolio of product solutions.
Additionally, IBM has announced that it will acquire Clearleap, an IP-based content management and distribution company based in Duluth, Georgia, for an undisclosed amount. IBM is looking to build up its cloud video services, and will use Clearleap's expertise to create ways for enterprise customers to manage, monetize, and grow video experiences on the IBM Cloud platform. IBM notes that Clearleap's solutions are optimized for great scalability, and can support millions of simultaneous users. Clients include HBO, A+E Networks, the NFL, BBC America, Sony Movie Channel, Time Warner Cable, and Verizon Communications.
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