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Home / News / Insight / FPE Capital portfolio company Sohonet completes bolt-on acquisition of US based Exchange, a leading IT provider to the film and episodic industry

FPE Capital portfolio company Sohonet completes bolt-on acquisition of US based Exchange, a leading IT provider to the film and episodic industry

Portfolio Company News

15th January 2020

FPE Capital LLP (‘FPE’), a growth focussed private equity investor in UK mid-market companies, announces that it its portfolio company Sohonet, the global experts in connectivity, media services and network security for the media and entertainment industry, has acquired Exchange, a leading IT provider to the film and episodic industry. The acquisition further broadens the range of connectivity and collaboration solutions each organisation can now offer their media and entertainment customers.

The combined power of Sohonet and Exchange will provide customers with a unique and comprehensive set of services to enable connection, collaboration, and storytelling; from Sohonet’s global network of over 500 media companies as well as their real-time collaboration, cloud-acceleration, and file-transfer tools to Exchange’s fixed production studio services for phones and video surveillance and rapidly available remote production communications. Together, the companies are strongly positioned to serve the rapidly growing and changing production industry across features, episodic and advertising.

Sohonet will invest in the expansion of Exchange Communications services in other geographies, initially focusing on Canada and the UK.

“We are delighted that Sohonet has completed this highly complementary acquisition” comments Llewellyn John, Partner at FPE. "The combination is a great fit and we look forward to the combined business capitalising on the opportunities arising from this combination”.

“This is a great match for Sohonet, and we are very much looking forward to working closely with our new colleagues from Exchange,” says Sohonet CEO Chuck Parker. “The additional range of world-class services our customers can now enjoy will help support and enhance their collaboration while they create their amazing features, episodics and advertisements.”

“We’re excited to become part of the Sohonet family, with their purpose-built media network and SaaS-based collaboration services,” says Exchange CEO Dave Thomas. “Joining Sohonet will accelerate our vision to transform the way our customers collaborate and create their dazzling content.”

The acquisition was supported by Sohonet’s existing lender, Dunport Capital.

Notes to Editors:

FPE Capital

FPE is a growth private equity investor specialising in lower mid-market UK companies with advantaged business models that offer significant growth potential in large markets that are undergoing structural change. It is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. www.fpecapital.com

About Sohonet

Sohonet has been connecting storytellers across the globe since 1995. Combining innovative technologies with world-class services, they remain the leading global expert in connectivity and data management services for the media and entertainment industry. Sohonet offers a wide range of technical solutions, designed to enable clients to manage, store and transfer their valuable content, quickly and securely. The Sohonet Media Network is the largest and most established private, high-performance network for the M&E industry, connecting the leading studios, production and post production facilities across the globe. As well as providing high-speed access to established and emerging cloud platforms. More information is available at www.sohonet.com.

About Exchange

Exchange has been a leading provider of IT services for film and television productions for over 20 years. From production and warehouse setups to full connectivity in the middle of the ocean they keep clients connected and in touch with their production and with the outside world. Their wide range of services cover; networking, wireless, phone systems, internet and video services as well as video and teleconferencing. More information is available at https://exchangecom.net/.

-ENDS-

Media inquiries:

FPE

David Barbour

Managing Partner

020 3912 8801