DLT Entertainment Acquires Vera Productions

Award-Winning Independent Production Company Continue To Operate Under DLT Banner

LONDON 24th May 2018: Award-winning independent production and distribution company DLT Entertainment, have announced today that it has acquired independent production company Vera Productions, in a deal which will see Vera MD Geoff Atkinson remain as CEO reporting to DLT President Donald Taffner Jr.

Through the deal Vera will continue to operate as a separate company under the DLT banner but will be wholly owned by DLT Entertainment. DLT will acquire Vera’s portfolio of extensive programming, approximately 300 hours in the catalogue, with series currently represented by a number of distributors. In addition to adding to DLT’s development of comedies, dramas and entertainment properties, the acquisition expands DLT’s production slate into the factual/current affairs field, and also offers new projects in development for the stage, which DLT, through its ownership of The Shaftesbury Theatre, will look to develop.

Geoff Atkinson and Vera team members Fred Atkinson (Development Producer), and Carrie Fletcher (Head of Production) will remain in their roles and will be moving to the DLT London offices in April.

Vera launched in 1994, and has since produced an extensive portfolio of award-winning shows including Bremner Bird and Fortune, three series of Getting On starring Jo Brand, Vicki Pepperdine, and Joanna Scanlan for BBC Four, four series of Alistair McGowan’s Big Impression for BBC One, six series of Mark Thomas Product and numerous Dispatches for Channel 4, including the recent President Trump’s Dirty Secrets, Politicians for Hire and How to Buy A Football Club. In addition, Vera has produced several pieces for Channel 4 News and created Big Trouble in Thailand for Bravo, and most recently produced Million Pound Jewellers for Channel 4 Arts and three episodes of Going Forward starring Jo Brand and Omid Djalili for BBC Four.

Announcing the deal, Donald Taffner Jr., President of DLT Entertainment, said; “We have had a long regard for the shows that Vera has produced, and we are thrilled to be welcoming Geoff, Carrie and Fred to the DLT Entertainment stable to continue producing fantastic quality content under the DLT banner, while complimenting the activity of DLT’s productions.

DLT are not in the production company aggregation business for growth and this acquisition does not signal a change in that philosophy, but welcomes Vera to the DLT family where we will provide business and financial support while Vera Productions will continue as the production entity for its programs. It is a very exciting time.”

The acquisition of Vera represents a move by DLT Entertainment to continue to grow and expand their business through seeking companies who wish to grow their business by joining the DLT family and operating under the DLT banner.

Geoff Atkinson added; “This offers a great opportunity to secure Vera’s future and build on the success we’ve enjoyed over the last 24 years. We have always enjoyed and retained our independence and this sale enables us to maintain that same spirit, but under new experienced owners who share in that vision and who will allow Vera a chance to grow and expand its output and continue to produce quality programming. I have known DLT for some time and long admired all they have achieved, this offers us an exciting opportunity to share in their knowledge and work with Don and his team and to focus on several new projects in development.”

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NOTES TO EDITORS

About DLT Entertainment:
With headquarters in London and New York, DLT Entertainment Ltd. is engaged in every aspect of television distribution and production around the world, as well as stage production in the US and in the UK where it owns London’s Shaftesbury Theatre.

Founded in 1963 as a distribution company by Don Taffner Sr., the company added television production to its portfolio in 1977. It has enjoyed terrific success in its fifty-six year history with legendary hits on both sides of the Atlantic including the multiple award-winning and BBC Trust praised sitcom My Family, As Time Goes By, Three’s Company, Too Close For Comfort and Meet My Folks. In addition, DLT has built a reputation as a leading distribution company with classics such as The Benny Hill Show, The World at War, Chicken Soup for the Soul, Cinema Europe: The Other Hollywood, The Russ Abbot Show, Michel LeGrand and Friends, and Dara O’Briain’s Go 8 Bit.

DLT is also a significant player in the artist management business with key investments in Milburn Browning Associates and The Galton Agency.

London's Shaftesbury Theatre, where Motown, The Musical is curently enjoying a sell out run, is owned by DLT.

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