Production and distribution outfit DLT Entertainment has acquired indie Vera Productions.
The deal 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 programming, approximately 300 hours in the catalogue, with series currently represented by a number of distributors.
The acquisition adds factual and current affairs to DLT’s production slate. It will also put 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 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. Vera has also produced pieces for Channel 4 News and created Big Trouble in Thailand for Bravo, and most recently produced Million Pound Jewellers (pictured) 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.”
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.”
Jon Creamer
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