German audio technology and solutions company d&b today announced it will strengthen its service-focused d&b solutions business with the acquisition of UK-based Audio Visual, Lighting and Media (AVLM) business White Light.
Established in May this year, d&b solutions enable the d&b Group to offer end-to-end expertise to customers in the areas of system planning, installation, maintenance, and managed services. The acquisition of White Light expands these offerings even further.
d&b solutions have entered an agreement with the owners of White Light to acquire 100 percent of the White Light shares. The transaction is scheduled to complete in January 2022.
“White Light is a strategic addition to the d&b Group. Their technology and expertise significantly increase d&b solutions’ capabilities to offer complete and flexible audio, video, lighting, and XR solutions,” commented Amnon Harman, d&b Group CEO. “Driven by accelerated market trends during the pandemic, this is another step forward in d&b’s strategic transition. d&b solutions will become a premium one-stop-shop for the AVLM needs of our customers in the UK.”
Founded in 1971, White Light is a complete production solution specialist operating in a range of markets including theatre, corporate events, broadcast, concert touring, leisure, education, and trade. Following the acquisition, the company will become part of the d&b Group and be known as White Light, a d&b solutions company, with all existing staff remaining with the company.
One particular area of focus for d&b solutions is White Light’s SmartStage® technology which has been in development since 2017. SmartStage® is an immersive video environment that uses XR technology to replace the traditional green screen element of a virtual studio. The potential for XR technology, in combination with d&b’s Soundscape immersive audio platform and White Lights expertise, will open the new market potential for immersive AVLM solutions, that will benefit all partners and customers of the d&b Group.
“We are proud to join the d&b Group and expand their d&b solutions business,” said Bryan Raven, Managing Director, White Light. “We wholeheartedly share the belief in the strategic direction of d&b and we are convinced that White Light will contribute immensely to its implementation and growth. Besides first-class technology and services we also share the same values, which will help us to drive our common goals forward. We look forward to working together to provide customers with the best possible technology solutions, across a whole range of verticals.”
d&b solutions act independently from d&b audiotechnik focusing on delivering a higher level of service and integration, and end-to-end installation and production solutions to customers. d&b solutions and d&b audiotechnik have separate management teams reporting up to d&b Group.
Harman added, “The d&b Group is committed to providing transformational life experiences to our customers. This means being able to think, consult, design, and deliver across the full entertainment technology ecosystem. The people, technology and services that White Light brings to the table will be instrumental in ensuring that d&b Group is able to meet the needs of our customers and achieve this vision.”
