Red Bee initiates international expansion with buy-out of ACC

Red Bee Media, formerly BBC Broadcast, has made its first acquisition in a strategy of international expansion planned by chief executive officer Pam Masters.

The group has bought Australian Caption Centre, a subtitling, language and video services company, for $AU7.5m (£3.2m). The acquisition of ACC will augment Red Bee’s existing access services division.

Masters says Red Bee remains on the acquisition trail and has the long-term financial support of its new owners, Australian banking groups Macquarie Capital Alliance Group and Macquarie Bank (DW 3 November).

‘We always had a wish to become a global company, but it was not as easy in the past [as BBC Broadcast]. We will now be looking at acquisitions that grow our skills and connections in major [geographical] areas,’ she says.

The group is on the lookout for creative services companies and is investigating the market in China, adds Masters.