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"Technicolor SA" redirects here. For the studio, see Technicolor Creative Studios.
Vantiva SA
Formerly
  • Thomson SARL
    (1893–1914)
  • Thomson Multimedia
    (1914–2010)
  • Technicolor SA
    (2010–2022)
Company typePublic
Euronext Paris: VANTI
Industry
Founded1893; 131 years ago (1893)
Headquarters
Paris
,
France
Key people
RevenueDecrease €2.9 billion (2021)
Increase €30 million (2021)
Decrease €140 million (2021)
Total assetsDecrease €3.0 billion (2021)
Total equityDecrease €134 million (2021)
Number of employees
Increase 16,676 (2021)
Websitewww.vantiva.com
Footnotes / references
[1]

Vantiva SA, formerly Technicolor SA, Thomson SARL, Thomson SA, and Thomson Multimedia, is a French multinational corporation that provides creative services and technology products for the communication, media and entertainment industries. Vantiva's headquarters are located in Paris, France.[2] Other main office locations include Norcross (USA), Rennes (France) Edegem (Belgium) Seoul (South Korea), Beijing (China), Chennai (India), Memphis (USA).

On 27 January 2010, Thomson Multimedia changed its name to Technicolor SA, re-branding the entire company after its US film technology subsidiary.[3] Thomson's US subsidiary became Technicolor USA, Inc.[4]

As of 27 September 2022, Technicolor Creative Studios has spun-off from Technicolor SA, which has been rebranded as Vantiva.[5]

Vantiva operates as 3 separate divisions:

  • Connected Home makes broadband modems and Android TV boxes.
  • Supply Chain Solutions (SCS) offers logistics, warehousing, and fulfillment. SCS also manufactures and distributes DVDs, Blu-ray discs, and Vinyl.
  • The Smart Spaces sub-division offers monitoring systems for self-storage facilities.

Vantiva acquired CommScope's Home Networks on January 2nd, 2024.[6]

History

1892: The founding of the General Electric Company

Thomson was named after the electrical engineer Elihu Thomson, who was born in Manchester, England, on March 26, 1853. Thomson moved to Philadelphia, USA, at the age of 5, with his family. Thomson formed the Thomson-Houston Electric Company in 1879 with Edwin Houston. The company merged with the Edison General Electric Company to become the General Electric Company in 1892. In 1893, the Compagnie Française Thomson-Houston (CFTH) was formed in Paris, a sister company to GE in the United States. It was from this company that the modern Thomson Group would evolve.[citation needed]

In 1966, CFTH merged with Hotchkiss-Brandt to form Thomson-Houston-Hotchkiss-Brandt (soon renamed Thomson-Brandt). In 1968, the electronics business of Thomson-Brandt merged with Compagnie Générale de Télégraphie Sans Fil (CSF) to form Thomson-CSF. Thomson Brandt kept approximately 40% of the company stock.[citation needed]

1982: Thomson SA and its expansion

In 1982, both Thomson-Brandt and Thomson-CSF were nationalized due to the efforts of François Mitterrand. Thomson-Brandt was subsequently renamed Thomson SA (Société Anonyme), and soon thereafter merged with Thomson-CSF.[citation needed] Forming the Thompson group, made up of Thompson-CSF which focused on radio and broadcasting equipment and later electronics for defense and aerospace, and Thomson Multimedia which focused on consumer electronics. In 1988, 2 years after General Electric bought out RCA, they sold their consumer electronics division, as well as most assets of RCA, to Thomson, in exchange for some of Thomson's medical businesses. Around that same year, Thomson Consumer Electronics was formed. In 1995, the French government split the consumer electronics from the defense businesses of Thomson Multimedia and Thomson-CSF prior to privatization in 1999. Following privatization, Thomson-CSF went through a series of transactions, including with Marconi plc, before becoming Thales in 2000. In 2005, Thomson bought Cirpack and Inventel.[7]

In 2000, Thomson Multimedia purchased Technicolor from Carlton Television (owned by Carlton Communications) in the UK and began a move into the broadcast management, facilities and services market with the purchase of Corinthian Television, becoming Thomson Multimedia. In Q1 of 2001 it purchased the Broadcast Division of Koninklijke Philips (Philips Broadcast) then in 2002 acquired the Grass Valley Group, Inc. from Dr. Terence Gooding of San Diego, CA. Thomson then purchased the Moving Picture Company from ITV and the internet startup Singingfish, but then sold it to AOL in late 2004. In 2004,[citation needed] Thomson increased its stake in the Bangalore, India based company Celstream Technologies, which specializes in product engineering. Cirpack, a softswitch manufacturer, was incorporated and acquired in April 2005. In July 2005, Thomson agreed to purchase PRN Corporation for $285 million. In December 2005, Thomson re-purchased the Broadcast & Multimedia part of Thales Group.[citation needed]

In 2004, Thomson set up a joint venture (TTE) with China's TCL, giving to TCL all manufacturing of RCA and Thomson television and DVD products and making TCL the global leader in TV manufacturing (Thomson still controlled the brands themselves and licensed them to TTE). At the time, TCL was hailed as the first Chinese company to compete on the international stage with large international corporations. Thomson initially retained all marketing of TTE's products, but transferred that to TTE in 2005.[citation needed] In June 2005, the Videocon Group of India announced that it would acquire the color picture tube manufacturing business from Thomson SA for €240 million. In early 2010, Thomson sold the television brand RCA to ON Corporation.[citation needed]

In September 2005, Thomson first showed its Infinity camcorder. At the April 2006 launch, this was described as "a new line of IT-based acquisition, recording and storage devices."[8] It was designed to end the stranglehold of proprietary products in this market, and was inspired by a Grass Valley executive's trip to Fry's Electronics in Burbank to buy a computer backup device.[9] The product failed to take market share from the predominant players in News Acquisition, Sony and Panasonic. It was too heavy and used too much power, which reduced battery life and increased heat. Its production was discontinued in 2010.[citation needed]

Also in 2005, Thomson marketing executive Nicholas de Wolff developed a plan for the creation of interactive Innovation centers,[10] where early research projects could be demonstrated to industry leaders and clients in a close-up format, allowing for more strategic advanced product development. The centers (in Burbank, USA;[11] Rennes, France; Hannover, Germany; and Beijing, China) were so successful, de Wolff and Thomson CTO, Jean-Charles Hourcade subsequently decided to launch the research demos at IBC and NAB trade shows,[12] despite strong opposition from several business units.

In February 2007, Thomson Multimedia's Technicolor Content Services division announced that it had invested in Indian animation studio Paprikaas to expand its entertainment services capabilities.[13] In December 2007, Technicolor partnered with DreamWorks Animation to assist Paprikass in the "recruitment, training and development of top-tier animation talent".[14] By January 2010, Technicolor had raised its ownership in Paprikaas to 100%.[15] Following the acquisition, Technicolor's Indian offices in Delhi were merged into Paprikaas, and the resulting studio was rebranded Technicolor India in May 2010.[16][17]

In December 2007, Thomson SA agreed to sell off its Audio/Video and Accessories businesses (the RCA and Thomson brands except communications products such as cordless phones) to Audiovox. In October 2007, Thomson SA agreed to sell its consumer electronics audio video business outside Europe including the worldwide rights to the RCA brand.[citation needed]

2009–2010: Rebranding to Technicolor

On January 29, 2009, Thomson announced its intention to sell the PRN and Grass Valley businesses to focus on services business and improve its financial position.[18] This was one of the consequences of an enormous financial crisis in 2009, which forced the company to a total financial restructuring to avoid bankruptcy.[19] From 2010 to February 2011, "Technicolor" (having rebranded itself) divested these sub-businesses: Grass Valley and Broadcast to the Francisco Partners in July and December[20] along with the Transmission business to PARTER Capital Group; Head-end to the FCDE (Fonds de Consolidation et de Développement des Entreprises), and reintegration of PRN.[21]

On June 20, 2012, Vector Capital won a competitive bid for a minority stake in Technicolor,[22] beating JP Morgan with a surprise, last-minute bid.[23] With the investment of €167 - 191 million, Vector Capital will retain a minority stake in Technicolor of up to 29.94%.[24] Following the deal, on June 21, 2012, Technicolor named Remy Sautter as Chairman of the Board and appointed two Vector Capital representatives to the board, Alexander Slusky and David Fishman.[25]

On July 3, 2012, the Technicolor broadcast services division was acquired by Ericsson.[26]

2014: Creative studios acquisitions

On June 10, 2014, Technicolor announced the acquisition of the Canadian VFX studio Mr. X Inc.[27] The same year the company also shut down its last film lab.[28]

On February 25, 2015, Technicolor acquired the French independent animation producer OuiDo! Productions. On July 23 of the same year, Cisco Systems announced the sale of its television set-top box and cable modem business to Technicolor for $600 million—part of a division originally formed by Cisco's $6.9 billion purchase of Scientific Atlanta.[29][30] The deal was closed on November 20 same year.[31]

On September 15, 2015, Technicolor acquired London-based The Mill for €259 million.

On November 13, 2015, Technicolor acquired the North American optical disc manufacturing and distribution assets from Cinram Group, Inc. for approximately €40 million.

In July 2018, Technicolor closed the sale of its Patent Licensing business to InterDigital for $475m[32] and in February 2019, announced it has received a binding offer for its Research & Innovation Activity from the same company.[33]

In December 2019, Technicolor and its former CEO, Frederic Rose, were indicted in France on charges of fraud and breach of trust in connection with their role in the bankruptcy of Tarak Ben Ammar's post-production group, Quinta Industries, and its subsequent acquisition of the company in January 2012.[34]

2020–present: COVID-19, restructuring, rebranding to Vantiva and Acquisition of CommScope's Home Networks

In June 2020, Technicolor filed for Chapter 15 bankruptcy due to the COVID-19 pandemic[35] and went through a restructuring process following the appointment of former Eir CEO Richard Moat. In 2021, the Technicolor post-production brand was sold to LA-based Streamland Media. The sale was part of a strategic decision to focus on visual effects and animation for film, advertising, gaming and live events.[36]

Following the restructuring, Technicolor reported "a positive third quarter 2021, and a significant improvement in profitability, despite supply constraint challenges affecting both Connecting Home and Technicolor Creative Studios."[37]

Meanwhile, in May 2021, Technicolor launched Technicolor Creative Studios, forming a global structure to drive its family of studios.[38] The studio network included The Mill, MPC (Film, Episodic & Advertising), Mikros Animation and Mr. X. Christian Roberton, President of Technicolor Creative Studios announced that up to 4,000 VFX artists were anticipated to be hired.

In January 2022, The Mill united with MPC Advertising to create one global studio network under The Mill brand. As a global studio The Mill made the decision to scale up for a creative future, investing in new talent, production capabilities, and immersive technologies.

In the same month, Technicolor Creative Studios announced the integration of MPC Film, MPC Episodic and MR. X under Moving Picture Company (MPC), forming the largest suite of VFX studios serving the feature film and episodic market globally.

In February 2022, Technicolor announced the spin-off of its Technicolor Creative Studios division into an independent entity to be listed on Euronext Paris. Technicolor SA was to retain 35% of the new company's capital. Technicolor also shared in its annual results that all three divisions of the group were profitable and two thirds of the 2022 pipeline were already booked for Technicolor Creative Studios, evidencing the dynamism of the film sector driven by the demand from streaming services.[39]

Technicolor Creative Studios' spun-off was completed on 27 September 2022, and on the same day Technicolor had announced that the company's home and entertainment units, and the company as a whole would be rebranding to Vantiva. As of November 2022, Vantiva still owns 35% of TCS but operates as an independent entity from Vantiva.

In October 2023, Vantiva announced its plan to acquire CommScope’s Home Networks division in exchange for a 25% stake in Vantiva.[40]

Vantiva announced the completion of its acquisition of CommScope's Home Network on January 2nd, 2024.[41]

Company units

Current

Connected Home

Connected Home is Vantiva's division producing broadband gateway boxes, set-top boxes and Android TV. As of September 2020, it had the highest market share (outside of China) in the broadband gateways and modems market.[42]

Supply Chain Solutions

Supply Chain Solutions manufactures, packages, distributes and manages supply chain of DVD and Blu-Ray discs for US film studios and the CD and games industry. In August 2021, the division announced its diversification outside of media and entertainment, designing and manufacturing components and consumables for the medical devices and life sciences industries.[43] Building on its experience of sub-micron engineering in DVD manufacturing, combined with custom packaging and international distribution, Vantiva has diversified into precision manufacturing, supply chain, fulfillment, freight and distribution.

Smart Spaces

Smart Storage sells systems for real-time monitoring of physical and environmental conditions of self-storage facilities, allowing remote management by premise managers and the facility's customers.

In September 2023, Vantiva launched a sub-division of Smart Spaces called Smart Storage.[44]

Former

Trademark Licensing

Technicolor's Trademark Licensing division owned and managed consumer electronics brands such as RCA and Thomson.[citation needed] On May 31, 2022, Technicolor closed the sale of its Trademark Licensing operations for c.€100 million.[45]

Technicolor Creative Studios

Technicolor Creative Studios operates four main studios:[46]

  • The Mill, specialized in visual effects, moving image, design, experiential and digital projects for the advertising and music industries
  • Moving Picture Company (MPC), providing visual effects, CGI, animation and motion design for film and TV
  • Mikros Animation, which provides CGI and animation for feature, long-form and episodic animated film
  • Technicolor Games, which creates content and immersive experiences for the gaming industry.

Executive management

Executive committee

  • Luis Martinez-Amago: CEO
  • Lars Ihlen: CFO
  • François Allain: COO and Deputy President
  • Rob Wipper: President of Supply Chain Solutions
  • Leopold Diouf: Senior Vice President of Product Division
  • Mercedes Pastor: Senior Vice President of the Customer Unit, Eurasia
  • Tim O'Loughlin: Senior Vice-President of the Customer Unit, Americas
  • Reza Raji: Senior Vice President of the Smart Spaces Division
  • Olga Damiron: Chief People and Talent Officer, Executive Vice President of CSR and Corporate General Counsel
  • Dave Davies: Senior Vice-President, Senior Advisor, and Home Networks General Manager

Board of directors

  • Richard Moat: Chairperson
  • Luis Martinez-Amago: CEO and Director
  • Bpifrance Participations represented by Thierry Sommelet; Director
  • Dominique D’Hinnin: Lead Independent Director
  • Laurence Lafont: Independent Director
  • Tony Werner: Independent Director
  • Katleen Vandeweyer: Independent Director
  • Karine Brunet: Independent Director
  • Loïc Desmouceaux: Director representing employees
  • Marc Vogeleisen: Director representing employees
  • Gordon & Co., L.P. represented by Brian Shearer, Board Observer
  • Gauthier Reymondier: Board Observer

See also

  • Thomson Broadcast, company spun out of Thompson's broadcasting equipment business
  • STMicroelectronics, formed by the merger of Thompson-CSF's semiconductor business with an Italian semiconductor company

References

  1. ^ "Technicolor 2021 consolidated financial statements" (PDF). Technicolor. 24 February 2022. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  2. ^ "Privacy Policy". Vantiva.
  3. ^ Cohen, David S. (26 January 2010). "Technicolor reinventing itself". Variety.
  4. ^ Bloom, David. "Technicolor Creative Studios Spins Off As Pure-Play VFX Company In Ads, Games, Movies And More". Forbes. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
  5. ^ "Vantiva Finalizes the Acquisition of CommScope's Home Networks Business".
  6. ^ "Thomson Acquires Cirpack, the European Leader in Softswitch Solutions". 21 April 2005. Archived from the original on 10 July 2011.
  7. ^ David Tamés. "NAB 2006: Camera Wrap-up". CreativePlanetNetwork.
  8. ^ "A conversation with John Naylor". Kino-Eye. 28 April 2006.
  9. ^ "Thomson Opens Innovation Center". TV Technology. 10 May 2006.
  10. ^ "Thomson's Technology Division Launches Burbank Innovation Center to Showcase Research and Products". Digital Cinema Technology. 23 March 2006.
  11. ^ "Thomson's Technology Division to Unveil Prototypes and Proof of Concepts for New Products and Technologies at NAB 2007". BusinessWire. 4 April 2007.
  12. ^ Boyer, Brandon (13 February 2007). "Technicolor Expands Game Services With Indian Investment". Gamasutra. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  13. ^ Boyer, Brandon (20 December 2007). "Thomson, DreamWorks Partner To Enhance Indian Game, Animation Studio". Gamasutra. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  14. ^ Stinson, Liz (27 January 2010). "Paprikaas in Technicolor". Variety. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  15. ^ Announcement (14 May 2010). "Paprikaas is now Technicolor India". Business Standard. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  16. ^ McLean, Tom (17 May 2010). "Paprikaas Rebrands as Technicolor India". Animation Magazine. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  17. ^ "Thomson to Sell Grass Valley". tvtechnology.com. 29 January 2009. Archived from the original on 10 February 2009. Retrieved 29 January 2009.
  18. ^ "TECHNICOLOR Company Profile | PARIS, ILE-DE-FRANCE, France |Competitors, Financials & Contacts". Dun & Bradstreet.
  19. ^ "PE Firm Makes Binding Offer for Grass Valley". tvtechnology.com. 27 July 2010. Retrieved 3 August 2010.
  20. ^ "Technicolor sells head-end business to FCDE, keeps PRN". 24 February 2011.
  21. ^ David Benoit (25 July 2012). "Vector Capital beats J.P. Morgan in Technicolor wildness". Wall St. Journal.
  22. ^ "Vector Capital wins Technicolor deal". Wall St. Journal. 20 June 2012.
  23. ^ "Technicolor's general shareholders meeting approves the capital increases proposed by vector capital". 20 June 2012.
  24. ^ Georg Szalai (21 June 2012). "France's Technicolor gets new chairman, seals deal to sell stake to US firm". Hollywood Reporter.
  25. ^ "Ericsson closes acquisition of Technicolor's broadcast services division". Ericsson.com. 3 July 2012.
  26. ^ Cohen, David S. (10 June 2014). "Technicolor To Acquire Visual Effects Studio Mr. X". Variety. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
  27. ^ Blakely, Helen Alexander and Rhys (12 September 2014). "The Triumph of Digital Will Be the Death of Many Movies". The New Republic. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  28. ^ "Technicolor to Buy Cisco's Set-Top Box Unit for About $600 Million". The Wall Street Journal. 22 July 2015. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
  29. ^ "Technicolor to acquire Cisco Connected Devices Division for €550m in stock and cash". 23 July 2015. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
  30. ^ "Technicolor Completes Acquisition Of Cisco Connected Devices Division". 20 November 2015. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
  31. ^ "Closing of The Sale of Technicolor's Patent Licensing Business to Interdigital". 30 July 2018. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
  32. ^ "Technicolor Has Received a Binding Offer for its Research & Innovation Activity From InterDigital". 11 February 2019. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
  33. ^ Keslassy, Elsa (18 December 2019). "Technicolor and Its Former CEO, Frederic Rose, Indicted on Fraud Charges in France".
  34. ^ Milligan, Mercedes (24 June 2020). "Technicolor Files Chapter 15, Citing Pandemic (UPDATED with Statement)". Animation Magazine.
  35. ^ Vorhaus, Mike. "Technicolor To Sell Its TV And Movie Postproduction Business". Forbes. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  36. ^ "Technicolor delivers "robust" Q3". advanced-television.com. 5 November 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  37. ^ Giardina, Carolyn (19 May 2021). "Technicolor Unveils Restructure Plans, Sets Ambitious Goal for Feature Animation (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  38. ^ Bloom, David. "Technicolor To Spin Off Visual Effects Unit As Public Company As Part Of Major Reorganization". Forbes. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  39. ^ "France's Vantiva to buy CommScope's Home Networks". Reuters. 3 October 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  40. ^ "Vantiva Finalizes the Acquisition of CommScope's Home Networks Business".
  41. ^ "Financial Year 2020 Results" (PDF). technicolor.com. 11 March 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  42. ^ "Technicolor Precision BioDevices to Manufacture Scope Fluidics' BacterOMIC System Cartridges". www.yahoo.com. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  43. ^ "Vantiva launches Vantiva Smart Storage, an IOT SaaS". 5 September 2023.
  44. ^ "Closing of the Sale of Trademark Licensing operations". www.technicolor.com. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  45. ^ Giardina, Carolyn (13 January 2022). "Technicolor Restructures VFX Company MPC, Names Tom Williams President". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  • Business data for Vantiva SA:
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