Screen Scene Group bought by broadcasting services company NEP

Screen Scene Group, Ireland's largest supplier of post-production and live broadcast facilities, has been bought by the US broadcasting services company NEP Group for an undisclosed sum.

The 30-year-old Screen Scene Group comprises two outside broadcasting facilities companies, the Dublin-based Observe and London-based OBStv; satellite uplink business Digital Space, and the post- production and visual effects specialists Screen Scene.

It has provided post-production services to television dramas filmed in Ireland such as Game of Thrones, Ripper Street and Charlie, as well as a number of RTÉ factual and lifestyle programmes. Its feature film work includes Good Vibrations, The Last Days on Mars, The Guard and the forthcoming Patrick's Day.

The group, which was co-founded by Jim Duggan and Alan Burns, employs about 90 people, mostly in Dublin.

“We were approached by NEP. I think they liked the group, they liked the structure of the group,” said Mr Duggan. “They are quite excited about the industry in Ireland.”

He described the evolution of the company as “really one of those stories that began with a few people in a room and has always been growing since then”, even during “a couple of tough years”.

The acquisition by NEP is “a positive story” for the group and will give it access to a deeper pool of resources, he added. Both he and Mr Burns, the group’s owners prior to the deal, will be remaining with the company. “We’re lifers,” Mr Duggan said.

An NEP statement said the Screen Scene Group businesses will continue to operate as separate entities “under the guidance of their current leadership team”, who will report to Steve Jenkins, the president of NEP for the UK and Ireland.

NEP, which is owned by private equity firm Crestview Partners, has its headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with offices in London, Cardiff, Dubai, Sydney and across the US. Its outside broadcasting facilities are used in the televising of big entertainment and sports events, including the most-watched show in the history of US television, last Sunday's Super Bowl.

In a statement, NEP chief executive Kevin Rabbitt said Screen Scene Group had "a great depth of knowledge in their group across all of their businesses" and that he had "great confidence" in the company, its directors and the "tremendous growth potential" in Ireland and Europe.