DLT acquires Vera Productions

UK- and US-based production outfit DLT Entertainment has acquired Bremner, Bird & Fortune producer Vera Productions.

Don Taffner Jr

Geoff Atkinson, MD of London-based Vera, will remain with the company as CEO, reporting to DLT president Donald Taffner Jr.

Vera will be wholly owned by DLT but continue to operate as a separate company under the DLT banner.

DLT will acquire the firm’s portfolio of programming, a catalogue of about 300 hours that is currently represented by various distributors.

In addition to adding to DLT’s development of comedies, dramas and entertainment properties, the acquisition expands DLT’s production slate into factual/current affairs.

It also offers new projects in development for the stage, which DLT, through its ownership of The Shaftesbury Theatre, will look to develop.

Atkinson, along with development producer Fred Atkinson and head of production Carrie Fletcher, will remain in their roles and will move to the DLT London offices this month.

Vera launched in 1994, and has since produced a portfolio of shows that includes satire show Bremner, Bird & Fortune, three seasons of Getting On starring Jo Brand for BBC4 and four seasons of Alistair McGowan’s Big Impression for BBC1.

It also regularly produces Dispatches documentaries for Channel 4, including the recent President Trump’s Dirty Secrets, Politicians for Hire and How to Buy a Football Club.

In addition, Vera has produced several pieces for Channel 4 News and created Big Trouble in Thailand for Bravo.

Taffner 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 programmes.”