Editing Pace plc

{{Short description|Broadband cable company}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Pace plc
| logo = Pace plc-logo.png
| logo_size = 105px
| type = [[Subsidiary]]
| traded_as = {{lSE was|PIC}}<br>[[OTC Markets Group|OTC Gray]]: PCMXF
| fate = Acquired by [[Arris Group]]
| key_people = [[Allan Leighton]] ([[Chair (official)|chairman]])<br />Mike Pulli ([[CEO]])
| industry = [[Information technology]]
| products = [[set-top boxes]], media servers, [[residential gateways]], Elements software platform, ECO service management, [[optical networking]]
| revenue = [[Dollar|$]]2,620.0 million (2014)<ref name=prelims>{{cite web|url=http://www.pace.com/Documents/Investors/ra_2014/ra_2014.pdf|title= Annual Report 2014|publisher=Pace plc|access-date=31 March 2015}}</ref>
| operating_income = [[Dollar|$]]180.9 million (2014)<ref name=prelims/>
| net_income = [[Dollar|$]]148.0 million (2014)<ref name=prelims/>
| num_employees = 
| homepage = {{URL |www.pace.com}}
| foundation = {{start date and age|1982}}
| founder = {{ubl|David Hood|Barry Rubery|Robert Fleming}}
| location = [[Saltaire]], [[West Yorkshire]], England
}}

'''Pace plc''' was a British company which developed [[set-top boxes]] (STBs), advanced residential gateways, software and services for the [[pay-TV]] and broadband services industry. Pace's customers included [[cable television|cable]], [[Telecommunications company|telco]], [[satellite television|satellite]] and [[IPTV]] operators. The company was listed on the [[London Stock Exchange]] until December 2015, when the company received the last of the regulatory clearances needed to allow a merger with [[Arris Group]] to proceed. In 2019, Arris was subsequently acquired by network infrastructure provider [[CommScope]].<ref>{{cite web|first=Daniel |last=Frankel |title=CommScope Closes $7.4B Arris Purchase|url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/commscope-closes-arris-purchase|access-date=9 July 2021|website=Multichannel News|date=4 April 2019 }}</ref>

==History==
The company was founded by Yorkshire born businessmen Barry Rubery, David Hood and Robert Fleming in 1982,<ref name="acornuser200002_pace"/> taking the name ''Pace Micro Supplies'' in 1983, eventually being renamed to ''Pace Micro Technology plc'' in 1987.<ref name="ch_pace">{{ cite web | url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/01672847 | title=ARRIS GLOBAL LTD. | website=Companies House | access-date=5 May 2022 }}</ref> It introduced the first low cost commercially available [[modem]]s in 1985.{{citation needed|date=May 2022|reason=This is absent from the archived corporate history page.}} In 1987, it started selling its first [[Analog television|analogue]] [[satellite]] set top [[Receiver (radio)|receivers]].<ref name="acornuser200002_pace">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser217-Feb00/page/n19/mode/2up | title=Keeping Pace with technology | magazine=Acorn User | last=Sutton | first=Colin | date=February 2000 | access-date=5 May 2022 | pages=20–21 }}</ref> In 1996, it introduced the world's first [[Digital Video Broadcasting|DVB]] decoders, for Australian satellite company [[Galaxy (Australian television)|Galaxy]].<ref name="history">{{ cite web |url=http://www.pace.com/global/about-pace/history/ |title=Corporate History |website=Pace plc |access-date=5 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140309101036/http://www.pace.com/global/about-pace/history/ |archive-date=9 March 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Pace was [[Initial public offering|floated]] on the [[London Stock Exchange]] in 1996.<ref name=history/> In 1998, the company started shipping [[Satellite television|digital satellite television]] equipment for [[British Sky Broadcasting|BSkyB]].{{citation needed|date=May 2022|reason=This was presumably in some older version of the corporate history, but it is not featured in the available archived version.}} In January 1999, Pace purchased the set top box division of [[Acorn Computers]],<ref name="pace1999">{{ cite web | url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/01672847/filing-history/MTI0NzYxNzIxYWRpcXprY3g/document?format=pdf&download=0 | title=Pace Micro Technology plc Annual Report & Accounts 1999 | website=Companies House | date=10 September 1999 | access-date=28 December 2024 }}</ref> and converted it into its office in Cambridge.<ref name="acornuser200002_pace"/> In the following years, Pace owned the [[operating system]] [[RISC OS]], and used technologies based on it in its decoder equipment. The office in Cambridge was closed in March 2003.<ref>{{ cite web | url=http://www.drobe.co.uk/riscos/artifact604.html | title=Redundancies at Cambridge Pace office| last=Naulls | first=Peter | date=27 March 2003 | publisher=[[Drobe]] | accessdate=16 August 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030419095549/http://www.drobe.co.uk/riscos/artifact604.html | archive-date=19 April 2003 | url-status=dead}}</ref> With Pace focusing on the digital television market, Pace's modem business had been separated from the parent company as the result of a management buy-out, but this new company, ''PMC Electronics'', was placed into receivership in August 1999.<ref name="acornuser200002_pace"/>

Pace started delivering products to [[Comcast]] in the United States in June 2000; the company also delivers to [[AT&T Inc.|AT&T]] and [[DirecTV]].<ref>[http://www.allbusiness.com/electronics/telecommunications-equipment/6538784-1.html Pace to Supply Digital Set Top Boxes to Comcast Cable] Business Wire, 26 June 2000</ref> In 2001, Pace announced that it was [[outsourcing]] the last of the manufacturing capacity which remained at its location in Saltaire: the head office was reduced to an administration and development centre.<ref>[http://www.allbusiness.com/company-activities-management/company-strategy-outsourcing/5019973-1.html Gordon Brown investigates China] Business Wire, 23 February 2005</ref>

[[Image:Pace DC757X cable box mod.jpg|thumb|280px|Pace Micro Technology DC757X [[Set top box]]]]

In March 2002, Pace became the first company to market [[free-to-view]] [[personal video recorder]]s (PVRs).<ref>[http://www.automatedhome.co.uk/TV/Pace-Launches-Digital-Free-to-View-PVR.html Pace launches Digital Free to View PVR] Automated Home, 25 September 2002</ref> In February 2005, Pace in conjunction with Australian subscription television provider [[Foxtel]] launched the first [[DVB-C]] PVR.<ref>[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2005_Feb_21/ai_n9774932 Pace to Launch World's First DVB Cable PDR for payTV] Business Wire, 21 February 2005</ref> In April 2006, Neil Gaydon became CEO, taking over from John Dyson, and Mike McTighe became the chairman, taking over from Sir Michael Bett.<ref>[http://www.cedmagazine.com/gaydon-named-pace-ceo.aspx Gaydon named Pace CEO] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609133048/http://www.cedmagazine.com/gaydon-named-pace-ceo.aspx |date=9 June 2011 }} CED Magazine, 5 April 2006</ref>

In April 2008, Pace acquired the 'Set-Top Box and Connectivity Solutions' division of [[Royal Philips Electronics]], approximately doubling the size of the company.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110612062945/http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/technology/article3072875.ece Pace buys Philips set top box business] The Times Online, 19 December 2007</ref> In May 2008, Pace changed its name from ''Pace Micro Technology plc'' to ''Pace plc''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.corporateinformation.com/Company-Snapshot.aspx?cusip=C82688160|title=Pace Plc (PIC) Company Profile - CorporateInformation.com|work=corporateinformation.com|access-date=31 March 2015}}</ref>

In July 2010, Pace acquired [[home network]]ing equipment maker [[2Wire]], which was based in the United States,<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-10760336|title=Pace to buy US broadband company|website=BBC News|date=26 July 2010|access-date= 1 August 2011 }}</ref> IP and Cable specialist, Bewan Systems SA<ref>[http://www.lightreading.com/document.asp?doc_id=188552&site=lr_cable Pace Ups Tempo With Bewan Buy] Light Reading, 2 March 2010</ref> and pay television software specialist, Latens Systems.<ref>[http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/business/business-news/pace_buys_irish_software_company_1_3024101 Pace buys Irish software company] Yorkshire Post, 4 November 2010</ref> In June 2011, [[Allan Leighton]] became chairman.<ref>[http://www.pace.com/universal/news-events/press-releases/2011/allan-leighton-confirmed-as-pace-chairman/ Allan Leighton confirmed as Pace plc Chairman] Pace, 21 June 2011</ref> In December 2011, Neil Gaydon was replaced as CEO by Mike Pulli, formerly president of Pace Americas<ref>{{cite news|title=US boss takes over as head of Pace|url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/business/business-news/us_boss_takes_over_as_head_of_pace_1_4061036|access-date=16 December 2011|newspaper=The Yorkshire Post|date=15 December 2011}}</ref>

A significant milestone was reached in 2012, when Pace sold its one hundred millionth digital set top box.<ref name="history"/> In January 2014, Pace completed the acquisition of Aurora Networks, a leading developer and manufacturer of advanced, next generation optical transport and access network solutions for broadband networks.<ref>{{cite news|title=Pace Completes $323 Mln Acquisition Of Aurora Networks; Stock Rises|url=http://www.rttnews.com/2247565/pace-completes-323-mln-acquisition-of-aurora-networks-stock-rises.aspx|access-date=16 June 2017|work=RTT News|date=7 January 2014}}</ref>

On 22 April 2015, the Boards of Pace and [[Arris Group]] announced that they had reached agreement on the terms of a recommended combination of Pace with Arris, in a stock and cash deal that valued Pace at UKP&nbsp;£1.4Bn (US$2.1Bn). The combination was conditional on, amongst other things, shareholder approval from both Pace and Arris shareholders and also the receipt of merger control clearances in a number of jurisdictions including Brazil, Colombia, Germany, Portugal, South Africa and the United States.

The company received the last of the regulatory clearances needed to allow the merger to proceed in December 2015.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.digitaltveurope.net/469532/brazil-green-light-clears-way-for-arris-completion-of-pace-deal/ |title=Brazil green light clears way for Arris completion of Pace deal |date=3 December 2015 |publisher=Digital Europe |access-date=27 December 2015}}</ref> The acquisition was completed on 4 January 2016. The resultant combined group is incorporated in the United Kingdom, but operationally managed from the United States, and is owned 24% by Pace shareholders and 76% by Arris shareholders.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://otp.investis.com/clients/uk/pace/rns/regulatory-story.aspx?cid=541&newsid=506958 |title=Recommended Combination of Pace and ARRIS |publisher=Pace plc |date=22 April 2015 |access-date=22 April 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://ir.arris.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=87823&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=2126035 |title=ARRIS Completes Pace Acquisition: Combined companies to transform video and broadband delivery through broadened portfolio, global footprint, and customer base |type=press release |website=Arris official website |publisher=Arris |date=4 January 2016 |access-date=2 November 2016 |archive-date=23 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160123030347/http://ir.arris.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=87823&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=2126035 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== Operations ==
Pace's head office was in [[Saltaire]], near [[Bradford]] in West Yorkshire. It occupied a large proportion of the Victorian textile mill complex called [[Salts Mill|Salt's Mill]]. The company had major operations in the United States, France and India, as well as the United Kingdom HQ.

== Customers ==
The company's customers include:
{{div col|colwidth=28em}}
* [[Armstrong Group of Companies|Armstrong]] – United States 
* [[Astro (satellite TV)]] – Malaysia
* [[AT&T Inc.]] – United States 
* [[Bell Canada]] – Canada
* [[beIN Media Group]] – Middle East and North Africa
* [[Cablevisión (Argentina)]] – Argentina
* [[Canal+ (French TV channel)|Canal+]] – France
* [[Charter Communications|Charter]] – United States
* [[Cogeco]] – Canada
* [[Comcast]] – United States
* [[Cyfra+]] – Poland
* [[DirecTV]] – United States
* [[Foxtel]] – Australia
* [[Get AS|Get]] – Norway
* [[Vivo (telecommunications)|Vivo]] - Brazil
* [[Liberty Global]] – Europe
* [[Mediacom]] – United States
* [[MultiChoice|MultiChoice Africa]] – South Africa and rest of Africa
* [[Net Serviços de Comunicação S/A|NET]] – Brazil
* [[NOVA Greece]] – Greece
* [[SingTel]] – Singapore
* [[Sky (United Kingdom)|Sky]] – United Kingdom
* [[Sky Deutschland]] – Germany
* [[SKY Italia]] – Italy
* [[SKY Network Television]] – New Zealand
* [[Sonic.net]] - United States
* [[Tata Sky]] – India
* [[Telefónica]] – Latin America
* [[Telstra]] – Australia
* [[UPC Netherlands]] – Netherlands
* [[Viasat (Nordic television service)|Viasat]] – Scandinavia and the Baltics
* [[ZON]] – Portugal
* [[TrueVision]] - thailand
{{div col end}}

==See also==
* [[Cisco Systems]]
* [[Inview]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Pace digital set-top boxes}}
* [http://www.pace.com Official site]

{{Telecommunications industry in the United Kingdom}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pace plc}}
[[Category:Electronics companies of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Companies based in the City of Bradford]]
[[Category:Electronics companies established in 1982]]
[[Category:Telecommunications companies established in 1982]]
[[Category:Shipley, West Yorkshire]]
[[Category:Defunct telecommunications companies of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Companies formerly listed on the London Stock Exchange]]
[[Category:1982 establishments in England]]
[[Category:2016 mergers and acquisitions]]
[[Category:British subsidiaries of foreign companies]]