Cable and satellite connector manufacturer PPC plans to acquire Evolution Broadband, a supplier of home distribution and subscriber-drop systems for North American cable operators, while the latter's Evolution Digital set-top unit is not part of the deal and will remain an independent entity.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The transaction is expected to close in the next 30 to 60 days.
PPC, based in East Syracuse, N.Y., has worked with Centennial, Colo.-based Evolution Broadband for three years. Evolution Broadband's "exciting product portfolio is a natural fit with the PPC product line, and the combination of our unique solutions will yield even greater value and utility to customers in the broadband industry," PPC president John Mezzalingua said in a statement.
Evolution Digital -- which sells low-cost set-tops and digital terminal adapters aimed at letting cable operators migrate to all-digital networks -- will continue as a standalone organization led by principal Chris Egan and president Brent Smith. The company said all current contracts and partnerships with TiVo, conditional-access provider Conax and various manufacturing partners will remain intact.
Evolution Digital gained notice last year after the Federal Communications Commission granted the company a waiver of the so-called integrated set-top ban, allowing cable operators using its DTAs to employ embedded security functions. Evolution Digital is awaiting a ruling from the FCC on its request to exempt a sub-$100 high-definition DTA from the separable security rule, as well.
"As pioneers in digital terminal adapter (DTA) development, with the first DTA to receive a product waiver through the FCC, we are excited about the direction of Evolution Digital," Chris Egan said in a statement.
Evolution Broadband created the Evolution Digital unit in February 2008.
