Editing Amstrad (section)

==== BSkyB takeover ====

In July 2007, [[BSkyB|British Sky Broadcasting (BSkyB)]] announced a takeover of Amstrad for £125m,<ref name="BSkyB">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6923517.stm|title=BSkyB agrees £125m Amstrad deal|access-date=2007-07-31|date=2007-07-31|work=BBC News| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070806235007/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6923517.stm| archive-date= 6 August 2007 | url-status= live}}</ref> a 23.7% premium on its market capitalisation. BSkyB had been a major client of Amstrad, accounting for 75% of sales for its 'set top box' business. Having supplied BSkyB with hardware since its inception in 1988, market analysts had noted the two companies becoming increasingly close.
[[File:Sky DRX895w.jpg|left|thumb|DRX895W [[Sky+]] digital video recorder manufactured by Amstrad (without Amstrad branding, 2009)]]
Sky bought Amstrad so they could have their own hardware development division to develop new satellite boxes ([[Sky Q]]) made in-house.<ref>{{Cite web |title=End of an era as Sky buys Amstrad |url=https://www.itpro.co.uk/121394/end-of-an-era-as-sky-buys-amstrad |website=IT PRO|date=31 July 2007 }}</ref> Under Sky, Amstrad only produced satellite receivers for Sky, as doing so allows them to reduce costs by cutting out the middleman.<ref>{{Cite web |title=End of an era as Sky buys Amstrad |url=https://www.itpro.co.uk/121394/end-of-an-era-as-sky-buys-amstrad |website=IT PRO|date=31 July 2007 }}</ref> Its main competitor in this space was [[Pace plc]].<ref name=":0" />

Sugar commented that he wished to play a part in the business, saying: "I turn 60 this year and I have had 40 years of hustling in the business, but now I have to start thinking about my team of loyal staff, many of whom have been with me for many years."

It was announced on 2 July 2008 that Sugar had stepped down as Chairman of Amstrad, which had been planned since BSkyB took over in 2007.
Amstrad was taken off the Stock Exchange on 9 October 2008.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/00955321/filing-history/MDE4NzM1MTE4OWFkaXF6a2N4/document?format=pdf&download=0|title=PDF from Company House}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uk.news.yahoo.com/skynews/20080702/tbs-sugar-steps-down-as-amstrad-chairman-327c223.html|title=Sugar steps down as Amstrad Chairman}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7484618.stm | work=BBC News | title=Sir Alan steps down from Amstrad | date=2 July 2008 | access-date=23 April 2010}}</ref> Amstrad has ceased operations as a trading company, and now exists in name only.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/00955321/filing-history/MzIxNTIwMDQ5MWFkaXF6a2N4/document?format=pdf&download=0|title=Accounts for a dormant company}}</ref> Amstrad's former offices are now a [[Premier Inn]] Hotel.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.premierinn.com/gb/en/hotels/england/essex/brentwood/brentwood.html|title=Brentwood Hotels &#124; Book Cheap Hotels In Brentwood Essex &#124; Premier Inn|website=www.premierinn.com}}</ref>