QinetiQ makes strategic investment in Inzpire
QinetiQ Group plc has agreed to acquire 85% of the shares of Inzpire Group Limited, with an agreement to acquire the remaining 15% after two years, for a total consideration of £23.5 million.
Above:
Apache helicopter with crew.
Courtesy QinetiQ
Inzpire has a five-year track record of consistent revenue growth, and is expected to deliver £13.3m revenue and £2.0m of adjusted EBITDA in the financial year to 31 August 2018.
Inzpire is a leading provider of operational training and mission systems for military customers in the UK and internationally. Approximately three quarters of its revenue comes from airborne training and evaluation services, primarily for the Royal Air Force. The balance of its revenue is from the sale of aviation mission system products ranging from standalone tablets to full mission support systems integrated with aircraft avionics.
Strategic rationale:
Enhances QinetiQ’s capabilities in defence operational training
With unparalleled domain expertise and strong relationships with UK Front Line Commands, Inzpire enhances QinetiQ's training capabilities and complements our recent acquisitions
This capability aligns well to the UK demand for live and synthetic training
Inzpire has a number of personnel embedded alongside customers on both F35 and Typhoon. The combination of QinetiQ and Inzpire creates a leading position in mission data and advice for these aircraft in international markets
Complements QinetiQ’s mission systems expertise with portfolio of disruptive products
Inzpire creates cost effective mission control systems that are disrupting a market traditionally dominated by large defence contractors
In addition to access to capital for growth, this strategic investment provides Inzpire with access to QinetiQ’s missions systems capabilities to enhance and broaden its differentiated offerings
Significant international potential
Having built its credibility in the UK, Inzpire is growing internationally, working for the European Defence Agency and customers in the Middle East
Inzpire will leverage QinetiQ’s international routes to market, including its Joint Ventures in the Middle East, to meet growing global demand
Steve Wadey, QinetiQ CEO, said: “Over the past 13 years, Inzpire has become one of the most trusted names in UK defence. This trust is built on their rigorous customer focus, positive culture and their peoples’ extensive experience. Being deeply embedded with their customers, Inzpire provides training and services that are critical to maintaining and building defence capability.
“Our investment enhances our overall offer in defence operational training and mission systems, both in the UK and internationally. Defence operational training represents an area of significant growth as customers around the world increasingly recognise the need to enhance their training capabilities cost effectively. The combination of Inzpire and QinetiQ’s capabilities, complemented by our previous acquisitions, creates a leading provider of critical defence training.”
Hugh Griffiths, Inzpire CEO, said: “We are delighted QinetiQ is becoming our new investor. This transaction will help us accelerate our progress in delivering a “revolution in defence” and our team are hugely excited about the opportunities this tie-up presents.”