Defence measures

UK defence countermeasures and pyrotechnics group Chemring, has further boosted its international profile with three acquisitions.

In a bid to consolidate what it claims is currently a fragmented market, the Hampshire company announced that it has agreed to buy Technical Ordnance, Leafield Engineering and Leafield Marine, all of which manufacture explosive devices for the defence and aerospace sectors.

US-based Technical Ordnance, which last year made a profit of just under £5m, has a range of major customers including all three main US military services. It will cost Chemring just over £39m.

According to the UK group, Technical Ordnance also offers potential for growth two ways; through the transfer of products and technologies to address the huge US defence market, and by using Chemring’s customer network to increase export potential.

The decision to buy both Leafield companies for £5m was driven by Chemring’s similar aspirations to grow in Europe, where the acquisitions will open doors in the complex weapon market and substantially enhance the firm’s electro-mechanical and sub-system engineering capability, said Chemring. Leafield’s integration within Chemring’s broader energetic materials capability should provide opportunities for organic growth, the company added.