Amor Group

Amor Group was a Scottish business technology and software services company that operated across public-sector, energy and transport markets. It was described as Scotland's largest independent business technology company before being acquired by Lockheed Martin in September 2013. The group developed through the consolidation of technology businesses with specialist capabilities in engineering, managed services, aerospace software and healthcare information technology. The business was created through a management buyout of Real Time Engineering Ltd., based in Glasgow, and Pragma, based in Aberdeen. Both businesses had previously been owned by Sword Business Technology Solutions Ltd., the technology subsidiary of French IT group Sword Group. The management buyout was valued at £28 million and later received a Scottish business award for deal of the year. The transaction established Amor Group as an independent platform capable of combining sector-specific software development with consultancy, systems integration and managed services. Amor Group expanded its capabilities through several acquisitions. In May 2009, Capital Growth Partners entered an investment partnership with the group. In November 2010, Amor acquired DW Technology Services Ltd., a global managed-services provider, adding its workforce of 25 employees. In 2011, the group purchased FS Walker Hughes, an aerospace software business. Its Chroma Suite products were subsequently incorporated into Amor's airport technology offerings. In October 2011, Amor acquired Invisys, a London healthcare IT company, strengthening its ability to serve health-sector customers. The company focused on technology for organizations with complex operational, regulatory and infrastructure requirements rather than on consumer software. Its stated areas of activity included public services, energy and transport. Customers or organizations associated with its work included the National Health Service, the Scottish Charity Regulator, Centrica and Oslo Airport. Its portfolio included airport and aerospace systems, sector-specific software, IT support, managed services and related consultancy. Amor was also a Gold-certified Microsoft partner, reflecting a significant relationship with Microsoft's enterprise technology ecosystem. The group was headquartered at a former industrial tyre facility in Inchinnan, Renfrewshire, which it presented as its Glasgow headquarters. It also maintained offices or operations in Aberdeen, Daresbury, Dubai, Edinburgh, Coventry and Houston. This footprint supported work for customers in the United Kingdom and selected international markets. Lockheed Martin purchased Amor Group in September 2013 for an undisclosed amount. The acquisition brought Amor's software, services and sector expertise into the US defence contractor's UK operations. Following the transaction, Amor ceased to operate as an independent corporate group. Publicly available material does not establish a separate continuing consumer-facing brand architecture, a precise independent wind-down date or a complete catalogue of products after integration.

Amor Group emerged from a £28 million management buyout of two businesses: Glasgow-based Real Time Engineering Ltd. and Aberdeen-based Pragma. Before the transaction, both companies were owned by Sword Business Technology Solutions Ltd., part of the French global IT group Sword. The buyout created an independent Scottish technology group with a base in the former industrial tyre building at Inchinnan in Renfrewshire. Amor referred to this site as its Glasgow headquarters. The transaction was subsequently recognized with a Scottish business award for deal of the year. The company developed as a sector-focused technology provider rather than a consumer software brand. Its principal markets were public services, energy and transport, where customers required software, systems integration, managed services and technical support for complex operating environments. Its associated customers included the National Health Service, the Scottish Charity Regulator, Centrica and Oslo Airport. Amor also held Microsoft Gold Partner certification, indicating an established capability in Microsoft's enterprise technology environment. In May 2009, Capital Growth Partners formed an investment partnership with Amor Group. The investment supported the group's development during a period in which it broadened its service portfolio through acquisitions. In November 2010, Amor bought DW Technology Services Ltd., a global managed-services provider, and took on its 25 employees. This acquisition strengthened the group's ability to provide ongoing infrastructure and support services in addition to project-based software work. Amor made two further acquisitions in 2011. The purchase of FS Walker Hughes added aerospace software capabilities. Its Chroma Suite products were integrated into Amor's airport product offerings, linking the acquired aerospace technology with the group's transport-sector activities. In October, the group acquired Invisys, a London healthcare IT company. This transaction expanded Amor's presence in health information technology and complemented its existing public-sector focus. The group operated from a network that included Aberdeen, Daresbury, Dubai, Edinburgh, Coventry and Houston, as well as its Inchinnan headquarters. The locations reflected a combination of Scottish roots, wider UK coverage and international activity. Amor's work spanned public-sector systems, energy technology, transport and airport applications, healthcare IT, aerospace software and managed services. In September 2013, Lockheed Martin purchased Amor Group for an undisclosed amount. Capital Growth Partners exited its investment as part of the transaction. The acquisition transferred Amor's capabilities into Lockheed Martin's UK business structure and ended Amor's existence as an independent corporate group. The available reference material does not specify the detailed post-acquisition treatment of every product or office, nor does it document a later standalone operating history for the Amor name.

• 2013

  Acquired by Lockheed Martin

  [1]Amor Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Lockheed Martin bought Amor Group in September for an undisclosed amount, bringing its activities into Lockheed Martin's UK operations.

• 2011

  FS Walker Hughes acquired

  [1]Amor Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Amor acquired aerospace software company FS Walker Hughes and incorporated its Chroma Suite into the group's airport technology offerings.

• 2011

  Invisys acquired

  [1]Amor Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Amor acquired London healthcare IT firm Invisys in October.

• 2010

  DW Technology Services acquired

  [1]Amor Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Amor acquired the managed-services provider DW Technology Services and inherited its 25 employees.

• 2009

  Capital Growth Partners invests in Amor Group

  [1]Amor Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Capital Growth Partners entered an investment partnership with Amor Group in May.

• Management buyout forms Amor Group

  [1]Amor Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Real Time Engineering Ltd. and Pragma were combined through a £28 million management buyout from Sword Business Technology Solutions, creating Amor Group as an independent Scottish technology company.

A specialist business technology and software services provider for public-sector, energy, transport, aerospace and other operationally complex organizations.

• aerospace software

  Chroma Suite

  A suite of aerospace software associated with FS Walker Hughes. After Amor Group acquired that business in 2011, the Chroma Suite was incorporated into Amor's airport product offerings, extending the group's transport technology portfolio. The available source does not provide a complete breakdown of modules, editions, technical architecture or later product ownership.

• transport software

  Airport technology offerings

  Amor Group's airport-related technology offerings served its transport-sector activities and incorporated products from the acquired Chroma Suite. They formed part of the group's broader portfolio of sector-specific software and technology services for airport and aviation environments. Specific product names, release dates and post-acquisition continuation are not established by the available material.

• managed services

  Managed IT services

  Managed infrastructure and technology support services formed part of Amor Group's business-services offering. The acquisition of DW Technology Services in 2010 added a global managed-services capability and 25 employees. Public descriptions do not identify a single standardized branded service package or provide detailed service specifications.

• public-sector software and services

  Public-sector and healthcare IT solutions

  Amor supplied technology solutions to public-sector and health-related organizations, including work associated with the NHS and the Scottish Charity Regulator. The offering appears to have combined software, consultancy, integration and support rather than one mass-market product. The source material does not identify a definitive product catalogue.

• 2013

  Sell the group to Lockheed MartinM&A

  Background

  Amor had expanded across public-sector, energy, transport, aerospace and healthcare technology markets.

  Action taken

  Lockheed Martin acquired Amor Group in September for an undisclosed amount.

  Aftermath

  Amor's activities were incorporated into Lockheed Martin's UK operations, ending its independent corporate identity.

  Source

• Create an independent sector-focused technology group through a management buyoutStrategy

  Background

  Real Time Engineering Ltd. and Pragma were operating under Sword Business Technology Solutions before the transaction.

  Action taken

  A management buyout valued at £28 million formed Amor Group and positioned it as an independent Scottish business technology company.

  Aftermath

  The newly independent group expanded through investment and acquisitions before later being sold to Lockheed Martin.

  Transaction value. £28 million

  Source

1. 1Amor Groupen.wikipedia.org