A HI-TECH BT Martlesham spin-out specialising in electronic surveillance which can help predict terrorist attacks or major crime before it happens has been sold for an undisclosed sum.

By Sarah Chambers

A HI-TECH BT Martlesham spin-out specialising in electronic surveillance which can help predict terrorist attacks or major crime before it happens has been sold for an undisclosed sum.

ThorpeGlen Ltd, a management buyout group based at Adastral Park and backed by Cambridge-based fund management team CREATE Partners Ltd, bought the Advanced Communications Monitoring business from Azure Solutions.

The purchase took four months and the buyers, who were helped by European American Capital Ltd, faced stiff competition.

Azure was spun out from BT Brightstar in April 2003, and taken over by an Indian company, Subex, in June 2006 to form Subex Azure.

The advanced systems the company makes can acquire, enhance, monitor and analyse massive amounts of data. This can be used to predict activity which may indicate preparation for major criminal events, including terrorism acts and hi-tech financial frauds.

“Our predictive intelligence capability, developed over many years with BT and Azure, gives ThorpeGlen its unique and leading position in the market place,” said ThorpeGlen chief executive David Woods.

“Previously many systems of crime detection have relied predominantly on post-event intelligence, but what is increasingly required is the ability to predict activity leading to major crime events before they happen.

“Integrate that with the current investigation processes used, add other surveillance and intelligence capabilities, and we are helping governments strengthen their anti-crime and counter-terrorism capability.”

The company, which has already established contracts in the UK, Asia and Europe, is hoping to expand its operations further across the globe.

Investment director Matt Pieterse, who led the deal for CREATE, said: “We are very impressed with the drive, professionalism and ambition of this highly experienced management team.

“The business combines a high level of managerial skill and talent with strategically important intellectual property aimed at a very large market opportunity. We expect the company to become a market leader in its field.”