27th May 2025 07:00
MT&S acquisition completed
Serco Group plc ("Serco" or the "Company")
27 May 2025
Completion of MT&S acquisition
Serco Inc, a US subsidiary of Serco, has completed the acquisition of Northrop Grumman's mission training and satellite ground network communications software business (MT&S) following receipt of the necessary regulatory approvals. MT&S provides the US military with advanced mission training services, and software that enhances satellite ground network efficiency.
As previously announced, MT&S is expected to generate revenue of around $300m (£225m)1 and underlying operating profit of $34m (£25m)1 in 2025, before transaction and integration costs.
Following completion, Serco will benefit from approximately seven months of MT&S' financial performance in 2025, contributing an estimated $175m (£130m) of revenue and $20m (£15m) of underlying operating profit, with transaction and integration costs expected to be around $10m (£8m). The transaction will be mid-single digit accretive to underlying EPS in 2026, the first full year of ownership.
Anthony Kirby, Group Chief Executive, said: "Following this acquisition, defence will be our largest sector, representing approximately 40% of Group revenue1, with operations in all our major geographies. North America will represent approximately 50% of Group underlying operating profit.
"This acquisition, our fifth in defence since 2019, strengthens our position for future organic growth through increased scale, our breadth of solutions and builds upon the excellent new business and retentions we have secured in defence so far in 2025."
Updated guidance for 2025
We update guidance to reflect the anticipated seven-month financial contribution from MT&S, associated transaction and integration costs, as well as recent exchange rates. Since our last issued guidance on 27 February, the adverse translational impact of currency movements for 2025 is estimated to be £90m for revenue and £7m for underlying operating profit.
| 2024 | 2025 | 2025 | 2025 | 2025 |
| Actual | Prior guidance | MT&S | FX | New guidance |
Revenue | £4,787m | ~£4.8bn | £130m | (£90m) | ~£4.8bn |
Organic sales growth | (3)% | ~0% | - | - | ~0% |
Underlying operating profit | £274m | ~£260m | £7m | (£7m) | ~£260m |
Net finance costs | £33m | ~£40m | £9m | (£1m) | ~£48m |
Underlying effective tax rate | 25% | ~25% | - | - | ~25% |
Free cash flow | £228m | ~£135m | (£2m) | (£3m) | ~£130m |
Adjusted net debt | £100m | ~£10m | £260m | (£25m) | ~£245m |
NB: Guidance uses an average GBP:USD exchange rate of 1.31 in 2025, GBP:EUR of 1.18 and GBP:AUD of 2.07. The GBP:USD spot rate of 1.34 has been used for acquisition consideration and the estimated financial contribution of MT&S for 2025. We expect a weighted average number of shares in 2025 of 1,015m for basic EPS and 1,035m for diluted EPS.
A pre-close trading update is scheduled for 26 June 2025.
Notes
1 Estimated calendar year 2025 revenue, underlying operating profit assuming the business was under Serco ownership and included in numbers from 1 January 2025.
2 Revenue mix including Serco's share of joint ventures.
Ends.
For further information, please contact:
Jamie Hastings, Head of Investor Relations | +44 (0) 7718 195 074 | [email protected]
Scot Marchbank, Group Communications and Marketing Director | +44 (0) 7958 675 706 | [email protected]
About Serco
Serco brings together the right people, the right technology, and the right partners to create innovative solutions that make a positive impact and address some of the most urgent and complex challenges facing the modern world.
With a primary focus on serving governments globally, Serco's services are powered by more than 50,000 people working across defence, space, migration, justice, healthcare, mobility, and customer services.
Serco's core capabilities include service design and advisory, resourcing, complex programme management, systems integration, case management, engineering, and asset & facilities management.
Underpinned by Serco's unique operating model, Serco drives innovation and supports customers from service discovery through to delivery.
More information can be found at www.serco.com
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