19 Feb 2016

Motorola Solutions completes Airwave acquisition

Motorola Solutions has today announced that it has completed its acquisition of Airwave, the operator of the UK’s TETRA public safety network and that Airwave will drop its legal action against the Home Office.

he acquisition took place on a debt-free basis with Motorola Solutions making a net cash payment of approximately £700 million at closing. In addition, a deferred cash payment of £64 million will be made in November 2018. Motorola Solutions expects that the acquisition will be immediately accretive to its non-GAAP earnings and free cash flow. The company intends to incorporate Airwave into its 2016 financial outlook. The acquisition was originally announced on 4^th December 2015.

Airwave delivers mission-critical voice and data communications to more than 300 emergency and public service agencies in Great Britain, including police, fire, rescue and ambulance services.

In addition to operating the Airwave Network, Airwave provides mobile applications to around a third of the UK’s police forces (in a non-mission critical capability) to reduce paperwork, and improve accuracy and operational efficiency. It is also active in the rural broadband sector, trialling broadband in a remote part of Yorkshire as part of a government-led programme. Formed in 2000, Airwave is headquartered in Berkshire, England, with approximately 600 employees.