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RNS Number : 0025M
Cohort PLC
17 May 2010 
 
17 May 2010                                                                                                                
                                               AIM: CHRT 
 
PRESS RELEASE 
 
COHORT PLC ("Cohort") 
 
Acquisition of Abacus EW Consultancy Ltd ("Abacus EW") 
 
Cohort, the independent technology group, today announces that MASS Consultants Ltd ("MASS"), its wholly-owned subsidiary,
has acquired the entire share capital of Abacus EW Consultancy Limited. There will be an initial cash consideration of
£1.0m payable on completion and a further performance-related cash consideration of up to £1.8m over three years. The
acquisition will be funded from Cohort's internal cash resources and is expected to be earnings enhancing in the current
year before amortisation of acquired intangible assets. 
 
Abacus EW 
 
Based in Wellingore near Lincoln, Abacus EW provides consultancy services and training in communications and radar
electronic warfare (EW) to UK and overseas customers, primarily in the land and maritime environments.  The training
offered is operationally-focused and uses state-of-the-art simulation tools. The company has also recently launched an
innovative EW training & planning software tool. 
 
Acquisition Rationale 
 
Cohort's immediate focus is on improving operational performance. However, we continue to look at any opportunities for
bolt-in acquisitions which strengthen our existing businesses. Abacus will be integrated within MASS's Lincoln-based
Electronic Warfare Operational Support Division.  Paul Burrows, founder of Abacus EW, will remain with MASS to continue to
drive business development in this area. Benefits of the acquisition include: 
 
·        extending MASS's existing EW product and training offering into the land and maritime environments; 
 
·        adding new overseas defence customers; and 
 
·        providing established business management infrastructure to accelerate Abacus EW's growth plans 
 
Commenting on the acquisition, Andrew Thomis, Chief Executive of Cohort plc, said: 
 
"This small but important transaction adds depth, breadth and new customers to an already successful offering from our MASS
business in the export EW market.  This very much reinforces our niche capability in this field and I welcome Paul Burrows
and his team into Cohort." 
 
Ends 
 
For further information, please contact 
 
 Cohort plc  Andrew Thomis, Chief ExecutiveSimon Walther, Finance Director  +44 (0)14 9184 5630  
                                                                                                 
 Investec    Keith Anderson, Daniel Adams                                   +44 (0)20 7597 5970  
                                                                                                 
 Hogarth     Julian Walker, Vicky Watkins                                   +44 (0)20 7357 9477  
 
 
Notes to Editors on following page 
 
NOTES TO EDITORS 
 
Cohort plc (www.cohortplc.com) 
 
Cohort is an independent technology group working primarily for defence (air, land and sea), wider government and industry
clients, through three market-facing subsidiary companies: 
 
·     MASS (www.mass.co.uk) - a specialist systems house with considerable experience in the defence market and a focus on
Information Systems.  Based in Cambridgeshire, MASS was acquired by Cohort in August 2006; 
 
·     SCS (www.scs-ltd.co.uk) - an independent defence consultancy, combining technical expertise with practical experience
and domain knowledge. Owned by Cohort since flotation in March 2006; 
 
·     SEA (www.sea.co.uk) - an advanced surveillance systems and software house with hardware development capability
operating in the defence, space, transport and offshore market sectors. Acquired by Cohort in October 2007. 
 
Cohort (AIM: CHRT) was admitted to London's Alternative Investment Market in March 2006. It has its headquarters in
Oxfordshire and, through its operating companies, employs in total around 500 core staff there and at bases in Bristol,
Cambridgeshire, Oxfordshire, Lincolnshire and Somerset. 
 
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange