PE Tech Report

NEWSLETTER

Like this article?

Sign up to our free newsletter

Arlington Capital Partners acquires iRobot defence and security business

Arlington Capital Partners, a Washington, DC-based private equity firm, is to acquire the Defence & Security business of iRobot Corporation. The business will operate as a newly created independent company.

The Company, which will be renamed upon closing, will be the largest independent provider of ground-based robots to the US Department of Defence, with a significant and growing global presence in the security, industrial and international defence markets.
 
“We are extremely excited to partner with the Defence & Security team at iRobot. The Defence & Security business has an established reputation for cutting edge technology, industry-leading reliability and battle-tested functionality. We look forward to further consolidating the Company’s preeminent position in robotics through organic investment and acquisitions.”
 
The Company’s robotic designs are proven in the most dangerous and hostile environments, providing warfighters and first-responders with invaluable situational awareness while improving mission effectiveness and saving lives. Its four-classes of robots, the FirstLook, SUGV, PackBot and Kobra, provide a wide spectrum of capabilities for countless situations. Since inception, more than 6,000 of these robots have been delivered to customers worldwide. Sean Bielat will be named CEO and Tom Frost, currently SVP & GM of iRobot’s Defence & Security business, will be named President. He will lead the same outstanding team that has built the iRobot Defence and Security suite of robots into the industry standard. The organisation will continue to be based in Bedford, MA.
 
“I am thrilled to be rejoining such an amazing organisation,” says Sean Bielat, incoming CEO of the Company. “As an independent company, we will be focused on our own goals and objectives and pursue the numerous opportunities that lie ahead of us.”
 
Tom Frost, President, says: “It is an exciting time for the Company. Building on our long history of innovation and technological achievement serving the defesse and security markets as a part of iRobot, we are looking forward to continuing our committed, customer focused approach as a new company. We are enthusiastic to have the backing of Arlington Capital, whose expertise in the defence sector and strong capital commitment will accelerate our growth trajectory.”
 
Peter Manos, a Managing Partner at Arlington Capital, adds: “We are extremely excited to partner with the Defence & Security team at iRobot. The Defence & Security business has an established reputation for cutting edge technology, industry-leading reliability and battle-tested functionality. We look forward to further consolidating the Company’s preeminent position in robotics through organic investment and acquisitions.” Chris Stallmann, a Vice President at Arlington Capital, continued “Arlington Capital is pleased to be partnering with the highly talented iRobot Defence & Security team on this divestiture to create a new and focused robotics platform. From weight classes of under 5 to over 300 pounds, we look forward to building upon one of the industry’s broadest and deepest robotics product line offerings.”
 

Like this article? Sign up to our free newsletter

MOST POPULAR

FURTHER READING

Featured