A YATE manufacturing firm has been sold in a multi-million pound deal.

Amplifier Technology Ltd, based in Westerleigh Business Park, has been sold to Vislink plc for £4million.

The sale of the defence manufacturing firm follows a strong financial performance of Amplifier, which has been consistently profitable over the past three years and posted sales of £4.8million (year end June 2012).

The company, which employs 30 staff, specialises in RF High Power Amplifiers and has customers including leading UK and European defence companies such as Thales and Selex ES.

Its new owner Vislink is a global technology business specialising in the collection and delivery of high quality video and associated data. It provides solutions to the broadcast market for the collection of live news, sport and entertainment events and to the surveillance market. Vislink employs over 250 people worldwide and is listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE: VLK).

Bristol-based corporate finance advisors, Shaw & Co, acted as the lead advisor to Amplifier on the deal.

Director Myles Hamilton said: “These two businesses have a bright future together.

“Amplifier has a world-class technical capability and with the support of Vislink will now have wider routes to market and access to new potential customers.

“It has been highly rewarding to have played a part in securing the future of this local business.”

Many of Amplifier’s technology products protect allied forces in the world’s most troubled areas with a particular focus on combatting Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). The company’s previous work also includes supplying sophisticated technologies to the UK’s Type 45 Destroyer programme.

Amplifier director Simon Taylor, who will remain in the business as managing director, said: “We are delighted to be joining the Vislink Group which no doubt will give us the opportunity to grow by exploiting the Vislink channels to market.”