LONDON: BATM (LSE: BVC; TASE: BVC), a global provider of advanced network infrastructure, cybersecurity and diagnostic technologies, has entered into an agreement to sell A.M.S 2000 Trading Impex SRL (AMS), a subsidiary of the Group that distributes diagnostic laboratory equipment in Romania.
The sale agreement marks a key milestone in the execution of the Group’s strategy to exit its non-core activities and focus on its core strengths of networks, cybersecurity and diagnostics.
Under the terms of the sale agreement, the Group will sell AMS to Dr. Zvi Marom, a non-executive director and significant shareholder of the Group, in exchange for his entire shareholding of 96,794,500 ordinary shares of NIS 0.01 each (“Ordinary Shares”) in BATM, representing c. 22.2% of the existing issued share capital. The transaction values AMS at £17.6m (c. $23.7m), based on the closing price of the Group’s Ordinary Shares on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange on 3 October 2025, being the trading day prior to the signing of the Sale Agreement. Dr. Marom’s offer exceeded the value of a competing offer that the Group received for the disposal of AMS.
The completion of the sale is subject to the approval of shareholders at a general meeting; the Board will issue a circular to convene this general meeting in due course. Following completion, Dr. Marom will cease to be a shareholder of the Group and will resign as a director of the Group.
Moti Nagar, Chief Executive Officer of BATM, said: “This transaction marks a significant step in BATM’s strategic execution, underlining our focus on becoming a streamlined, high-growth business. The sale of AMS is the fourth sale of a non-core asset in 2025, reflecting our commitment to focus resources and efforts on our core markets of networks, cybersecurity and diagnostics, that offer substantial growth opportunities and where we are making strong advancements, particularly in network encryption and edge computing. The Board believes this transaction is compelling not only strategically, but also because it allows us to deliver immediate value to shareholders. We continue to make progress with respect to exiting other non-core assets and look forward to updating the market in due course.”
Since June 2023, the Group has been executing on a clear strategy for the business to focus on its core strengths of networks, cybersecurity and diagnostics, and to dispose of all non-core assets. The Group is prioritising its higher-margin activities that are in substantial, high-growth markets and where it can leverage its decades of experience of delivering highly innovative solutions. By disposing of its non-core assets, the Group will be able to provide greater resources and focus to its identified core strengths to drive growth in these activities where the Board believes greater opportunities exist to maximise shareholder value.
AMS, which was established in 1997 and acquired by the Group in 2007, is an authorised importer and distributor in the Romanian market of diagnostic laboratory equipment, including reagents and laboratory supplies, from leading international brands. It also has two laboratories that perform genetic, microbiological, physio-chemical and environmental analyses, which will be taken out of AMS prior to the sale.
BATM will continue to own and operate the two laboratories, which it will seek to sell as part of its ongoing strategy to dispose of non-core assets. AMS has approximately 100 employees across several offices, a warehouse and the laboratories in Romania. The proposed sale will reduce the operational complexity of BATM and enable savings in central corporate costs.
For the year ended 31 December 2024, AMS generated revenue of $34.2m, a gross margin of 28% and net profit of $2.7m prior to any allocation of central corporate costs. This includes the contribution from the laboratories, which accounted for c. 11% of AMS revenue in 2024.
For the Group’s reporting purposes, AMS was incorporated within the BATM Diagnostics division as the business had begun to distribute the Group’s proprietary diagnostic products alongside third-party products. However, its activities are non-core to the Group’s high-margin, high-growth and high-technology focus. Accordingly, the Board believes it is in the best interests of the Group and its shareholders to dispose of AMS for the reasons outlined above.
Under the terms of the Sale Agreement, the Group will sell AMS (excluding the laboratories) to Dr. Marom for £17.6m. The consideration will be satisfied by the exchange of his entire shareholding in the BATM (the “Consideration Shares”).
Dr. Marom holds a total of 96,794,500 Ordinary Shares in BATM, representing c. 22.2% of the Group’s issued share capital. BATM will retain any cash balances that will be outstanding in AMS prior to the sale, after adjustments to normative working capital in AMS.
BATM is the ultimate parent company of AMS, through the Group’s 100% indirect ownership of Sunstring Ltd, which wholly owns AMS.
The completion of the transaction is subject to shareholder approval at a general meeting and all other legal and regulatory requirements.