LONDON: Oxford Metrics plc, a smart sensing and measurement technology group, announced Tuesday it has acquired Captive Devices Ltd, a U.K.-based developer of facial capture technology, for up to £750,000.
The acquisition adds markerless facial performance capture to Oxford Metrics’ Vicon brand, which is known for its body tracking systems used in life sciences, entertainment, engineering and manufacturing. The deal allows the company to offer an integrated body-and-face capture workflow, combining marker-based, markerless and hybrid motion capture capabilities.
Captive Devices, founded in 2024 and based in Manchester, produces professional head-mounted camera systems and software that work directly with Epic Games’ Unreal Engine. The technology is used in visual effects, games and virtual production. The company reported unaudited revenue of £500,000 for the year ended April 30, 2026, with gross margins matching Vicon’s strong levels.
The total consideration includes a £250,000 cash payment, £300,000 in Oxford Metrics ordinary shares issued quarterly over 24 months, and a performance-based earnout of up to £200,000 in cash contingent on gross profit performance from sales of the facial capture system. No debt was assumed in the transaction.
Captive Devices has sold to leading games studios and visual effects houses, including customers already served by Vicon. Its founding team, who previously designed and built similar systems, will join Vicon.
The cash portion of the deal will be funded from existing resources. The share issuance will be priced based on the closing price on Aug. 27, 2026.
Imogen O’Connor, Chief Executive Officer of Oxford Metrics, said: “This is exactly the kind of targeted investment we want to make in Vicon – adding differentiated technology and specialist expertise in an area that builds directly on our existing strengths.
“Captive Devices extends our capabilities from body tracking into facial performance capture and gives us the opportunity to take proven technology to a much broader global customer base. It broadens what Vicon can offer customers today and supports the continued development of the platform we are building for the future.”
