Radio frequency technology specialist Alaris – The RF Technology Group – has established new group headquarters in the United Kingdom following investment by a UK-based company, but South African operations will continue as normal.
Alaris – The RF Technology Group – last week announced that the establishment of the head office in the UK is “an important landmark in the Alaris Group’s strategic evolution. This restructuring follows an investment by a UK-based company backed by RMB Corvest, a private equity arm of Rand Merchant Bank.”
The decision to restructure was carefully considered and driven by a combination of global, regional, and long-term business considerations, the company said. Global investors increasingly prioritise proximity to financial hubs and access to developed capital markets. Investors in the UK and Europe place a premium on technology companies and those operating in the defence sector.
Alaris has a growing customer base across Europe, the United Kingdom and North America and parts of Asia. “Being headquartered in the UK brings us strategically closer to key clients, partners, and emerging opportunities,” the company said. It added that in recent years, evolving geopolitical dynamics and regional uncertainties have introduced increased complexity for groups operating out of South Africa.
“Under guidance by many experts, and after more than two years of negotiations, structuring, applications and hard work, this project was completed on 30 June 2025. With the new investment, Alaris Group facilitated the exit of some founding and investing shareholders while all employee shareholders and our incumbent anchor investor, Tadvest, remain involved with their investment and support to the Alaris Group.”
Whilst the headquarters of the Alaris Group will now be based in Lincoln, UK, it emphasised that its roots remain firmly planted in South Africa, and its commitment to the region continues. The founding entity of the Alaris Group, Alaris Antennas based in Centurion, together with all its sites worldwide, will remain unaffected, “providing the Alaris Group with a commercial advantage through history and knowledge. It is also important to note that nothing changes for any of the subsidiaries, our customers or suppliers – it is ‘business as usual’ going forward.”
As part of the UK headquarters establishment, Alaris announced its new board, with Vice Admiral Bob Cooling as Independent Chair of the board. Richard Gibbs has been appointed as Senior Independent Non-Executive Director. As Group CEO, Juergen Dresel will serve as Executive Director together with Chris Buckenham, Group CFO. To complete the board, Chris Neser representing Tadvest Ltd, Alaris’s anchor investor, and Ross Logan, representing incoming investor, Corvest Atlanta Nominee Ltd, have been appointed as Non-Executive Directors.
“These individuals bring diverse experience, a wealth of knowledge and international positions and will support our continued expansion and will help us steer confidently into this next phase,” the Alaris Group stated.
The Alaris Group is a global radio frequency technology group that operates across multiple markets, from defence, aviation, marine and wireless, to industrial, healthcare, research communities and governmental institutes. It comprises the following entities — Alaris Antennas, Alaris COJOT, Alaris mWAVE, Alaris Linwave, Alaris USA, Alaris Kuhne and Alaris Edge.
Centurion-based Alaris Antennas specialises in components used in in electronic warfare such as counter-RCIED jammers, direction finding antennas to identify and locate enemy transmissions, jammers and masts, among other items. These products may be mounted on vehicles, aircraft, UAVs, ships and submarines, or carried by individual soldiers.
In 2024 the Alaris Group reported a revenue of R564 million, and profit after tax of R54 million. The UK and Europe regions were the biggest contributors to group revenue (R270 million).
Last year the Group “demonstrated resilience” by capitalising on a recovery in demand in the industry, and increased government defence spending as a result of geopolitical events.
“The noticeable uptick in the market is propelled by an increase in defence spending, which in turn is driven by geopolitical tensions and the demand for advanced defence technologies. All subsidiaries are well positioned to successfully tap into this growing market,” the Alaris Group said in its 2024 annual report.
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