Spanish multinational technology company Amadeus is set to buy Vision-Box, a biometric solution provider for airports, airlines, and border control customers.
The acquisition of Portugal-based Vision-Box brings new capabilities around biometrics hardware and software to Amadeus, adding border control solutions to its portfolio.
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Through the acquisition of Vision-Box’s operations, Amadeus says it will now be able to deliver “a full end-to-end seamless passenger experience” from booking to arrival at the airport, through border control, and boarding.
Amadeus will be fully acquiring privately-owned Vision-Box for an agreed price of around €320m.
As part of this acquisition, approximately 470 Vision-Box employees will transfer to Amadeus. The deal is subject to customary regulatory approvals and is expected to close in H1 2024.
“Biometrics is a strategic and fast-growing industry, and Vision-Box’s capabilities will allow us to accelerate our growth in this area,” said Decius Valmorbida, president of travel at Amadeus.
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By GlobalDataAmadeus hopes the deal will help its strategy to connect the travel industry with a “seamless ecosystem”. Acquiring Vision-Box and its capabilities will, according to the company, allow for its existing offering to “improve biometrics interoperability” between airports, airlines, and border control authorities.
“With a portfolio that is deeply complementary to our existing offering for both airports and airlines, our combined best-in-class solutions will now deliver a seamless passenger journey from booking to boarding,” added Valmorbida.
Vision-Box is a fast-growing global business with expected revenues of €70m, and an estimated normalized EBITDA of close to €20m in 2023, is currently partially owned by private equity fund Keensight Capital.
“I’m extremely excited about the growth opportunities for Vision-Box as we join Amadeus, a leading travel technology player with a global footprint,” said Miguel Leitmann, founder and CEO of Vision-Box.
“Together we can deliver the next big step in the travel experience: to unite all separate players and systems in a single, digitally- integrated, and orchestrated ecosystem.”
Adoption of biometric technology at airports has seen a global uptick since the Covid-19 pandemic, with airports and passengers both wanting more frictionless touchpoints throughout the airport journey.
