• Swindon & Wiltshire Manufacturing
• Tuesday February 17 2026

Swindon manufacturer bought for £9.3 million

A Swindon-based manufacturer of LED components used in military aircraft has been acquired by scientific equipment group SDI.

PRP Optoelectronics designs and manufactures custom high performance microLEDs and LED light engines for avionics, defence and industrial applications.

Its kit can be found in the cockpit of the Eurofighter Typhoon (pictured) and the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor.

Established in 1989, the firm employs 33 people at the 20,000 sq ft site at Hillmead Enterprise Park.

PRP’s managing director Kevin Peart and technical director Sam Cox (the majority shareholders) will remain with the business in a full-time capacity.

PRP will join the SDI Group’s Industrial & Scientific Sensors division, extending SDI’s footprint into the resilient and lucrative aerospace & defence sector.

The sale was brokered by Swindon corporate finance specialists Watersheds with Old Town-based Gardner Leader providing legal advice.

Josh Jones, partner at Watersheds, said: “It’s a privilege to have worked closely with a fantastic local business and with local advisors to deliver an outstanding result for our clients.

“Our significant track record in both the electronics, and aerospace and defence sectors proved crucial to a smooth and successful process.

“We are delighted to have secured the right home for the business through our efforts, ultimately ensuring optimal value and obtaining the necessary Cabinet Office approval.”

Watersheds said PRP’s shareholders Kevin Peart, Sam Cox, Andrew McKerrow and Richard Martin prioritised doing ‘the right thing’ in finding the right buyers to secure the long-term future of the business and its workforce, enabling PRP to remain operationally independent.

SDI Group plc presented an ideal opportunity to secure a British-based buyer with a complementary electronics background, able to maintain the established culture and company values.

PRP MD Kevin Peart added: “We engaged Watersheds on the basis of the relationship built from the first meeting. We were impressed with the speed at which they found high-quality buyers.

“Their knowledge of the challenges of the sector and our business, and their dedication to guiding us every step of the way, was instrumental in the success of the process.”