£900m tech firm bid

A BRITISH tech firm that provides number-plate recognition to police forces could fall into the hands of another foreign owner.

Japanese giant NEC could be about to bid for Civica with the Tokyo-based company said to be mulling a £900m offer.

A spokesman for NEC yesterday said ‘nothing had been decided’ but did not scotch rumours it was about to pounce.

Civica was put up for auction several weeks ago by Canadian pension fund OMERS Private Markets. Initial offers have emerged from three private equity firms – London-based BC Partners, American investment firm Berkshire Partners and the Swiss-based Partners Group – sources told Sky News. OMERS Private Markets declined to comment.

Civica’s software is used by 500,000 government staff. Its clients include the Electoral Commission, the Home Office, the Foreign Office, the Ministry of Justice and the NHS. Its numberplate recognition technology is used by 90pc of UK police forces.