SOUTHAMPTON-based shipbuilder and service provider Vosper Thornycroft (VT) has snapped up a major communications management company for £95m.

This comes in the same week as VT announced a five per cent rise in operating profits to nearly £15m in the six months which ended in September.

Merlin Communications Group Limited, based in London, has extensive experience in design, build, finance, operation, maintenance and support of technical facilities both in the UK and overseas.

Amongst Merlin's customers Merlin are the Ministry of Defence, BBC World Service, Voice of America and the European Space Agency.

Martin Jay, VT's chief executive, said: "Merlin broadens VT's technical support offering and opens up new opportunities both in the UK and overseas.''

Fiona Lowry, Merlin's chief executive, added: "VT offers us the chance to build upon our success to date within a fast-growing environment, where we will have access to a larger resource base.

"This will enable us to fully exploit the significant opportunities we have in our current sales pipeline.''