Amadeus to Acquire IDEMIA Public Security for 1.2 Billion Euros

Travel technology provider Amadeus IT Group has agreed to acquire IDEMIA Public Security from private equity firm Advent International for approximately 1.2 billion euros, in a deal that would expand Amadeus’s capabilities in biometric identity, airport systems, and border management.

IDEMIA Public Security operates across government identity programs, border control infrastructure, and law enforcement biometrics. The division provides fingerprint, facial recognition, and document verification systems to government agencies worldwide, and maintains airport biometric installations across multiple continents.

The acquisition would position Amadeus, traditionally focused on airline reservation systems and travel IT, as a player in the biometric identity and public security sector. The company has indicated the deal aligns with its strategy to expand beyond core travel distribution into adjacent technology services.

IDEMIA’s parent company restructured its operations into separate divisions in recent years. IDEMIA Public Security, which partnered with Proof on privacy-preserving verifiable digital credentials, focuses on government and public safety markets, while the broader IDEMIA group serves financial institutions and telecom operators.

The deal comes as demand for biometric identity systems in air travel continues to grow. Airlines and airports have been expanding deployment of facial recognition boarding, automated border control eGates, and biometric bag drop systems, creating demand for integrated solutions spanning the traveler journey.

Advent International, which has backed IDEMIA through its private equity portfolio, is selling the public security division to Amadeus as part of a broader restructuring of IDEMIA’s business units.

The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. Financial terms were confirmed at approximately 1.2 billion euros.

Sources: Reuters

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By Cass Kennedy