A Manchester-based team from international law firm Addleshaw Goddard has advised AIM-listed Andor Technology on its acquisition of two international businesses.

Andor Technology is a global leader in the development and manufacture of high performance scientific digital cameras for academic, industrial and government applications.

The Belfast-headquartered business, which has offices in China, Japan and the United States, acquired Apogee in the USA and Spectral Applied Research in Canada within 11 days of each other. Addleshaw Goddard advised Andor on both acquisitions.

The Addleshaw Goddard team was led by corporate partner Roger Hart and included Darren Harris and Tina Wong.

Roger Hart commented "We are delighted to have been able to advise a client with whom we have a very close relationship on these strategic acquisitions.

"The deals further enhance and broaden Andor's offering and provide additional opportunities for the group."

Apogee, based in California, has manufactured and supplied cooled CCD cameras, which are used for imaging the night sky, to government laboratories, astronomers and instrumentation manufacturers around the world since it was founded in 1993. 

The company employs 19 staff, including the original founders, who will remain with the business following the deal.

Andor has paid an initial £2.32m for the business, with a further £210,000 to be paid based on future performance.

Spectral Applied Research, of Toronto, Canada, has been bought for £6.8 m, with a further £3m to be paid if Spectral hits certain operating profit targets in the first three years of Andor's ownership.

Spectral, which has 32 staff, is a market leader in the design and manufacture of optical systems for the cell biology research community.

Conor Walsh, chief executive of Andor, said: "I am pleased to announce these acquisitions. These are both strategic acquisitions for the group and we are confident both businesses will contribute positively to the expanded Andor group."