Oxford Metrics buys Move AI assets as it cuts its profit forecast
The Vicon owner pays £525,000 for the assets of a London-based markerless motion capture developer on the same morning it warns of an operating loss and confirms its next chief executive
- Move AI’s flagship product is its Genesis platform, with tools ranging from single-camera capture to multi-camera and real-time systems
- The board expects adjusted earnings before interest and tax for 2027 at or above market expectations of £3.5m, with revenue below forecasts
- The group has secured market-exclusive rights to a large third-party dataset of human movement recordings
Vicon is putting its growth spending into markerless capture, robotics and movement data, with software, data and services income planned alongside its hardware sales. Choosing a chief executive from robotics and automation to run both the group and Vicon fits that direction.
“Our focus for 2027 is on improving margins while developing more recurring revenue.”Gary Bullard, non-executive chair and interim chief executive, Oxford Metrics
Oxford Metrics, the Oxford-based motion capture and machine vision group listed on AIM, said on 9 October that it had bought the assets of Move AI for £525,000 in cash after a competitive bid process. Including immediate transaction expenses, the cost is about £725,000.
Move AI, founded in 2019 as reported by BusinessCloud, uses AI and computer vision to turn video into 3D motion data without markers or specialist suits. It reported unaudited revenue of £1.1m for 2025. Its technology, patents, staff and customers move to Vicon, the group’s motion capture division, which added facial capture through the purchase of Captive Devices, announced on 1 September.
The deal followed a trading update that cut the group’s outlook. Oxford Metrics now expects revenue of £47m–£51m for the 15 months to 31 December 2026 and an adjusted loss before interest and tax of £0.5m–£3.9m. The board put market expectations at £56.2m of revenue and a £3m adjusted profit.
The company said Vicon’s entertainment revenue was hit by reduced investment across film, television and games, including studio consolidation and lower demand for new virtual-production stages, which delayed several large contracts. Constrained research funding, particularly in the US, continues to delay purchases by health and life sciences customers. In Industrial Vision and Metrology Systems, the next phase of a major contact lens inspection program has slipped to Q1 2027.
The company said demand from robotics, including humanoid robot developers and drone tracking, was encouraging. Its Nexus Markerless software for health and life sciences is sold only by subscription.
The group is widening its savings program to £1.5m–£2m of net annualized savings. It held about £29.5m in cash and deposits at 30 September and plans a share buyback of up to £3m. It is also merging the group and Vicon managing director roles. Stefan Lampa, a robotics and automation executive, joins as group and Vicon chief executive on 1 December. Gary Bullard, non-executive chair and interim chief executive, then returns to the chair role.
Sources
- Oxford Metrics, “Acquisition of Move AI assets”, RNS announcement, 9 October 2026. https://www.investegate.co.uk/announcement/rns/oxford-metrics--omg/acquisition-of-move-ai-assets/9814687
- Oxford Metrics, “Trading Update and Strategic Update”, RNS announcement, 9 October 2026. https://www.investegate.co.uk/announcement/rns/oxford-metrics--omg/trading-update-and-strategic-update/9814524
- Oxford Metrics, “Confirmation of CEO Appointment”, RNS announcement, 9 October 2026. https://www.investegate.co.uk/announcement/rns/oxford-metrics--omg/confirmation-of-ceo-appointment/9815799
- Jonathan Symcox, “Cost-cutting Oxford Metrics agrees cut-price deal for Move AI”, BusinessCloud, 9 October 2026. https://businesscloud.co.uk/news/cost-cutting-oxford-metrics-agrees-cut-price-deal-for-move-ai/
