US group Armor Design, which designs body armour for the defence and ‘homeland security’ markets, hopes to rope in $16 million (£8 million) of fresh cash with a London listing.

Based in Phoenix, Arizona, the company has developed a brand of armour that is allegedly lighter and therefore more comfortable than its peers and wants to extend its brief to vehicle and ‘rotorcraft’ armour next year. It sees a potentially lucrative market in protecting celebrities and other ‘high net worth individuals’ through the ‘up-armoring’ of their SUVs (sport utility vehicles).

The board looks to have the requisite battleground experience, with a medalled band of brothers in Major General Alfred Valenzuela (retired), formerly a commanding officer of the Army of the South in the US Army, and Air Chief Marshall Sir Richard Johns, previously a NATO commander-in-chief. They will provide counsel to CEO James St Ville, a bioengineer who founded Armor to commercialise his designs.

He is looking forward to having more funds to accelerate growth and further develop the various product lines. ‘The proceeds will also allow us to establish a sales and marketing function for the group, and pursue further research and development work with our patented technology,’ he adds.

Broker and nomad Zimmerman Adams has yet to settle on an issue price, but the company is expected, say sources close to the company, to command a market valuation in the region of $260 million.

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