Westminster Group Plc

('Westminster', the 'Group' or the 'Company')

New Strategic Alliance

Gulf Aviation Academy, Bahrain

Westminster Group Plc (AIM: WSG), a leading supplier of managed services and technology-based security solutions worldwide, is pleased to announce that has entered into a Strategic Alliance Agreement with the Gulf Aviation Academy of Bahrain ('GAA') for the provision of aviation and other specialised training services.

GAA is a leading provider of professional aviation training in Bahrain and the wider Middle East and North Africa ('MENA') region offering a comprehensive range of structured training programmes and courses for all aviation personnel in the industry.

Westminster and GAA have entered into a formal Strategic Alliance Agreement ('Agreement') under which the parties agree to combine their individual strengths and explore business opportunities both within their own markets and jointly worldwide. This collaboration will cover two areas:

1.   Joint Initiative International Training Programmes ('JIITPs'); and

2.   Special Joint Programmes ('SJPs').

Under JIITPs both parties will offer each other's training programmes at their respective training centres and will jointly market the extensive combined range of courses and services worldwide.

Under SJPs the parties will endeavour to jointly promote other products and services beyond training such as airport security equipment and management programmes.

The Agreement is for an initial period of three years and nothing in the Agreement prevents either party from continuing to individually market their own products and services around the world.

Commenting on the Strategic Alliance Westminster's Chief Executive Officer, Peter Fowler, said:

"I am delighted to be able to announce this Strategic Alliance with the Gulf Aviation Academy as they are an impressive and highly professional aviation training organisation and their wide range of courses is complimentary to and further expands the extensive range of courses already offered by Westminster.

"The International Civil Aviation Organisations ('ICAO') has just 35 registered Aviation Security Training Centres ('ASTCs') worldwide authorised to run ICAO certified courses, of which the GAA academy in Bahrain is one.

"This initiative is a further enhancement to our recently opened Training Centre in the UK.

"The Strategic Alliance is an exciting development for both Westminster and GAA, greatly expanding our range of services to existing and potential clients. It opens up new markets and business opportunities for both companies as well as increasing the capacity for the delivery of ICAO and International Air Transport Association ('IATA') courses through ASTC registered trainers in both Arabic and English."  

Commenting on the Strategic Alliance GAA's Chief Executive Officer, Capt. Dhaffer Al Abbasi, said: 

"Joining hands with the world-renowned Westminster Group opens up an array of opportunities, further extending our reach and offering our clients jointly enhanced programs to meet and exceed expectations."

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Notes:

Westminster Group plc is a specialist security and services group operating worldwide via an extensive international network of agents and offices in over 50 countries.

Westminster's principal activity is the design, supply and ongoing support of advanced technology security solutions, encompassing a wide range of surveillance, detection, tracking and interception technologies and the provision of long-term managed services contracts such as the management and running of complete security services and solutions in airports, ports and other such facilities together with the provision of manpower, consultancy and training services. The majority of its customer base, by value, comprises governments and government agencies, non-governmental organisations (NGO's) and blue-chip commercial organisations.