WRAP Acquires Virtual Reality Training Provider, NSENA
Inc.
Acquisition Enhances BolaWrap Law Enforcement Training with
Immersive 3D Scenarios and
Creates New Opportunities for Fully-Integrated Training Solutions
for First Responders
WRAP’s new virtual reality law enforcement training
platform.
TEMPE, Arizona – December 16, 2020 – WRAP
Technologies, Inc. (the “Company” or
“WRAP”) (Nasdaq: WRAP), an innovator of modern policing
solutions, announced today that it has entered into and closed an
Asset Purchase Agreement with NSENA Inc., a developer and provider
of a law enforcement training platform employing immersive computer
graphics virtual reality with proprietary software, hardware and
content.
WRAP
will host a live webinar today at 5:00pm ET/ 2:00pm PT on Zoom to
discuss NSENA and its VR platform. To register for the webinar,
click
here.
“This
acquisition firmly positions WRAP in the
multi-hundred-billion-dollar virtual reality training market and
also complements our BolaWrap law enforcement training solution
being delivered by our master instructors and WRAP Training
Academy,” said Tom Smith, President and interim CEO of WRAP.
“We are excited to work with the NSENA team to add new
features and capabilities to our VR offering, expand our sales team
and grow the VR platform and BolaWrap revenues. With our previously
announced relationship with the
National Tactical Officers Association (NTOA), we plan to
offer a fully-integrated training and training record management
solution targeting agencies of all sizes that until now have
limited choices to meet the ever-growing public safety training
demands.”
NSENA’s
content library is one of the largest targeting law enforcement and
currently consists of 47 training modules. NSENA’s modules
are developed by and for police officers and cover a wide array of
skills and scenarios including de-escalation, conflict resolution
and all levels of use-of-force. NSENA has built a robust pipeline
of prospective customers, contractors and licensees resulting from
the growth in VR training and recognition of the modern features of
NSENA’s solution. The NSENA flexible platform takes advantage
of the most advanced virtual reality hardware available. NSENA
proprietary software features 360-degree situational awareness and
artificial intelligence allowing an instructor to control the
training environment to improve decision making.
“The
NTOA is thrilled and excited to collaborate with WRAP Reality to
deliver cutting edge training to the law enforcement
community,” said K. Thor Eells, Executive Director of the
National Tactical Officers Association. “The technological,
operational and instructional synergy of WRAP Reality and the NTOA
is unrivalled. Today’s operational environment demands the
very best from our men and women in uniform, and this partnership
will serve to ensure that they receive the very best training
available to secure their success in service to their
communities.”
According to a recent report published by Allied Market Research,
virtual training and simulation market size was valued at $204.41
billion in 2019, and is projected to reach $601.85 billion by
2027. Law enforcement and military are important segments of
this market and the rise in awareness regarding virtual training
and simulation drives market growth.
“We
are excited about the opportunity to deliver WRAP Reality to
agencies focused on improving their de-escalation and training
programs,” said NSENA founder and Chief Executive Officer
Ethan Moeller. “With our shared commitment to public safety
and officer preparedness, we expect to achieve success not only in
the market, but to also increase safety and wellness in our
communities.”
Under
the terms of the Asset Purchase Agreement the parties will rebrand
the VR business as WRAP Reality™. To learn more, please visit
wrap.com/reality.
About NSENA
NSENA was founded in 2016 with a mission to transform law
enforcement training through the use of immersive virtual reality
training simulators. The NSENA VR training platform is based on
combining law enforcement experts with virtual reality technology
that has experienced radical improvements in the last ten years.
NSENA believes the immersive power of virtual reality will
revolutionize training and that its number one job is to deliver
quality and realistic training from the best experts to its
customers.
About WRAP
WRAP
Technologies, Inc. is an innovator of modern policing solutions.
The Company’s BolaWrap 100 product is a patented, hand-held
remote restraint device that discharges an eight-foot bola style
Kevlar® tether to restrain an individual at a distance from 10
to 25 feet. Developed by award winning inventor Elwood Norris, the
Company’s Chief Technology Officer, the small but powerful
BolaWrap 100 assists law enforcement in safely and effectively
deescalating encounters, especially those involving an individual
in crisis. BolaWrap 100 has already been used to safely apprehend
suspects without injury in a number of cities including Los
Angeles, Sacramento, Fresno, Bell, Albuquerque, Minneapolis, West
Palm Beach, Fort Worth, and Oak Ridge. For information on the
Company, please visit www.wrap.com.
Follow WRAP here:
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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wraptechnologies/
WRAP on
Twitter: https://twitter.com/wraptechinc
WRAP on
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wraptechnologiesinc/
Trademark Information
BolaWrap
and Wrap are trademarks of WRAP Technologies, Inc. All other trade
names used herein are either trademarks or registered trademarks of
the respective holders.
Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Statements – Safe Harbor
Statement
This
press release contains “forward-looking statements”
within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of
the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including but
not limited to: statements regarding the Company’s overall
business; total addressable market; and, expectations regarding
future sales and expenses. Words such as “expect”,
“anticipate”, “should”,
“believe”, “target”, “project”,
“goals”, “estimate”,
“potential”, “predict”, “may”,
“will”, “could”, “intend”, and
variations of these terms or the negative of these terms and
similar expressions are intended to identify these forward-looking
statements. Moreover, forward-looking statements are subject to a
number of risks and uncertainties, many of which involve factors or
circumstances that are beyond the Company’s control. The
Company’s actual results could differ materially from those
stated or implied in forward-looking statements due to a number of
factors, including but not limited to: the Company’s ability
to successful implement training programs for the use of its
products; the Company’s ability to manufacture and produce
product for its customers; the Company’s ability to develop
sales for its new product solution; the acceptance of existing and
future products; the availability of funding to continue to finance
operations; the complexity, expense and time associated with sales
to law enforcement and government entities; the lengthy evaluation
and sales cycle for the Company’s product solution; product
defects; litigation risks from alleged product-related injuries;
risks of government regulations; the business impact of health
crises or outbreaks of disease, such as epidemics or pandemics; the
ability to obtain export licenses for counties outside of the US;
the ability to obtain patents and defend IP against competitors;
the impact of competitive products and solutions; and the
Company’s ability to maintain and enhance its brand, as well
as other risk factors mentioned in the Company’s most recent
annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly report on Form 10-Q, and
other SEC filings. These forward-looking statements are made as of
the date of this press release and were based on current
expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections as well as the
beliefs and assumptions of management. Except as required by law,
the Company undertakes no duty or obligation to update any
forward-looking statements contained in this release as a result of
new information, future events or changes in its
expectations.
WRAP Contact:
Paul M.
Manley
VP
– Investor Relations
(612)
834-1804
pmanley@wrap.com