{"success":true,"data":{"pressRelease":{"id":"174107","rtpr_id":"nGNX6GsX9c-20261020","ticker":"ARQQ","exchange":"NASDAQ","all_tickers":["ARQQ"],"title":"Arqit announces strategic investment in Sirius to strengthen quantum-safe communications for defence and government","author":"Globe Newswire","published_at":"2026-10-20T13:00:02.514Z","article_body":"LONDON, Oct. 20, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Arqit Quantum Inc. (NASDAQ: ARQQ), a\nglobal leader in quantum-safe encryption helping safeguard sensitive\ninformation from current and future cyber threats, today announced a strategic\ninvestment in Sirius Computer, Inc., a technology provider of secure computing\nand networking solutions for defence, intelligence and critical national\ninfrastructure. This will accelerate the development and delivery of\nquantum-safe communications for defence, government and national security\nusers.\n\nThe investment builds on an existing partnership that combines Sirius’s\nsecure networking technology with Arqit’s Sovereign Key Platform (SKP) and\nNetworkSecure™ adaptors to deliver Crux, a software-based connectivity\nplatform. The companies' joint offering protects sensitive communications\nacross devices and networks, helping defence users share information securely\nin deployed environments, and when operating alongside allied forces.\n\nThe software-based offering is designed to run on commercial devices and work\nalongside existing infrastructure, enabling users to extend secure\ncommunications without replacing their underlying networks. Applications\ninclude mobile devices, cloud and network systems, autonomous platforms such\nas Uncrewed Autonomous Vehicles (UAVs) and their associated control systems.\n\nThe strategic investment will support the continued development of Crux and\nSirius’s broader software and hardware technologies, deeper integration with\nArqit's encryption solutions, and the creation of new joint products and\nservices. The companies have been selected as part of a winning bidding\nconsortium to provide secure networking services to NATO. The companies will\nalso expand their joint go-to-market activities, pursuing opportunities across\nNATO member countries and other allied nations, including the UK Ministry of\nDefence and US Department of Defense.\n\nPaul Feenan, General Manager for Defence & Government at Arqit, said:\n“Defence organisations face a difficult balance between getting critical\ninformation to the people and platforms that need it, while keeping it out of\nadversaries’ hands. When forces operate alongside allies, that challenge\nextends across national boundaries and different technologies. Security needs\nto support that cooperation without adding complexity for personnel on the\nground. It also needs to protect information whose sensitivity will outlast\nthe operation itself. Investing in Sirius will help us build on our existing\npartnership to make quantum-safe communications easier to deploy and extend to\nmore defence users.”\n\nJason Van der Schyff, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Sirius, said:\n\"We've built Sirius around the belief that secure communications shouldn't\ndepend on complex, expensive infrastructure that is difficult to deploy and\nmaintain. Our partnership with Arqit has already demonstrated what's possible\nwhen advanced encryption enhances lightweight, adaptable networking\ntechnology. This investment is a significant vote of confidence in our team\nand our technology, and gives us the resources to accelerate development,\nexpand our capabilities and bring these solutions to more defence and\ngovernment customers around the world.\"\n\nAbout Arqit\nArqit Quantum Inc. (Nasdaq: ARQQ) secures the world’s most critical data\nwith quantum-safe encryption software. Simple, scalable, and compliant, its\nproducts integrate with existing infrastructure, and require no rip and\nreplace of hardware.\n\nArqit provides a complete “Detect, Protect, Comply” solution for\ngovernments and enterprises that detects and inventories cryptographic assets,\nprotects data, ensures compliance, and safeguards transition to the\npost-quantum era.\n\nArqit’s primary product offerings are Encryption Intelligence and\nNetworkSecure™. Encryption Intelligence detects cryptographic exposure,\nidentifies vulnerabilities, and maps dependencies. NetworkSecure™ protects\ndata in transit with provably secure post-quantum cryptography and contributes\nto establishment of confidential compute environments for complete data\nsovereignty.\n\nArqit is an IDC Innovator for Post-Quantum Cryptography (2024) and a\nmulti-award-winner in quantum-safe security.\n\nFor more information, visit www.arqitgroup.com. \n\nAbout Sirius\nSirius Computer, Inc., develops secure computing and networking solutions for\ndefence, intelligence and critical national infrastructure. Its flagship\nproduct, Crux, delivers lightweight, quantum-safe secure communications across\nmobile devices, computers and embedded systems, enabling organisations to\nprotect sensitive information without replacing existing network\ninfrastructure.\n\nDesigned for demanding operational environments, Sirius technologies support\nsecure connectivity across distributed teams, autonomous platforms and\ndeployed networks. Sirius has undertaken UK Government-supported research and\ndevelopment through HMGCC's Co-Creation programme and was named a finalist in\nthe Startup in Cyber category at the 2026 National Cyber Awards.\n\nSirius operates across the United States, United Kingdom and Germany.\n\nFor more information, visit www.sirius.computer\n\nMedia relations enquiries: \nArqit: Arqit@brands2life.com\n\nInvestor relations enquiries: \nArqit: investorrelations@arqit.uk\n\nCaution About Forward-Looking Statements \nThis communication includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of\nthe Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other\nthan statements of historical facts, may be forward-looking statements. These\nforward-looking statements are based on Arqit’s expectations and beliefs\nconcerning future events and involve risks and uncertainties that may cause\nactual results to differ materially from current expectations. These factors\nare difficult to predict accurately and may be beyond Arqit’s control.\nForward-looking statements in this communication or elsewhere speak only as of\nthe date made. New uncertainties and risks arise from time to time, and it is\nimpossible for Arqit to predict these events or how they may affect it. Except\nas required by law, Arqit does not have any duty to, and does not intend to,\nupdate or revise the forward-looking statements in this communication or\nelsewhere after the date this communication is issued. In light of these risks\nand uncertainties, investors should keep in mind that results, events or\ndevelopments discussed in any forward-looking statement made in this\ncommunication may not occur. Uncertainties and risk factors that could affect\nArqit’s future performance and cause results to differ from the\nforward-looking statements in this release include, but are not limited to:\n(i) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Arqit,\n(ii) the ability to maintain the listing of Arqit’s securities on a national\nsecurities exchange, (iii) changes in the competitive and regulated industries\nin which Arqit operates, variations in operating performance across\ncompetitors and changes in laws and regulations affecting Arqit’s business,\n(iv) the ability to implement business plans, forecasts, and other\nexpectations, and identify and realise additional opportunities, (v) the\npotential inability of Arqit to successfully deliver its operational\ntechnology, (vi) the risk of interruption or failure of Arqit’s information\ntechnology and communications system, (vii) the enforceability of Arqit’s\nintellectual property, (viii) market and other conditions, and (ix) other\nrisks and uncertainties set forth in the sections entitled “Risk Factors”\nand “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in Arqit’s\nannual report on Form 20-F (the “Form 20-F”), filed with the U.S.\nSecurities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on 9 December 2025 and in\nsubsequent filings with the SEC. While the list of factors discussed above and\nin the Form 20-F and other SEC filings are considered representative, no such\nlist should be considered to be a complete statement of all potential risks\nand uncertainties. Unlisted factors may present significant additional\nobstacles to the realisation of forward-looking statements.\n\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a4b9c476-be7d-46a7-96ba-4e8c38c4b83f)\n\n\n\nGlobeNewswire, Inc. 2026","article_body_html":"","raw_payload":{"data":{"id":"nGNX6GsX9c-20261020","title":"Arqit announces strategic investment in Sirius to strengthen quantum-safe communications for defence and government","author":"Globe Newswire","ticker":"ARQQ","created":"2026-10-20T13:00:02.514Z","tickers":["ARQQ"],"exchange":"NASDAQ","article_body":"LONDON, Oct. 20, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Arqit Quantum Inc. (NASDAQ: ARQQ), a\nglobal leader in quantum-safe encryption helping safeguard sensitive\ninformation from current and future cyber threats, today announced a strategic\ninvestment in Sirius Computer, Inc., a technology provider of secure computing\nand networking solutions for defence, intelligence and critical national\ninfrastructure. This will accelerate the development and delivery of\nquantum-safe communications for defence, government and national security\nusers.\n\nThe investment builds on an existing partnership that combines Sirius’s\nsecure networking technology with Arqit’s Sovereign Key Platform (SKP) and\nNetworkSecure™ adaptors to deliver Crux, a software-based connectivity\nplatform. The companies' joint offering protects sensitive communications\nacross devices and networks, helping defence users share information securely\nin deployed environments, and when operating alongside allied forces.\n\nThe software-based offering is designed to run on commercial devices and work\nalongside existing infrastructure, enabling users to extend secure\ncommunications without replacing their underlying networks. Applications\ninclude mobile devices, cloud and network systems, autonomous platforms such\nas Uncrewed Autonomous Vehicles (UAVs) and their associated control systems.\n\nThe strategic investment will support the continued development of Crux and\nSirius’s broader software and hardware technologies, deeper integration with\nArqit's encryption solutions, and the creation of new joint products and\nservices. The companies have been selected as part of a winning bidding\nconsortium to provide secure networking services to NATO. The companies will\nalso expand their joint go-to-market activities, pursuing opportunities across\nNATO member countries and other allied nations, including the UK Ministry of\nDefence and US Department of Defense.\n\nPaul Feenan, General Manager for Defence & Government at Arqit, said:\n“Defence organisations face a difficult balance between getting critical\ninformation to the people and platforms that need it, while keeping it out of\nadversaries’ hands. When forces operate alongside allies, that challenge\nextends across national boundaries and different technologies. Security needs\nto support that cooperation without adding complexity for personnel on the\nground. It also needs to protect information whose sensitivity will outlast\nthe operation itself. Investing in Sirius will help us build on our existing\npartnership to make quantum-safe communications easier to deploy and extend to\nmore defence users.”\n\nJason Van der Schyff, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Sirius, said:\n\"We've built Sirius around the belief that secure communications shouldn't\ndepend on complex, expensive infrastructure that is difficult to deploy and\nmaintain. Our partnership with Arqit has already demonstrated what's possible\nwhen advanced encryption enhances lightweight, adaptable networking\ntechnology. This investment is a significant vote of confidence in our team\nand our technology, and gives us the resources to accelerate development,\nexpand our capabilities and bring these solutions to more defence and\ngovernment customers around the world.\"\n\nAbout Arqit\nArqit Quantum Inc. (Nasdaq: ARQQ) secures the world’s most critical data\nwith quantum-safe encryption software. Simple, scalable, and compliant, its\nproducts integrate with existing infrastructure, and require no rip and\nreplace of hardware.\n\nArqit provides a complete “Detect, Protect, Comply” solution for\ngovernments and enterprises that detects and inventories cryptographic assets,\nprotects data, ensures compliance, and safeguards transition to the\npost-quantum era.\n\nArqit’s primary product offerings are Encryption Intelligence and\nNetworkSecure™. Encryption Intelligence detects cryptographic exposure,\nidentifies vulnerabilities, and maps dependencies. NetworkSecure™ protects\ndata in transit with provably secure post-quantum cryptography and contributes\nto establishment of confidential compute environments for complete data\nsovereignty.\n\nArqit is an IDC Innovator for Post-Quantum Cryptography (2024) and a\nmulti-award-winner in quantum-safe security.\n\nFor more information, visit www.arqitgroup.com. \n\nAbout Sirius\nSirius Computer, Inc., develops secure computing and networking solutions for\ndefence, intelligence and critical national infrastructure. Its flagship\nproduct, Crux, delivers lightweight, quantum-safe secure communications across\nmobile devices, computers and embedded systems, enabling organisations to\nprotect sensitive information without replacing existing network\ninfrastructure.\n\nDesigned for demanding operational environments, Sirius technologies support\nsecure connectivity across distributed teams, autonomous platforms and\ndeployed networks. Sirius has undertaken UK Government-supported research and\ndevelopment through HMGCC's Co-Creation programme and was named a finalist in\nthe Startup in Cyber category at the 2026 National Cyber Awards.\n\nSirius operates across the United States, United Kingdom and Germany.\n\nFor more information, visit www.sirius.computer\n\nMedia relations enquiries: \nArqit: Arqit@brands2life.com\n\nInvestor relations enquiries: \nArqit: investorrelations@arqit.uk\n\nCaution About Forward-Looking Statements \nThis communication includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of\nthe Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other\nthan statements of historical facts, may be forward-looking statements. These\nforward-looking statements are based on Arqit’s expectations and beliefs\nconcerning future events and involve risks and uncertainties that may cause\nactual results to differ materially from current expectations. These factors\nare difficult to predict accurately and may be beyond Arqit’s control.\nForward-looking statements in this communication or elsewhere speak only as of\nthe date made. New uncertainties and risks arise from time to time, and it is\nimpossible for Arqit to predict these events or how they may affect it. Except\nas required by law, Arqit does not have any duty to, and does not intend to,\nupdate or revise the forward-looking statements in this communication or\nelsewhere after the date this communication is issued. In light of these risks\nand uncertainties, investors should keep in mind that results, events or\ndevelopments discussed in any forward-looking statement made in this\ncommunication may not occur. Uncertainties and risk factors that could affect\nArqit’s future performance and cause results to differ from the\nforward-looking statements in this release include, but are not limited to:\n(i) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Arqit,\n(ii) the ability to maintain the listing of Arqit’s securities on a national\nsecurities exchange, (iii) changes in the competitive and regulated industries\nin which Arqit operates, variations in operating performance across\ncompetitors and changes in laws and regulations affecting Arqit’s business,\n(iv) the ability to implement business plans, forecasts, and other\nexpectations, and identify and realise additional opportunities, (v) the\npotential inability of Arqit to successfully deliver its operational\ntechnology, (vi) the risk of interruption or failure of Arqit’s information\ntechnology and communications system, (vii) the enforceability of Arqit’s\nintellectual property, (viii) market and other conditions, and (ix) other\nrisks and uncertainties set forth in the sections entitled “Risk Factors”\nand “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in Arqit’s\nannual report on Form 20-F (the “Form 20-F”), filed with the U.S.\nSecurities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on 9 December 2025 and in\nsubsequent filings with the SEC. While the list of factors discussed above and\nin the Form 20-F and other SEC filings are considered representative, no such\nlist should be considered to be a complete statement of all potential risks\nand uncertainties. Unlisted factors may present significant additional\nobstacles to the realisation of forward-looking statements.\n\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a4b9c476-be7d-46a7-96ba-4e8c38c4b83f)\n\n\n\nGlobeNewswire, Inc. 2026"},"type":"article","timestamp":"2026-10-20T13:00:02.650611615Z","server_sent_at_ms":1792501202650},"received_at":"2026-10-20T13:00:02.708Z","source_url":null},"analysis":{"id":"162172","press_release_id":"174107","analysis_json":{"industry":{"label":"Software","sector":"Information Technology"},"redFlags":["no investment amount or financial terms disclosed"],"eventType":"partnership","narrative":"Arqit Quantum announced a strategic investment in Sirius Computer, Inc., a provider of secure computing and networking for defence and intelligence users.\n\nThe investment builds on the existing partnership behind Crux, a software-based quantum-safe connectivity platform combining Sirius networking with Arqit's Sovereign Key Platform and NetworkSecure adaptors.\n\nThe companies were also selected as part of a winning bidding consortium to provide secure networking services to NATO, with go-to-market expansion targeting the UK Ministry of Defence and US Department of Defense.\n\nNo investment amount, contract value, or revenue figures were disclosed.","sentiment":"bullish","agentHooks":{"shouldPost":false,"suggestedAngle":"Deepening defence-channel ties: Arqit doubles down on Sirius partnership with NATO consortium selection as the tangible proof point."},"keyFigures":null,"quotedText":"Investing in Sirius will help us build on our existing partnership to make quantum-safe communications easier to deploy and extend to more defence users.","namedEntities":{"people":[{"name":"Paul Feenan","role":"General Manager for Defence & Government at Arqit"},{"name":"Jason Van der Schyff","role":"Co-Founder and CEO of Sirius"}],"products":["Sovereign Key Platform (SKP)","NetworkSecure","Crux","Encryption Intelligence"],"companies":[{"name":"Arqit Quantum Inc.","ticker":"ARQQ","relationship":"filer/investor"},{"name":"Sirius Computer, Inc.","relationship":"investment target and partner"},{"name":"NATO","relationship":"customer (winning bidding consortium)"},{"name":"UK Ministry of Defence","relationship":"prospective customer"},{"name":"US Department of Defense","relationship":"prospective customer"},{"name":"HMGCC","relationship":"R&D supporter of Sirius"}],"dollarAmounts":[]},"materialImpact":{"score":2,"reasoning":"A strategic investment in a partner firm deepens an existing collaboration and expands go-to-market across NATO/defence customers, but no deal value, revenue, or contract figures are disclosed. Incrementally positive rather than market-moving."},"tickerRelevance":{"others":[],"primary":"ARQQ"},"globalImportance":25,"audienceRelevance":20,"eventTypeSecondary":["operations_update"],"importanceComponents":{"tickerTier":"small-cap","eventGravity":"undisclosed-size strategic investment in private partner","issuerAuthored":true,"contractBackdrop":"NATO consortium selection adds credibility but no financials"}},"event_type":"partnership","event_type_secondary":["operations_update"],"sentiment":"bullish","material_impact_score":2,"narrative":"Arqit Quantum announced a strategic investment in Sirius Computer, Inc., a provider of secure computing and networking for defence and intelligence users.\n\nThe investment builds on the existing partnership behind Crux, a software-based quantum-safe connectivity platform combining Sirius networking with Arqit's Sovereign Key Platform and NetworkSecure adaptors.\n\nThe companies were also selected as part of a winning bidding consortium to provide secure networking services to NATO, with go-to-market expansion targeting the UK Ministry of Defence and US Department of Defense.\n\nNo investment amount, contract value, or revenue figures were disclosed.","key_figures":null,"named_entities":{"people":[{"name":"Paul Feenan","role":"General Manager for Defence & Government at Arqit"},{"name":"Jason Van der Schyff","role":"Co-Founder and CEO of Sirius"}],"products":["Sovereign Key Platform (SKP)","NetworkSecure","Crux","Encryption Intelligence"],"companies":[{"name":"Arqit Quantum Inc.","ticker":"ARQQ","relationship":"filer/investor"},{"name":"Sirius Computer, Inc.","relationship":"investment target and partner"},{"name":"NATO","relationship":"customer (winning bidding consortium)"},{"name":"UK Ministry of Defence","relationship":"prospective customer"},{"name":"US Department of Defense","relationship":"prospective customer"},{"name":"HMGCC","relationship":"R&D supporter of Sirius"}],"dollarAmounts":[]},"model_name":"glm-5.3-flashx","prompt_hash":"sha256:5c812bd9e28b810d","schema_hash":"sha256:05005c02d9cffac9","created_at":"2026-10-20T13:00:18.256Z","global_importance":25,"audience_relevance":20,"importance_components":{"tickerTier":"small-cap","eventGravity":"undisclosed-size strategic investment in private partner","issuerAuthored":true,"contractBackdrop":"NATO consortium selection adds credibility but no financials"}},"durationMs":5344,"modelName":"glm-5.3-flashx"}}