The GCC-based specialist buyout firm GrowthGate has reached a final agreement to purchase 30% of iris recognition company IrisGuard. IrisGuard offers its technology to national security organisations, law enforcement agencies, polling, electoral processors, and banking institutions. It manufactures the IrisGuard IG-H100 and IG-AD100, as well as a portfolio of four additional iris imagers under development. In 2010, the company entered the US market with the provision of iris recognition-enabled systems and cameras to 50 US law enforcement agencies across the country. The deal marks the sixth direct equity investment by GrowthGate since its capitalisation in mid 2007, and the first in the technology sector. [www.irisguard.com]