BUZZ--Serco rises on Northrop Grumman unit acquisition

** British outsourcing firm Serco SRP.L up 4.8% at 157.8p; among top gainers on FTSE 250 index .FTMC

** SRP's unit Serco Inc agrees to acquire Northrop Grumman's mission training and satellite ground network communications software business, MT&S, for $327 mln

** Says the acquisition will boost its presence in North America

** Expects the business to generate revenue of around $300 mln and underlying operating profit of $34 mln in 2025

** JP Morgan analysts consider the move to be a strategic fit for Serco's U.S. defence business, aligning with the management's plan to enhance profit from higher-margin US defence, including the addition of new clients beyond the Navy

** Brokerage raises target price to 195p from 185p

** In 2024, SRP fell ~7%