ADG M&A

Overview

Blank Rome’s leading aerospace, defense, and government services (“ADG”) M&A practice provides legal counsel and advice on all aspects of M&A transactions in the ADG sector, representing clients in structuring, documenting, negotiating, and closing transactions (as well as advising on post-closing integration and regulatory matters). Blank Rome is one of the few firms with top-tier national Corporate/M&A and Government Contracts practices, enabling us to effectively and efficiently address the web of complex considerations that are unique to transactions in the ADG sector.

How We Can Help


An Integrated, Business-Minded Approach

Our team is distinguished by its strong collaboration and breadth of experience across the many disciplines required to successfully structure and close ADG transactions, including government contracts, government relations, insurance, securities, intellectual property, tax, real estate, construction, international trade, aviation, maritime, ERISA, employment, and environmental law.

Proven Results

Our team’s experience extends to the full panoply of ADG industry issues, including small business program eligibility and affiliation matters, facility and personnel security, the mitigation of foreign ownership, control and influence, Anti-Assignment Act and novation issues, intellectual property and data rights, cybersecurity, cost accounting and audit matters, approvals by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (“CFIUS”), U.S. export controls (including those administered by the U.S. Departments of State and Commerce), U.S. economic sanctions programs, False Claims Act matters, organization conflicts of interest, and suspension and debarment. We also handle the full range of post-closing integration matters, including preparing and processing novation agreements, change-of-name agreements, ethics and compliance program enhancement, and addressing employee retention and key personnel issues.

What Sets Us Apart


Our Nationally Recognized M&A and Government Contracts Practices

Blank Rome’s Mergers & Acquisitions practice has been nationally ranked by The Legal 500, as well as in Chambers USA. Our Government Contracts practice is also nationally ranked by Chambers USA and The Legal 500, and was recognized as a Law360 Government Contracts Practice Group of the Year for 2022 (one of only five practices nationwide). Our team closely follows developments involving ADG M&A and is active in the American Bar Association’s Public Contract Law Section Mergers & Acquisitions Committee.

Experience

  • Cerberus Capital Management, LP, in connection with the acquisition of Sparton Corporation, a leading provider of electromechanical devices in support of clients in military and aerospace, medical and biotechnology, and industrial markets.
  • eGov Holdings, Inc. (d/b/a Aquilent), a premier architect of .gov solutions (including digital, agile, DevOps, and cloud capabilities), for the U.S. government in its sale to Booz Allen Hamilton.
  • J.F. Lehman & Company, a middle-market private equity firm focused on the defense, aerospace, and maritime sectors, in several acquisitions, including (i) the acquisition of International Marine & Industrial Applicators, LLC and Craft and Technical Solutions, LLC, a national marine surface preparation painting contractor, (ii) the take private acquisition in 2016 of API Technologies Corp. (NASDAQ: ATNY) a leading provider of high performance RF, microwave, millimeter wave, power, and security solutions, and its subsequent sale in 2019 to an affiliate of AEA Investors LP, and (iii) the acquisition of Ravn Air Group, a regional air transportation provider in the niche geographic market of Alaska.
  • Gladstone Companies, in connection with the acquisition of Channel Technologies Group, a designer and manufacturer of piezoelectric ceramics and other technologies supporting military and commercial market platforms, by Blue Wolf Capital.
  • GRM International, in its acquisition of Futures Group, a global health consulting organization supporting U.S. government programs in more than 30 countries.
  • KDH Defense Systems, Inc., a manufacturer and distributor of high-performance body armor solutions to the U.S. Armed Forces, Department of Defense, federal, state and local law enforcement professionals, and various international agencies, in its merger with Central Lake Armor Express, Inc.
  • Korn/Ferry International, in connection with its acquisition of the Hay Group Companies, a management consulting and services provider focused on U.S. government and commercial markets.
  • MacAulay-Brown, Inc., a leading provider of engineering, electronic warfare, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and cloud solutions to Department of Defense and intelligence customers, in its sale to Alion Science and Technology, a portfolio company of Veritas Capital.
  • NAR Development, in the sale of its ownership interest in National American Rescue, LLC, a provider of mission-critical medical and other products to the military and federal governmental agencies, to Henry Schein.
  • NewSpring Holdings LLC, a holding company focused on investments in government and commercial services and healthcare markets, in its acquisitions of The Sentinel Company, E3 Federal Solutions, and DataWorks, Inc., providers of strategic consulting, operational support, and technology services to commercial and government customers, including in the defense, intelligence, and homeland security sectors.
  • NTC Group, Inc., in its acquisition of Tenax Aerospace, a specialized provider of turn-key aviation services for U.S. government agencies, including fixed and rotary wing aircraft missions.
  • USTC Holdings, LLC, an investor consortium led by sponsors Forte Holdings and Manhattan Capital, in the acquisition of XE Services, LLC, a leading global stability services provider supporting public and private customers.

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