KippsDeSanto & Co. advises Numerica Corporation on the sale of its space division to Slingshot Aerospace, Inc.
KippsDeSanto & Co. advises Numerica Corporation on the sale of its space division to Slingshot Aerospace, Inc.
KippsDeSanto & Co. is pleased to announce the asset sale of Numerica Corporation’s space division (“NSD” or the “space division”) to Slingshot Aerospace, Inc. (“Slingshot”).
Based in Fort Collins, CO, Numerica’s space division develops sophisticated hardware and software solutions for precision space domain awareness operations to help protect government and commercial space assets from hazards and threats. Numerica’s space division operates a network (the Numerica Telescope Network, “NTN”) of more than 20 sites and 150+ sensors worldwide that can detect and track objects (satellites, debris, etc.) in all regimes of operational space (LEO, MEO, GEO and xGEO orbits). NTN’s autonomous network and proprietary data processing solutions enable precision-focused space domain awareness operations around the clock. NSD’s unique ability to offer both daytime and nighttime tracking capabilities in LEO and beyond is a significant competitive differentiator.
The space division’s internally developed and operationalized end-to-end suite of advanced algorithms and software tools cover the entire TCPED chain to provide actionable intelligence and real-time data on thousands of satellites to over 200 individual data subscribers across the Department of Defense, Intelligence Community, and commercial customers. NSD’s role at the forefront of space domain awareness creates well-established growth opportunities to support the accelerated need of customers to protect their most critical assets in space as investment and interest in space contribute to increased congestion.
We believe this transaction highlights several key trends in the aerospace / defense / space M&A market:
- Intense interest in space domain awareness, encompassing the effective detection, tracking, identification, characterization, and understanding of any factor associated with the space domain that could affect space operations;
- The tremendous increase in investment in the space economy in recent years has had knock-on effects contributing to the value of the technologies that protect that investment;
- First-to-market technology developers can capture huge returns; and
- Deep domain and subject matter expertise remains a critical differentiator for sellers
About KippsDeSanto & Co. KippsDeSanto & Co. is an investment banking firm focused on serving growth-oriented Aerospace / Defense, Government Services and Technology companies. We are focused on delivering exceptional M&A and Financing transaction results to our clients via leveraging our scale, creativity, and industry experience. We help market leaders realize their full strategic value. Having advised on over 175 industry transactions, KippsDeSanto is recognized for our analytical rigor, market insight, and broad industry relationships. There’s no substitute for experience. For more information, visit www.kippsdesanto.com.
Investment Banking products and services are offered through KippsDeSanto & Co., a non-bank subsidiary of Capital One, N.A., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Capital One Financial Corporation, and a member of FINRA and SIPC. Products and services are Not FDIC insured, Not Bank Guaranteed, May Lose Value, Not a Deposit, and Not Insured by Any Federal Government Agency.
Press Release
Numerica announces divestiture of space division
Strategic sale positions Colorado company with laser focus on air & missile defense for rapid growth
FORT COLLINS, Colo. (Aug. 3, 2022) —A leader in air defense, missile defense and space domain awareness, Numerica is known for solving some of the nation’s most important defense challenges. After several years of innovation and growth, the Colorado company’s space division has been acquired by Slingshot Aerospace, a company focused on building space simulation and analytics products for Space Situational Awareness and Space Traffic Coordination. This divestiture will allow Numerica to focus on innovations in air and missile defense with even greater investment in its short-range air defense product line – including the Spyglass™ short-range surveillance radar and MIMIR™ C2 software.
Numerica’s distinguished space division provides high-quality data and state-of-the-art software solutions that inform operator action to help protect satellites from on-orbit hazards and threats. To help address critical space needs, Numerica has developed market-leading uncorrelated track processing software and transitioned it to multiple space operation centers, deployed a global telescope network to provide a responsive, robust and affordable commercial satellite tracking service and developed the world’s first commercial daytime optical LEO-to-GEO satellite tracking capability.
Through the agreement, Slingshot has acquired the following:
- An autonomous global network of proprietary sensors and software comprising more than 150 sensors including 30 telescopes across 20 locations around the globe with advanced data processing capabilities.
- The Numerica SDA team including research scientists, orbital analysts, software engineers and applied mathematicians in remote work settings including Vandenburg Air Force Base as well as the Fort Collins and Colorado Springs, Colo. offices.
- The Numerica office in Colorado Springs.
“We are proud to have developed such an effective global network of proprietary ground-based sensors and software for deep space surveillance and look forward to seeing its continued evolution with an established industry leader like Slingshot Aerospace,” President Jeff Poore said. “This acquisition will help accelerate advancements in spaceflight safety and sustainability during a time of great need, but it will also allow Numerica to strategically focus resources on our growing air and missile defense business.”
The air and missile defense teams at Numerica are dedicated to developing and deploying high-performance command and control systems for applications from theater integrated air and missile defense to tactical counter-UAS. Several of their biggest developments lately have included:
- Launch of Spyglass radar, a purpose-built multi-mission KU-band radar that addresses short-range air defense (SHORAD) missions inclusive of counter-small, unmanned aircraft systems (C-SUAS), ground surveillance and other missions.
- MFATS™, a mature and widely deployed sensor fusion software engine used to generate fire control quality tracks from a network of heterogeneous sensors.
- MIMIR, a software product for integrating networks of sensors and weapons, includes MFATS for sensor data fusion and a lightweight user display for operator engagement.
- An 18-year membership of the Lockheed Martin-led Missile Defense National Team, providing advanced algorithms to assist the U.S. Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS).
- A 13-year position providing advanced algorithms and software on the Northrop Grumman-led Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System (IBCS) program.
- Renovation of a 33,000 square foot facility to support the continued development of Spyglass radar – this new building located at 4450 Denrose Court in Fort Collins is the only location in Colorado that is currently manufacturing radar and one of only a few in the entire country.
About Numerica: Founded in 1996, Numerica focuses on creating innovative solutions to the most pressing technical challenges faced by customers in the areas of air defense and missile defense. Headquartered in Fort Collins, Colo., Numerica’s rapidly growing team of talented research scientists and engineers tackle data science problems by developing advanced algorithms to power mission-critical national security software. This year, Numerica celebrates 25 years of developing state-of-the-art technologies that have been deployed around the world to integrate networks, fuse data, precisely track targets and quantify uncertainty. Learn more at www.numerica.us.
Media Contact
Kelly Wakefield
kelly.wakefield@wildrockpr.com
970-449-6870
