KippsDeSanto & Co. Advises ForceX, Inc. on its Sale to L-3 Communications

KippsDeSanto & Co. is pleased to announce the acquisition of our client, ForceX, Inc. (“ForceX” or the “Company”), by L-3 Communications (“L-3”) (NYSE:LLL). ForceX is an industry leader in Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (“ISR”) software development and hardware integrations, and geospatial application technology programs, supporting the Department of Defense (“DoD”), other civilian and government agencies, and security organizations.

Based in Nashville, TN, ForceX is a leading developer of highly-customized mission-critical solutions to support navigation, surveillance, tracking, command and control (“C2”) solutions, increasing situational awareness, forward operator safety, and the probability of mission success. ForceX has established itself as a leader in the custom software solutions space, boasting deep operational expertise supporting mission-execution platforms, battlefield and weapons management systems, intelligence exploitation, and covert Special Operations Forces (“SOF”) missions.  Through its partnership with L-3, ForceX expects to deliver even greater value to its customers, as well as pursue additional growth areas.

We believe this transaction demonstrates several key trends in the defense M&A environment:

  • Buyers continue to place premium value on companies with differentiated ISR software capabilities that improve situational awareness and operator decision-making
  • Importance of relationships with mission-critical programs and customers that support the most sensitive and classified missions (e.g., U.S. Special Operations Command)
  • Major defense integrators continue to seek revenue synergies and improve market sector positioning through selective M&A activity

KippsDeSanto & Co. is an investment bank focused on delivering exceptional M&A and financing transaction results for leading aerospace, defense, and technology companies. For more information on KippsDeSanto & Co., please visit www.kippsdesanto.com.

We welcome the opportunity to discuss how KippsDeSanto & Co. can help you achieve your strategic objectives.

KippsDeSanto & Co., member FINRA/SIPC, is not affiliated with other companies mentioned herein

 

PRESS RELEASE

L-3 Acquires ForceX, Inc.

– Industry Leader Specializing in ISR Software Development and Geospatial Application Technology Programs –

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Oct. 13, 2015– L-3 Communications (NYSE:LLL) announced today that on October 13, 2015 it acquired ForceX, Inc., which the company has renamed L-3 ForceX. L-3 ForceX will be incorporated into L-3’s Integrated Sensor Systems (ISS) sector within the Electronic Systems business segment. Terms of the transaction have not been disclosed, but the acquisition is expected to be immediately accretive.

Based in Nashville, Tenn., L-3 ForceX is an industry leader specializing in ISR mission management software and geospatial application technology programs, offering an array of advanced products, including cueing system software, hardware and video algorithms, and wide-area sensor integration solutions and software. The company’s proprietary processing, exploitation and dissemination (Tactical PED) capability provides an integrated tactical operational picture, allowing users to make critical decisions in real time. The business also provides training courseware, materials and turnkey classroom training solutions for its customers and currently supports several key Department of Defense ISR initiatives and classified programs. Its customer base includes the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Special Operations Command, the Naval Surface Warfare Center and a variety of DoD agencies. The business also has existing relationships with several defense prime contractors as well as numerous L-3 business units. L-3 ForceX is a highly customer-focused business that is expected to accelerate the overall growth prospects of the ISS sector.

“We have been strategically repositioning our portfolio by adding new capabilities that are aligned with our customers’ priorities, and we are pleased to announce this acquisition, which furthers this objective,” said Michael T. Strianese, L-3’s chairman, president and chief executive officer. “ForceX complements L-3’s core business, enhancing our product and system capabilities to compete in new markets, and expands our customer base.”

L-3 ForceX is expected to add approximately $30 million in sales for the year ending December 31, 2016. Goodwill and other intangible assets from this acquisition are expected to be deductible for income tax purposes.

Headquartered in New York City, L-3 employs approximately 45,000 people worldwide and is a prime contractor in aerospace systems and national security solutions. L-3 is also a leading provider of a broad range of communication and electronic systems and products used on military and commercial platforms. The company reported 2014 sales of $12.1 billion.

To learn more about L-3, please visit the company’s website at www.L-3com.com. L-3 uses its website as a channel of distribution of material company information. Financial and other material information regarding L-3 is routinely posted on the company’s website and is readily accessible.

Safe Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

Except for historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this news release are forward-looking statements. Statements that are predictive in nature, that depend upon or refer to events or conditions or that include words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “will,” “could” and similar expressions are forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements set forth above involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from any such statement, including the risks and uncertainties discussed in the company’s Safe Harbor Compliance Statement for Forward-Looking Statements included in the company’s recent filings, including Forms 10-K and 10-Q, with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made, and the company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements.