KippsDeSanto & Co. Advises ADG Creative on its Sale to Chenega Corporation

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KippsDeSanto & Co. is pleased to announce the sale of our client, ADG Creative (“ADG” or the “Company”), to Chenega Corporation (“Chenega”), an Alaska Native Corporation (“ANC”).

Based in Columbia, MD, ADG is a leading digital innovations firm with a full suite of solutions that address business, cultural, and technology challenges for its customers which include the Department of Defense (“DoD”), the Intelligence Community (“IC”), academia, and commercial clients.  ADG’s capabilities, include innovation, consulting and strategic communications to develop and enhance technology solutions and support organizational goals.  ADG differentiators are evident through the Company’s agility, speed, and responsiveness, as well as deep and long-standing client relationships resulting from earned reputation and trust, quality work, and consistent successful engagements.

Through its acquisition of ADG, Chenega believes its resources, as well as ADG’s, will help satisfy the DoD’s critical need for emerging technology and digital transformation.  Chenega’s scale and relationships will complement ADG’s, allowing the Company to pursue larger opportunities while positively impacting the clients it currently serves.

This transaction demonstrates several key trends in the government solutions M&A environment:

  • Premiums are placed on acquisition targets that have a highly cleared employee base and can provide access to difficult to penetrate and highly coveted National Intelligence Agencies
  • Strategic buyers continue to place value on companies that provide capability synergies and present long-term growth opportunities with enhanced profitability
  • Diversity in strategic buyers are continuing to increase and providing additional options for selling companies

 

Press Release

 

ADG Creative to Be Acquired by Chenega Corporation

Acquisition Will Give ADG Access to a Broader Range of Clientele, While Expanding Chenega’s Digital Transformation, Innovation, and User-Centered Design Capabilities

COLUMBIA, MD (December 12, 2017) – ADG Creative, a Columbia, Maryland-based strategic communications and innovations agency, announced today that it has signed a definitive agreement with the Chenega Corporation to become the newest company in Chenega’s portfolio of professional services organizations.

ADG Creative provides the Department of Defense, U.S. Intelligence Community, and commercial clients with a range of strategic and user experience solutions that address business, cultural, and technology challenges. ADG’s capabilities include strategic communications, advanced data visualization, branding & positioning, training & immersive learning, video & motion, content marketing, and interactive design.

“ADG’s strategy-first approach will enhance Chenega’s offerings and the solutions we can deliver to our customers,” said John “JC” Campagna, President of Chenega’s MIOS Business Unit. “There is a critical need for digital transformation throughout the Federal government, and the addition of ADG will help ensure that Chenega is there to meet that need.”

Chenega, an Alaska Native Corporation (ANC), is the program’s most successful Village Corporation, with diverse capabilities that support a myriad of customer requirements across more than 250 federal contracts and numerous commercial engagements. In addition to its Military, Intel, and Operations Support capabilities, the Chenega Corporation provides expertise and services in the areas of Security, Environmental, Healthcare, Facilities, Professional Services, Communications, and Data Science.

“Joining an organization like Chenega makes perfect sense in ADG’s evolution. The move will make us part of a global company, day one, and will enable us to pursue bigger opportunities and solve harder issues for the clients we serve,” said ADG Founder and Chief Creative Officer Jeff Antkowiak. “The acquisition is strategic for both companies, allowing ADG to connect our talented team of engineers, designers, and strategists with more government and commercial organizations, and positively impact them with the strength of the entire Chenega organization.”

The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions and approvals, and is scheduled to close in January. Upon closing, ADG Creative will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Chenega Corporation.

The firms were introduced by their respective representatives at RSM/McGladrey. Holland & Knight served as external legal counsel to ADG Creative, and Hunton & Williams served as counsel and advisor to Chenega. KippsDeSanto served as ADG’s investment banker and advisor through the engagement.

Learn more about the acquisition and both organizations at www.adgnext.com.

About ADG Creative

ADG Creative is a leading digital strategy and innovations agency providing solutions for cultural and technology challenges in the government and commercial sectors. The firm’s capabilities center around workforce anthropology, design thinking, and software engineering, with noted accomplishments in the areas of advanced application engineering, data visualization, corporate strategy, design and branding, interactive and digital learning development, and simulation and video. ADG is headquartered in Columbia, MD, is privately-held, just celebrated its 25th year in business, and is home to nearly 85 talented “Creatives.” The firm is a Smart CEO Future 50 Award winner, District and Regional ADDY winner, has ranked on the Inc. 5000 numerous times, and has been recognized as a “Best Place to Work” by Baltimore Magazine. For further information, visit www.adgcreative.net.

About Chenega MIOS

MIOS is Chenega’s Military, Intelligence and Operations Support (MIOS) strategic business unit (SBU), a shared services division of the Chenega Corporation which provides standard business services to the Chenega subsidiaries and assists in the management of contracts. Headquartered in Lorton, Virginia, the MIOS SBU provides shared support services, including human resources, recruiting, contracting, marketing, administration, finance and accounting, business development and security, allowing each company to focus on their customers in their day-to-day operations. www.chenega.com/mios

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Caitlin Wolf
caitlinrwolf@gmail.com
410.935.2363

 

ADG Creative to Be Acquired by Chenega Corporation Press Release