KippsDeSanto & Co. Advises Novii Design LLC on its Sale to GTCR and Six3 Systems, Inc.

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KippsDeSanto & Co. is pleased to send you the attached press release announcing the acquisition of our client, Novii Design LLC (“Novii”), by Six3 Systems, Inc. (“Six3”), a portfolio company of private equity group GTCR. Six3 acquired Novii to broaden its advanced IT engineering capabilities and expand its depth and breadth in highly sought after Intelligence Community customers. The transaction closed on September 27, 2010.

Headquartered in Columbia, MD, Novii is a leading provider of advanced enterprise software and systems engineering services to the Intelligence Community. The Company’s deep expertise in data warehouses, analytics, and cloud technologies enables its customers to more efficiently find, utilize, and act on their mission critical data. Furthermore, Novii’s holistic, mission-driven development process and extensive experience in open source development allows it to provide its customers highly scalable, interoperable, and effective IT solutions with a high return on investment and low total cost of ownership.

We believe this transaction represents a number of key trends in government technology M&A:

  • Focus and depth is a major differentiator for sellers seeking to optimize deal terms in today’s M&A market.
  • Strong buyer interest in firms supporting key Intelligence Community initiatives, particularly in the Fort Meade market.
  • Heightened importance placed on in-demand capabilities, including high-end software development and cybersecurity solutions.
  • Robust pace of M&A activity within the cybersecurity / intel arena, which represents 38% of government services transactions since the start of 2009.

KippsDeSanto & Co. is an investment bank focused on delivering exceptional M&A and financing transaction results for leading technology and defense 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. For more information on this particular transaction, please contact one of our senior professionals.

PRESS RELEASE

Six3 Systems Announces Acquisition of Novii Design, LLC

MCLEAN, VA. – September 29, 2010 – Six3 Systems, Inc. (“Six3 Systems”), a leading provider of highly strategic and differentiated solutions and services to the U.S. national security and defense intelligence communities, today announced the acquisition of Novii Design, LLC (“Novii”). Novii is a leading prime provider of large scale data fusion systems, cyber solutions and high-end enterprise architectures to the Intelligence Community. With over 70 highly technical, trained and cleared employees, Novii designs, builds and supports some of our nation’s most sensitive, mission-critical software applications and systems.

Six3 Systems was formed in April 2009 when GTCR, one of the nation’s leading private equity firms, partnered with Robert Coleman, former President and COO of ManTech International. Novii is Six3 Systems’ third acquisition since its founding. Six3 Systems previously acquired Harding Security Associates, Inc., a leading provider of identity intelligence, forensics analysis and security services, in July 2009, and BIT Systems, Inc., a leading provider of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (“ISR”) systems design, development, integration and maintenance services, in December 2009.

“Novii’s mission-critical enterprise software development capabilities will strategically enhance our offerings and serve as a key component in achieving our objective of building a leading national security services provider with highly specialized capabilities,” said Robert Coleman, CEO of Six3 Systems. “We believe that Novii’s ability to combine open source engineering with some of the most advanced commercial application and infrastructure solutions available today positions us well for the next evolution of Intelligence Community systems development, systems engineering and analysis. Combining Novii’s capabilities with our existing core competencies in identity intelligence, counterintelligence and ISR will create a highly strategic asset in the U.S. national security and defense intelligence communities.”

“We are very pleased to join forces with Six3 Systems,” commented Rebekah Lewis-Polancich, co-founder and President of Novii. “We believe that Six3 Systems will provide us with new capabilities and the reach back to better support our customers and their missions while maintaining the quality, innovation and responsiveness valued by our clients.”

KippsDeSanto & Co. was the exclusive financial advisor to Novii. Cooley LLP provided legal counsel to Novii. Kirkland & Ellis LLP provided legal counsel to Six3 Systems.

About Six3 Systems
Six3 Systems, headquartered in McLean, Virginia, is focused on providing highly strategic and differentiated solutions and services to support the missions of customers in the U.S. national security and defense intelligence communities. For more information about Six3 Systems, email info@six3systems.com.

About GTCR
Founded in 1980, GTCR is a leading private equity firm focused on investing in growth companies in the Financial Services & Technology, Healthcare and Information Services & Technology industries. The Chicago-based firm pioneered the “Leaders Strategy” – finding and partnering with world-class leaders as the critical first step in identifying, acquiring and building market-leading companies through acquisitions and organic growth. Since its inception, GTCR has invested more than $8 billion in over 200 companies. For more information, please visit www.gtcr.com.