KippsDeSanto & Co. advises ATL Partners on its acquisition of GEOST, Inc.
KippsDeSanto & Co. advises ATL Partners on its acquisition of GEOST, Inc.
KippsDeSanto & Co. is pleased to announce the acquisition of GEOST, Inc. (“GEOST” or the “Company”) by our client, ATL Partners.
Founded in 2004 and headquartered in Tucson, Arizona, GEOST is a rapidly growing company that specializes in the design and integration of small-to-medium sized electro-optical / infrared sensors, primarily serving the U.S. Department of Defense (“DoD”) and Intelligence Community.
GEOST’s offerings span a range of applications, including space domain awareness, intelligence, surveillance & reconnaissance, missile warning, and laser communication. The Company is well-positioned within its core market, as federal funding continues to prioritize the space domain and its myriad mission-critical applications.
We believe this transaction highlights several key trends in the Space / Aerospace / Defense M&A market:
- Significant interest for companies aligned with priority funding domains such as space, particularly with mission-critical applications
- Attractiveness of companies at an inflection point in their growth cycle, who will benefit from the right investment partnership to accelerate organic and inorganic growth initiatives
- Strong appetite for well-positioned assets that have successfully navigated the macroeconomic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic
About KippsDeSanto & Co.
KippsDeSanto & Co. is an investment banking firm focused on serving growth-oriented Space / 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
Public Press Release
NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–ATL Partners (“ATL”) announced today that it has made a majority investment in GEOST, LLC (“GEOST” or the “Company”). Headquartered in Tucson, Arizona, GEOST is a leading designer and integrator of small-to-medium sized electro-optical/infrared sensors for high-value, national security space missions. ATL’s investment will support GEOST as the Company enters the next phase of growth.
Since its founding in 2004, GEOST has been focused on the cutting edge of the United States Department of Defense and the intelligence community’s efforts to enhance the country’s national security capabilities in space through optical systems and solutions. GEOST is a leading provider of small and medium, low-cost payloads for space domain awareness, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, missile warning, and laser communication applications. These markets are experiencing rapid growth as the United States increases its focus on new architectures to enhance the survivability and resiliency of its national security space assets.
“GEOST is experiencing an exciting phase of growth and we are very excited to have found a partner in ATL to help us scale with our customers. They share our enthusiasm for the GEOST mission to support national security space programs as we work to address the near-peer threat in space,” said Dr. Anthony (Tony) Gleckler, President and Founder of GEOST. “We were energized when ATL approached us with an investment thesis that aligned so well with our vision and they will support us as we invest in future opportunities.”
“GEOST represents a truly unique asset in the space market that punches well above its weight. It will serve as ATL’s platform to invest in industry-leading technology and capabilities in the space domain that address the national security needs of the United States and its allies,” said Sanjay Arora, Partner at ATL, and Michael Kramer, Principal at ATL. “We are excited to partner with Tony and the GEOST management team to accelerate the Company’s growth through organic initiatives as well as strategic acquisition opportunities.”
Quilty Analytics served as financial advisor and Williams Mullen P.C. served as legal counsel to GEOST. KippsDeSanto & Co. served as financial advisor and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP served as legal counsel to ATL.
About GEOST:
GEOST is a rapidly-growing designer and integrator of small-to-medium sized, electro-optical / infrared sensors for high-value, National Security Space missions. The Company was founded in 2004 and has served its core National Security Space customer base since inception. GEOST employs more than 75 professionals and is headquartered in Tucson, AZ with additional facilities in Virginia.
About ATL Partners:
Founded in 2014, ATL Partners is a premier sector-focused private equity firm that invests in aerospace, transportation and logistics companies. ATL brings deep sector expertise to its investment approach with 10 investment professionals and six Executive Board members who have decades of combined operating experience in each of ATL’s core sectors. For more information about ATL Partners, visit www.atlpartners.com.
