GOVERNMENT BUSINESS,CYBERSECURITY
Avantus Federal | August 08, 2022
QinetiQ US, a wholly owned subsidiary of QinetiQ Group plc and a leading defense company providing mission-critical solutions in robotics and autonomous systems, sensing, protection systems, and next-generation autonomous vehicles announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Avantus Federal (Avantus) from NewSpring Holdings for an enterprise value of $590 million. The combination of QinetiQ US and Avantus will create a powerful growth platform to address the complex and large scale intelligence and defense challenges government customers face today. The closing of the acquisition is subject to customary conditions, including regulatory approvals, and is expected to close by end of calendar year 2022.
Avantus is a leading provider of mission-focused cyber, data analytics, and software development solutions to the Department of Defense, Intelligence Community, Department of Homeland Security, and other law enforcement and civilian agencies. From supporting sensitive national security customers on some of the most complex data engineering, cyber, and analytics problems in the world, to providing key mission operational, intelligence, and cyber support to special operators, and helping accelerate new technologies into the warfighter’s hands, Avantus has a strong track record of achieving speed-to-mission-impact.
“We have been thoroughly impressed by the quality of the Avantus employee base, leadership team, customer impact, and the sustained organic growth. We see great alignment in our culture and strategy, Avantus’ highly integrated business, core capabilities, and customer relationships complement QinetiQ’s distinctive offerings, allowing us to grow the services and solutions that benefit our combined global customers as their needs evolve at an accelerating pace.”
-Steve Wadey, Group Chief Executive Officer for QinetiQ Group plc.
Both Avantus and QinetiQ are best-in-class providers of technology services and support, cyber and intelligence solutions, and information services. With high-trust, established customer relationships within the most important and enduring mission areas, this acquisition enhances the go-to-market strategy for both companies.
“We believe that the combination of QinetiQ US and Avantus will create a unique business in the US and globally with a powerful performance culture and scaled technical differentiation, This acquisition is a transformational platform that delivers on our growth strategy of building a disruptive mid-tier defense and intelligence company.”
-Shawn N. Purvis, President and Chief Executive Officer of QinetiQ US.
Our market is evolving rapidly and demanding more of our customers every day, and joining forces with QinetiQ US will deliver solutions at scale to meet the moment, said Andy Maner, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Avantus. With a shared culture of absolute customer focus and employee investment and a structure built for agility and speed, this opportunity to combine with QinetiQ US strengthens our defense presence and combined position across our intelligence and homeland, law enforcement, and civilian portfolio, and we are poised to continue our joint mission as an innovator unique to our market.
The combination with Avantus will materially enhance QinetiQ US’s position in the largest defence and intelligence market in the world by creating a large full solutions US Defense contractor business well-positioned within high growth and durable market areas. Avantus brings a strong order backlog, and the acquisition creates a compelling platform for new scaling organic and inorganic growth for QinetiQ in the US.
Guggenheim Securities, LLC served as exclusive financial adviser to Avantus and NewSpring Holdings, and Baker Tilly provided financial due diligence expertise. Blank Rome LLP and Kirkland & Ellis LLP served as counsel to Avantus. Citizens and Gleacher Shacklock served as joint lead financial advisers and Baker McKenzie served as counsel to QinetiQ.
About QinetiQ US:
QinetiQ US is a leading defense and security company in the United States providing mission-led innovation at pace. QinetiQ US is a provider of technologically advanced services and products to the US Department of Defense and national security agencies, positioned to deliver key aspects of the modernization required to address our customers’ pivot to counter near peer adversaries. QinetiQ’s engineering services span the DoD and Intel community providing subject matter expertise in the areas of communications, sensor integration and research and development, survivability and unmanned ground combat systems.
QinetiQ US operates as the U.S. arm of QinetiQ Group plc (QQ.LSE), a global integrated defense and security company focused on innovation for defense, security and civil customers around the world. QinetiQ US employees are based predominantly in Virginia and Massachusetts and operate under a Special Security Agreement (SSA) with the U.S. Defense Counterintelligence & Security Agency (DCSA). QinetiQ US is creating new ways of protecting what matters most; testing technologies, systems, and processes to make sure they work as expected; and enabling customers to deploy new and enhanced-existing capabilities with the assurance they will deliver the outcomes required.
About Avantus Federal:
Avantus Federal is a mission-focused data, cyber, and space services and solutions company. As a mid-market powerhouse with an intentional blend of elite talent, infrastructure, and speed to impact, Avantus and its approximately 1,150 highly-cleared professionals lead with technical and domain expertise for its Defense, Intelligence, Homeland Security, and Federal Civilian customers.
Helping to solve some of the toughest national security problems and government missions, Avantus’ offerings enable services at scale, including cyber technologies and operations, data and software solutions, digital engineering and integration, intelligence analysis and operations, space domain capabilities, transformation and advisory services, and more.
About NewSpring Holdings:
NewSpring Holdings, NewSpring's dedicated holding company with a strategy focused on control buyouts and platform builds, brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, and resources to take profitable, growing companies to the next level through acquisitions and proven organic methodologies. Founded in 1999, NewSpring partners with the innovators, makers, and operators of high-performing companies in dynamic industries to catalyze new growth and seize compelling opportunities. The Firm manages over $2.5 billion across five distinct strategies covering the spectrum from growth equity and control buyouts to mezzanine debt. Partnering with management teams to help develop their businesses into market leaders, NewSpring identifies opportunities and builds relationships using its network of industry leaders and influencers across a wide array of operational areas and industries.
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GOVERNMENT BUSINESS
SES | August 02, 2022
SES and its wholly-owned subsidiary SES Government Solutions (SES GS) today announced the completion of the acquisition of DRS Global Enterprise Solutions (GES) from Leonardo DRS for $450 million after obtaining all the necessary regulatory approvals. The DRS GES business will be combined with SES GS to create a scaled solutions provider serving the multi-orbit satellite communications needs of the US Government and supporting missions anywhere on land, at sea, or in the air.
With the combined businesses operating as SES Government Solutions, the new organization will comprise a cross-functional workforce with deep technical expertise and a proven ability to integrate and manage multi-orbit geostationary and medium earth orbit (MEO) services as well as multi-operator network solutions. In particular, SES GS will offer highly flexible second-generation MEO services – via SES’s soon-to-be launched O3b mPOWER system – with a unique combination of low latency and high throughput per terminal for high-value missions, to an expanded government customer base. SES GS will also leverage essential tools and expertise in cybersecurity operations, customer support, governance and compliance. The combined business will continue to serve US Government customers under the direction of the SES GS Proxy Board of Directors.
The consolidation of DRS GES with SES GS is expected to unlock $25 million of annualized run-rate synergies, with government becoming SES’s largest data business segment in terms of revenue.
The combined business will be led by David Fields, who assumes responsibilities on August 1, 2022 as appointed by the SES GS Proxy Board. Fields has over 30 years of experience in the satellite communications and information technology (IT) services industries, and joins SES GS from DRS GES. He succeeds Brigadier General Pete Hoene, USAF (Retired), who, after 11 years at the helm of SES GS and decades of dedicated service in the satellite communications arena, will take his retirement.
“I am extremely excited about the potential that this combination unleashes, reinforcing our commitment to provide best-in-class satellite network solutions to the US Department of Defense customers, We are delighted to welcome Fields, who comes to SES GS with extensive knowledge and expertise in the satellite communications industry and a demonstrated record of achievement in the US Government sector. Well-respected by industry partners and customers, he has developed deep and trusted relationships with many US Government agencies, and we anticipate David to build on his success through his leadership of the combined business. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank Pete Hoene, whose leadership has resulted in SES GS achieving outstanding growth rate of over 30% in just the last five years. We wish him all the best in his well-earned retirement.”
-Brigadier General Billy Bingham, USAF (Retired), Chairman of the SES GS Proxy Board.
I am excited to join SES GS and honored to lead the combined team where we will be delivering best-in-class solutions and state-of-the-art multi-orbit satellite networking capabilities, said David Fields, President and CEO of SES GS. SES GS will be significantly expanding its differentiated value proposition for the US Government, with a trusted multi-operator network integration and service management solutions. The breadth of our capabilities, now spanning both connectivity and integration, allows for building, managing and supporting the most advanced satellite networks solutions for our US Government customers.
About SES:
SES has a bold vision to deliver amazing experiences everywhere on earth by distributing the highest quality video content and providing seamless connectivity around the world. As the leader in global content connectivity solutions, SES operates the world’s only multi-orbit constellation of satellites with the unique combination of global coverage and high performance, including the commercially-proven, low-latency Medium Earth Orbit O3b system. By leveraging a vast and intelligent, cloud-enabled network, SES is able to deliver high-quality connectivity solutions anywhere on land, at sea or in the air, and is a trusted partner to the world’s leading telecommunications companies, mobile network operators, governments, connectivity and cloud service providers, broadcasters, video platform operators and content owners. SES’s video network carries over ~8,200 channels and has an unparalleled reach of 366 million households, delivering managed media services for both linear and non-linear content.
About SES Government Solutions:
SES Government Solutions (SES GS) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of SES, the leader in global content connectivity solutions, and is exclusively focused on building, managing, and supporting the most advanced satellite network solutions for the US Government. SES GS leverages a proven multi-operator network integration and management capability, an extensive global terrestrial network, as well as access to SES’s multi-orbit satellite fleet. It also offers US Department of Defense customers the essential tools in cybersecurity for mission-critical operations, coupled with a proven track record in governance and compliance. SES GS operates under a proxy board, enabling it to support classified projects, and it has been present in the US Government satcom market for over four decades.
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CYBERSECURITY
ISG | September 06, 2022
Enterprise security leaders in the U.K. are focused on cloud security, building up resilience against threats and aligning cybersecurity strategies with overall business goals, according to a new research report published today by Information Services Group (ISG) (Nasdaq: III), a leading global technology research and advisory firm.
The 2022 ISG Provider Lens™ Cybersecurity — Solutions and Services report for the U.K. finds these objectives are the top priorities for chief information security officers (CISOs) in U.K. organizations. The growing use of cloud models such as infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) and platform-as-a-service (PaaS) is forcing companies to adapt their cybersecurity approaches, with a focus on holistic resilience that requires more communication and training for employees and outside stakeholders, the report says.
“British enterprises are aligning cybersecurity with IT trends and the changing threat landscape, Cloud migration has many benefits but can create new security challenges. To guard against those threats, fundamental technical and organizational measures are needed.”
-Roger Albrecht, co-lead, ISG Cybersecurity.
The U.K. government has recognized the importance of cybersecurity and is making major investments to protect British enterprises and foster a growing cybersecurity industry, ISG says. According to a 2022 study by the U.K. National Cyber Security Centre, 39 percent of businesses in the U.K. had experienced a cybersecurity breach in the past 12 months, and for large and midsize companies, the average cost of a breach is £19,400. The government’s cybersecurity strategy is now kicking off its fourth year with an emphasis on boosting the U.K. digital economy, which includes about 1,400 cybersecurity businesses, ISG says.
As enterprises in the U.K. face increasing IT complexity, the establishment of permanent hybrid work and the need for more agility, many are considering the zero-trust (ZT) security model, ISG says. This approach, which requires verification of any device on any network to access enterprise resources, can reduce security cost and risk exposure through uniform security across an organization.
“Zero-trust is a major change that affects many aspects of enterprise security, Experienced service and solution providers can help companies implement and operate a ZT environment.”
-Jan Erik Aase, partner and global leader, ISG Provider Lens Research.
The report also explores other cybersecurity trends in the U.K., including high demand for technical and strategic security services, a shortage of skilled workers and concerns over increasingly tight data protection laws.
The 2022 ISG Provider Lens™ Cybersecurity — Solutions and Services report for the U.K. evaluates the capabilities of 95 providers across seven quadrants: Identity and Access Management (IAM), Data Leakage/Loss Prevention (DLP) and Data Security, Advanced Endpoint Threat Protection, Detection and Response (Advanced ETPDR), Technical Security Services, Strategic Security Services, Managed Security Services – Large Accounts and Managed Security Services – Midmarket.
The report names IBM as a Leader in five quadrants. It names Accenture, Atos, Broadcom, Capgemini, Deloitte, HCL and Wipro as Leaders in three quadrants each. Microsoft, Orange Cyberdefense and TCS are named as Leaders in two quadrants each. BT, Check Point, Claranet, CrowdStrike, Darktrace, DXC Technology, EY, Forcepoint, HelpSystems, Herjavec Group, Netskope, NTT, Okta, PwC, RSA, Sophos, Tech Mahindra, Trellix, Trend Micro and VMware Carbon Black are named as Leaders in one quadrant each.
About ISG Provider Lens™ Research:
The ISG Provider Lens™ Quadrant research series is the only service provider evaluation of its kind to combine empirical, data-driven research and market analysis with the real-world experience and observations of ISG's global advisory team. Enterprises will find a wealth of detailed data and market analysis to help guide their selection of appropriate sourcing partners, while ISG advisors use the reports to validate their own market knowledge and make recommendations to ISG's enterprise clients. The research currently covers providers offering their services globally, across Europe, as well as in the U.S., Canada, Brazil, the U.K., France, Benelux, Germany, Switzerland, the Nordics, Australia and Singapore/Malaysia, with additional markets to be added in the future.
About ISG:
ISG (Information Services Group) (Nasdaq: III) is a leading global technology research and advisory firm. A trusted business partner to more than 800 clients, including more than 75 of the world’s top 100 enterprises, ISG is committed to helping corporations, public sector organizations, and service and technology providers achieve operational excellence and faster growth. The firm specializes in digital transformation services, including automation, cloud and data analytics; sourcing advisory; managed governance and risk services; network carrier services; strategy and operations design; change management; market intelligence and technology research and analysis. Founded in 2006, and based in Stamford, Conn., ISG employs more than 1,300 digital-ready professionals operating in more than 20 countries—a global team known for its innovative thinking, market influence, deep industry and technology expertise, and world-class research and analytical capabilities based on the industry’s most comprehensive marketplace data.
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