QinetiQ Group plc announces today that it has signed a definitive merger agreement to acquire Analex Corporation (“Analex”), continuing the execution of its strategy to grow its North American operations. Under the terms of the agreement, which is conditional upon regulatory clearance in the United States, QinetiQ will offer to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Analex for $3.70 per share, or an aggregate equity price of approximately $173m. The consideration will be paid in cash from existing banking facilities and the transaction is expected to complete in March 2007.
Analex is a US public listed company (American Stock Exchange: NLX). Holders of approximately 58.8 per cent of the fully diluted equity of Analex have agreed to tender their shares in the offer and to vote in favour of the definitive merger agreement and against any other transactions, subject to the provisions of the agreement.
Headquartered in Fairfax, Virginia, with 11 locations around the US, Analex is a leading provider of high technology professional services and solutions, principally to the US Government and its agencies. Analex specialises in providing innovative information technology, aerospace engineering and security and intelligence support services for defence, intelligence and space programmes.
Analex provides QinetiQ with new customers and contract opportunities as well as broadening the range of service offerings to the existing customer base of the Group. Principal customers include the US Missile Defense Agency (MDA), US Army, US Navy, DARPA, and NASA. Analex is also well positioned with intelligence customers some of which it has worked with for more than 20 years.
Analex employs approximately 1,100 people, most of whom have security clearances. The addition of this skilled workforce with security clearances significantly enhances the Group’s operational capabilities in North America. Approximately 70 per cent of Analex personnel work on customer sites and around half of its workforce is located in the Washington, D.C. area.
Analex had revenues of $150.3m for the 12 months ended 30 September 2006, EBITDA of $14.5m, and profit before amortisation of acquired intangible assets, interest and tax of $13.6m. At 30 September 2006 the business had gross assets of $123.1m and a total contract backlog of $413.0m, of which $56.0m was funded. Approximately 80 per cent of its revenue is derived from prime contracts, with a broad mix by contract types (60:40 firm fixed price/time and materials versus cost reimbursement).
Commenting on the agreement, QinetiQ’s chief executive officer Graham Love said: “Analex promises to be an excellent addition to the QinetiQ North America business profile, providing important new customer relationships within the US security agencies, the Department of Defense and NASA as well as broadening our existing service offerings. Having recently secured a number of new contracts, Analex offers growth and margin prospects consistent with expectations for QinetiQ’s existing North American business and we expect the acquisition to be immediately earnings enhancing for QinetiQ.”
He continued: “Analex will further enhance QinetiQ North America’s position to be able to bid for a wider range of significant opportunities in the defence and security market place in North America.”