Aerospace & Defense Acquisitions in Massachusetts

TK&K Services, LLC, a Beverly, Massachusetts–based provider of aviation fuels management and environmental consulting/remediation services, has been sold to an unnamed private investment group. Osage Advisors served as exclusive financial advisor to TK&K and the buyer plans to support management as the business expands its service offerings and pursues growth opportunities.

JANUS Research Group, a portfolio company of CM Equity Partners, has acquired Verisk's Atmospheric and Environmental Research (AER) business. The transaction (advised by D.A. Davidson for Verisk) brings AER's remote-sensing, climate, oceanography and space-weather capabilities into JANUS to broaden mission-focused science, analytics and AI/ML offerings for federal, defense and commercial customers.

Boston-based private equity firm Artemis Capital Partners has acquired Diamond Antenna and Microwave Corporation, a Littleton, Massachusetts developer and manufacturer of high-reliability RF rotary joints and rotating subsystems for aerospace, defense and space applications. Artemis says Diamond will continue to operate independently from its Littleton facilities and that the firm plans to invest in technical capabilities to deepen Diamond's offerings to prime integrators and government customers.

Wisk Aero has acquired Verocel Inc., a software verification and validation (V&V) firm that specializes in certification of high-integrity aerospace software. The acquisition brings over 50 specialized engineers and Verocel's qualified VeroTrace toolset into Wisk to accelerate certification of Wisk's Generation 6 autonomous eVTOL and provide enduring software-certification capability for the Boeing ecosystem.

TransDigm Group Inc. completed the acquisition of the Electron Device Business (EDB) of Communications & Power Industries (CPI) from an affiliate of The Resolute Fund V (TJC) for approximately $1.385 billion in cash. The business, a leading manufacturer of high-power RF/microwave components with strong aftermarket revenue, generated about $300 million in revenue for FY ended September 29, 2023 and employs ~900 people across U.S. and U.K. facilities.

Robinson Helicopter Company has acquired Ascent AeroSystems, a Wilmington, Massachusetts-based maker of coaxial uncrewed aerial systems (UAS). The deal brings Ascent's all-weather, modular drone platforms and payload ecosystem into Robinson's manufacturing footprint in Torrance, California to support expanded capability offerings for law enforcement, public safety, industrial and defense customers.

Qorvo has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Anokiwave, a Boston-based supplier of high-performance millimeter-wave integrated circuits for beamforming and IF-to-RF conversion used in phased arrays, SATCOM and 5G. The Anokiwave team will join Qorvo’s High Performance Analog segment to expand Qorvo’s capabilities and addressable opportunities across defense, aerospace and network infrastructure markets.

Heads Up Technologies, a portfolio company backed by JLL Partners, has acquired ALTO Aviation, a Sterling, Massachusetts-based designer and manufacturer of premium OEM and aftermarket cabin audio and cabin management systems. The acquisition expands Heads Up's product portfolio and strengthens its presence in the OEM and aftermarket business aviation markets.

General Atomics has acquired EO Vista, LLC, an Acton, Massachusetts-based developer of electro-optical and infrared sensor payloads, and will integrate the business into its General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) group. EO Vista currently supplies the EO/IR weather sensor payload for a U.S. Space Force contract to deliver an EO/IR Weather System (EWS) satellite; the acquisition expands GA-EMS's sensor and space systems capabilities.

AMETEK, Inc. has acquired United Electronic Industries (UEI), a Norwood, Massachusetts–based designer and manufacturer of data acquisition, test, measurement and control solutions. UEI will join AMETEK's Electronic Instruments Group to expand the company's capabilities in data acquisition and testing across aerospace, defense, energy and semiconductor end markets.

George Industries, a portfolio company of Behrman Capital, has combined with Alexander Machine & Tool Company (AM&T). The transaction (terms not disclosed) brings AM&T’s precision machining, brazing and thermal-management capabilities into the George Industries platform as Behrman Capital invests additional equity; AM&T’s president Tammy Soper will continue to lead the business post-transaction.

HDT Global, a Solon, Ohio-based manufacturer of expeditionary and defense solutions, has acquired Federal-Fabrics-Fibers, Inc. (3F), a Lowell, Massachusetts manufacturer of advanced woven and non-woven air-supported (AirBeam) shelter systems. The acquisition adds 2- and 3-D shaped woven AirBeam technology and rapid-prototyping capabilities to HDT's expeditionary shelter product portfolio to better serve U.S. government and allied military customers.

RESIDCO, a Chicago-based rail and aircraft leasing firm, acquired all assets of Brown Aviation Lease — including 31 aircraft on lease and five orders due in 2022 — to launch a dedicated flight training aircraft leasing platform. The transaction adds modern training aircraft (predominantly Cessna 172 Skyhawks, average fleet age ~4 years) to RESIDCO’s portfolio and aims to expand its leasing solutions for flight schools and university aviation programs.

Cadre Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CDRE) completed the acquisition of Cyalume Technologies, a leading manufacturer of chemical illumination solutions, for $35.0 million. The deal is expected to be immediately accretive, leaves Cyalume's management in place, and was funded using Cadre's cash and a draw on its existing credit facility.

PCX Aerosystems, a Greenbriar-backed producer of precision aerospace mechanical systems, acquired Honematic Machine Corporation from the Cusimano family effective April 1, 2022. The acquisition brings Honematic's precision deep-bored, turned and honed component capabilities into PCX to enable vertical integration, deliver fully integrated mechanical assemblies, and support collaboration with PCX's recently acquired Aero-K business.

Anduril Industries has acquired Boston-based Dive Technologies, a developer and manufacturer of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). The acquisition expands Anduril's unmanned systems capability into the undersea domain, accelerating production and integration of Dive's modular DIVE-LD platform with Anduril's autonomy software.

AEM, a San Diego–based designer and manufacturer of mission-critical electronic circuit protection components and a portfolio company of Industrial Growth Partners (IGP), acquired Renaissance Electronics & Communications (and its subsidiary HXI) on February 3, 2022. The deal expands AEM’s high-reliability component offering to include RF and millimeter-wave products, strengthening its position with space and defense customers and enabling cross-selling and geographic expansion.

Trive Capital-backed Vitesse Systems has acquired Sterling Precision, Inc., a Clinton, Massachusetts manufacturer of dip-brazed assemblies, cold plates and waveguides. The add-on expands Vitesse's thermal management and precision waveguide manufacturing capabilities to better serve aerospace, radar and electronic warfare customers.

DC Capital Partners has acquired SiOnyx, a Massachusetts-based developer and manufacturer of ultra-low-light CMOS image sensors and night-vision cameras. The transaction closed on August 11, 2021, with William Blair serving as SiOnyx's exclusive financial advisor.

Ondas Holdings Inc. has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire American Robotics, a developer of fully-automated commercial drone systems, for approximately $70.6 million in a mix of cash and equity. The acquisition will integrate American Robotics' Scout autonomous drone system and FAA BVLOS approvals with Ondas' FullMAX industrial wireless platform to expand automated data collection and AI analytics for industrial customers such as utilities, agriculture and oil & gas.

ThayerMahan has acquired Ocean Acoustical Services and Instrumentation Systems (OASIS) to strengthen its underwater acoustic sensing, signal-processing and AUV-integration capabilities. The acquisition integrates OASIS’s ocean acoustics expertise and real-time DSP systems into ThayerMahan’s autonomous maritime sensor and MDA solutions for government, commercial and research customers.

AE Industrial Partners (AEI) has acquired Adcole Maryland Aerospace (AMA), a Marlborough, Massachusetts–based designer and manufacturer of mission-critical spacecraft components and small satellites, from Adcole Corporation/Artemis Capital Partners. The acquisition establishes AEI's space technology platform and aims to position AMA to capture growing demand from U.S. government and commercial space markets.

Qorvo has completed the acquisition of Custom MMIC, a Chelmsford, Massachusetts-based supplier of GaAs and GaN monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs). The deal brings Custom MMIC’s mmWave capabilities and product portfolio into Qorvo’s Infrastructure and Defense Products business to expand offerings for defense, aerospace and commercial 5G markets.

Valence Surface Technologies, a PE-backed aerospace finishing platform, has acquired Fountain Plating Co., Inc., a Springfield, Massachusetts-based product finishing specialist serving aircraft engine and aerospace customers. The deal is an add-on to Valence's platform intended to expand its Northeast footprint and broaden its capabilities for complex engine, landing gear, airframe and electronics components.

WHI Global, a portfolio company of RVE Partners, has acquired the assets of Aero-Bond Corporation through affiliated vehicle Aerobond Composites, LLC. The acquisition brings composite fabrication capabilities (layup, compression molding, adhesive bonding, vulcanization) and AS9100/ISO 9001-certified capacity in Springfield, Massachusetts into WHI's aerospace manufacturing platform as part of RVE's buy-and-build strategy.

Cadence Aerospace, a portfolio company of Arlington Capital Partners, has acquired the OEM Manufacturing Division of B&E Group, adding two Massachusetts facilities (Southwick and Westfield) that specialize in complex, difficult-to-machine engine components for aerospace and defense customers. The deal expands Cadence's engine-component capabilities and creates scale across its Tell Tool and ADM operations as an add-on to the Cadence platform.

AEA Investors' Middle Market Private Equity team has completed the acquisition of API Technologies Corp. from J.F. Lehman & Company. API Technologies, headquartered in Marlborough, Massachusetts, is a manufacturer of high‑performance RF/microwave components and subsystems serving aerospace, defense, space and government customers; AEA plans to invest in the company’s position in the radio frequency/microwave components market to support future growth and product modernization.

Curtiss-Wright Corporation has completed the acquisition of Tactical Communications Group (TCG), LLC for $50 million in cash. TCG, headquartered in Tewksbury, Massachusetts, is a provider of tactical data link software and simulation solutions for military communications and will operate within Curtiss-Wright’s Defense segment to enhance its flight test instrumentation and tactical data link capabilities.

FLIR Systems, Inc. agreed to acquire Endeavor Robotics from Arlington Capital Partners for $385 million. Endeavor Robotics, headquartered in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, is a leading provider of unmanned ground vehicles for the U.S. Department of Defense, allied militaries, and industrial customers; FLIR said the purchase expands its unmanned solutions and complements its aerial systems, sensors, and payload capabilities.

Schenck Corporation has acquired Test Devices, Inc. (TDI) from owner H. Eric Sonnichsen in a share deal to expand Schenck's testing and prototyping capabilities for aerospace and related industries. Test Devices, a Hudson, Massachusetts-based provider of high-speed spin testing equipment and laboratory services, will continue operating under its current leadership with David Woodford remaining as President.

Anritsu Corporation acquired Azimuth Systems, Inc., a provider of RF channel emulation and real-world wireless performance test solutions, in a deal announced September 29, 2016. Azimuth will become a subsidiary of Anritsu as the buyer integrates Azimuth's IP and product portfolio to expand its 5G/IoT wireless test and measurement capabilities; the purchase price was not disclosed.