It's no secret that technology contracting in and around the nation's capital is big business. July's flurry of M&A activity proved no exception, so we rounded up all of the month's biggest local acquisition deals related to government-focused IT and cybersecurity operations.
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McLean-based TechnoMile, a cloud software developer, acquired Bethesda-based Carroll Publishing for undisclosed terms. Carroll operates a database of contact information for government decision-makers through GovSearch and FedSearch. TechnoMile plans to operate that business under a newly formed entity, Lead Connector, which will integrate the content with its growth, compliance and operations platforms. Read more here.
Systems Planning and Analysis, an Alexandria-based tech services provider for national security and defense customers, acquired fellow government-focused Alexandria firm Veracity Forecasting and Analysis. Veracity uses operations research, data science and predictive analytics to help clients make complex decisions – not unlike Reston startup Qomplx, which just raised a $78 million funding round. Read more here.
McLean-based Ntiva, a provider of IT, cloud hosting, cybersecurity and consulting services, this week announced the acquisition of HigherGround, another IT and consulting firm based in Chicago. The deal expands Ntiva’s coverage into the Midwest, adding to its existing markets in the DMV, California, New York and Florida. It also increases Ntiva’s client base to over 900 organizations in the U.S. Read more here.
Octo, a locally based consulting services provider for the federal government, announced its acquisition of Phoenix-based software developer Connexta. Through the acquisition, Octo is bolstering its client base in the intelligence community and Department of Defense, particularly with the Air Force and its software labs. The move adds roughly 130 employees to its roster, primarily in full-stack and cloud engineering. It also adds offices in Boston, Denver and Phoenix. Read more here.
Private equity shop Genstar Capital has completed the acquisition of Advarra, a Columbia, Md.-based provider of compliance solutions for the drug development process. Linden Capital Partners was the seller, and financial terms weren't disclosed. Advarra was formed through the merger of Chesapeake IRB and Schulman IRB in 2017, and in February last year it completed an acquisition of Quorum Review. Read more here.
McLean-based A-TEK Inc., a woman-owned IT and scientific services company, acquired fellow McLean woman-owned IT systems engineering company Mackson Consulting. Terms were not disclosed. The companies' similar client lists and successful contracting records inspired the investment, according to a statement. A-TEK currently has employees in 12 states and 19 cities nationwide. Read more here.
Publicly traded McLean cloud provider GTT Communications is buying European telecom and IT company KPN International for $56 million in cash. The acquisition would give a major boost to GTT’s presence in Europe, with the company gaining KPN’s staff, assets and 400 retained clients. The deal, which is expected to close in Q3, follows GTT's June 2018 purchase of Interoute, another European telecom firm, for $2.3 billion. Read more here.
