Parsons Corp. [PSN] on Thursday said it has agreed to acquire BlackHorse Solutions Inc.
for $203 million in a deal that will add scale to its capabilities in cyber, electronic warfare (EW) and information dominance and also expand its presence with existing customers while adding new ones.
The deal is expected to close in July.
BlackHorse, which is based in Northern Virginia, has nearly 200 employees and is expected to add about $100 million in sales in 2022. Parsons said the acquisition is in line strategy of buying companies with sales and operating earnings growth at more than 10 percent respectively and also adding intellectual property.
“Adding BlackHorse increases our scale in the areas of cyber, electronic warfare, and information dominance, enhancing Parsons’ position to pursue and win upcoming large joint all-domain contract opportunities, which is a key component of our national defense strategy,” Chuck Harrington, chairman and CEO of Parsons, said in a statement. “We have partnered closely with BlackHorse in the past, so we know our cultures are well aligned and are excited to welcome their talented team of employees to the Parsons’ family and leverage their exceptional reputation in the market.”
BlackHorse, which also has offices in Tampa, Fla., Fayetteville, N.C., and Denver, Co., also has capabilities in digital operations, artificial intelligence and machine learning, readiness support, and full spectrum operations. The company is an awardee on the Defense Department’s $950 million contract for the Advanced Battle Management Systems program to mature, demonstrate and provide capability across platforms to enable Joint All Domain Command and Control, referred to as JADC2.
In 2020, BlackHorse received a $93 million contract from U.S. Cyber Command to deliver mission automation solutions.
BlackHorse builds on Parsons’ existing customers in the Defense Department and the intelligence community, including the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Special Operations Command, and Cyber Command. The deal also adds new customers such as the U.S. Marshals Service and the Naval Air Systems Command, a Parsons spokesman said.
Parsons said that it expects the deal to be accretive to its adjusted operating earnings in fiscal years 2021 and 2022.
Mike Kushin, president and CEO of BlackHorse, will remain with the company.
BlackHorse’s financial advisor on the deal is Raymond James & Associates and Parsons is being advised by Baird.