Private equity firm OceanSound Partners has acquired Antenna Research Associates, or ARA, for an undisclosed sum as part of efforts to help the latter expand its client relationships and radio frequency capabilities to facilitate the delivery of new technologies to the aerospace and defense market.
New York-based OceanSound said Tuesday ARA’s management team will continue to serve in their operational roles and remain investors in the company.
Supporting DOD, National Security Customers With RF Tech Portfolio
Founded in 1963, ARA provides integrated RF and advanced communications products for customers in the aerospace and defense end markets.
The Laurel, Maryland-based company uses its capabilities and expertise in the active electronically scanned array, or AESA, technology to help the Department of Defense and other national security customers modernize legacy platforms and field next-generation systems designed to improve threat detection, situational awareness and communication capabilities.
“As the defense industry continues to demand advanced, low-cost technologies, our team is focused on building sustainable partnerships with customers to develop and deploy cost competitive, high-performance technologies to address the rapidly evolving requirements of the Department of Defense. OceanSound’s partnership approach will enable us to continue fielding innovative solutions leveraging the RF spectrum to better serve the needs of the market,” said ARA CEO Logen Thiran.
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher acted as OceanSound’s legal counsel in the transaction. Raymond James & Associates and Akerman served as ARA’s financial adviser and legal counsel, respectively.
Investing in Tech Companies Serving Government End-Markets
The acquisition marks another investment for OceanSound, which recently raised $1.5 billion in total capital commitments for its oversubscribed second fund.
Joe Benavides, managing partner of OceanSound, said ARA has built a portfolio of over 50 patents used in delivering differentiated RF systems since 1963, and its RF portfolio is designed to address key DOD priorities, including the development of unmanned aerial systems and counter-UAS platforms to manage threats from U.S. adversaries.
“ARA’s ability to miniaturize their products enables the development of small, low cost, higher-volume platforms such as drones, low earth orbit satellites, man portable communications and other mobile A&D platforms,” Benavides added.
