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At first glance, you’d think that investors in middle-market defense and other government services companies are a decade late and a dollar short. 
 

At first glance, you’d think that investors in middle-market defense and other government services companies are a decade late and a dollar short. 
 
After all, Congress is busy quarrelling over the debt ceiling, government expenditures on all levels are under fire, military commitments in Iraq and Afghanistan are getting cut back, and almost every other budget is getting sliced.
 
So defense and government services companies would seem to be among the last places where private equity investors should be looking.
 
But dig deeper.  You’ll find very compelling reasons why many of these companies are in the right place at the right time. 
 
At this full-day encore conference on Thursday, July 14, in New York, with all-new content, you’ll be thoroughly briefed on all the potential rewards of doing business with Uncle Sam.
 
Private Equity Investing
In Middle-Market Defense
& Other Government Services Companies
Where Contrarians Are Finding Great Opportunities
Now That It’s a Buyer’s Market
 
And as long as spending cuts are on the table, we’ll gladly add one of our own.  When you sign up now as a first responder, you’ll receive our special Early Bird Discount — a generous savings of $400!
 
Come to this conference and you’ll learn how it’s a buyer’s market, with sub-sectors that have high growth potential — so investors who understand where to focus their sights can do quite well in 2011, 2012, and beyond.
 
For example, as military operations wind down in war theaters, there’s a correlating increase in civilian operations — which means increased spending for building infrastructure, creating judicial systems, spearheading training and education, and other themes. 
 
In addition, you’ll hear how the continuing security threat is driving higher spending for human intelligence, cyber security, and information technology.
 
The difference is clear when you consider that the government’s defense spending has two components — war funding (aka overseas contingency operations) and base budget (where middle-market investors normally focus). 
 
While total spending is down from fiscal 2011 to 2012 — to $671 billion from $708 billion — the portion for the base budget has actually gone up to $553 billion from $526 billion.  And Department of Defense projections through 2016 show a yearly rise in base spending up to $671 billion in 2016.
 
Which means that large procurement weapons systems — such as the Navy’s DDG-1000 Zumwalt-class destroyer with its three billion-dollar price tag — will be facing major cuts. Products and services that break the traditional manpower-intensive military model in favor of technology and intelligence — such as drones — have the green light.
 
Recent deals reflecting this changing mindset include Providence Equity Partners’ purchase of SRA International, a government provider of computer services for national security and disaster response planning.  New Mountain Capital’s sale of Apptis, a provider of high-end IT services to federal agencies, to URS Corp.  And Camber’s acquisition of DS3, a leading provider of cyber security, IT, and secure satellite communication services for the Department of Defense.
 
What’s more, 800-pound gorilla contractors such as Boeing are now divesting many of their consulting businesses to avoid conflicts of interest.  Lockheed Martin has recently sold its EIG business, providing mission-critical simulation, modeling, analysis and risk mitigation services, to Veritas Capital — and its Pacific Architects & Engineers business, specializing in expeditionary construction, logistics, operations and training, to Lindsay Goldberg.
 
20 Defense And Government Experts Disclose Their Specialized Knowledge.
 
This encore MasterClass will cover the best practices, trend forecasts, and actionable strategies that will help you succeed in this attractive marketplace. 
 
While there are changes taking place in contract management and procurement guidelines, we’ll share the current best practices and proven strategies you can proceed in confidence.
 
With the migration from cost-plus to fixed-price contracts continuing, you’ll need to know how to maximize efficiency in order to maximize your margins.  You can take advantage of added flexibility and profit potential under fixed-price contracts so long as you have effective cost management systems in place — and we’ll tell you how.
 
You’ll also understand how the new vigilance by the Defense Contractor Audit Agency affects the landscape.  Firms with strong ethics and compliance policies now command a premium, as the agency is ramping up its efforts to make sure companies are doing things right. 
 
There is also a corresponding increase in the number of successful bid protests, so finding companies with strong capabilities and qualified staff trumps companies that once relied on cozy relationships.
 
Returning to chair this encore conference is David Panton, partner and co-founder of Navigation Capital Partners, an Atlanta-based private equity firm that makes growth and buyout investments in middle-market niche companies across the United States.
 
At Navigation Capital Partners, David has spent several years actively evaluating defense and government services company opportunities.  Prior to NCP, David was a vice president at Mellon Ventures where he focused on long-term growth capital investments and buyouts, and was managing director and co-founder of a private equity fund management firm targeting investments in the Caribbean and Latin America.  He also served as a Senator in the Upper House of Jamaica’s Parliament.
 
David received a doctorate in management studies from Oxford University, where he was a Rhodes Scholar, a JD from Harvard Law School, where he was president of the Harvard Law Review, and a BA in public policy from Princeton University.
 
Along with David, our four panel discussions will feature 20 knowledgeable private equity experts in the defense and government services sector, including GPs, portfolio company operating executives, investment bankers, lenders, consultants, and more.  They will share their real-world perspectives, lessons learned and industry outlooks, including insights on recent deal activity and managing current portfolio companies.
 
Register now to hear fully transparent answers to the questions you’re sure to have  —
 
• What key issues are changing the game for defense and government services companies’ investments?
• What sub-sectors have the most significant potential for 2011-2012?  Cyber security?  Disaster response?  IT?  Others?
• What do you have to know about meeting new defense and government services regulations?
• How is the current administration budget impasse likely to be resolved?
• Has consolidation within the space affected opportunities, or are the doors wide open for smaller firms?
• What do Department of Defense projections reveal for the decade to come?
• How are changes to the government procurement process affecting current deals?
• What are the preferred approaches to conducting due diligence on defense and government deals?
• What valuations can investors expect for defense and government services company deals?
• How can you ensure your portfolio companies are following the protocols in your contracts?
• How do you strategically take advantage of subcontracting opportunities?
• And much, much more.
Networking That’s Open, Face-To-Face, And Productive.
 
Seating was in demand for our previous defense and government services companies conference not only for its content, but also for its connections.  The day’s agenda includes planned session breaks and an open lunch when you can exchange ideas and business cards with fellow attendees and featured speakers.
 
You should attend this MasterClass if you are a —
 
• GP or LP looking to invest in defense and government services companies.
• PE firm considering investing in defense and government services companies.
• Hedge fund manager or venture capitalist interested in this specialized space.
• Lender seeking participation in defense and government services transactions.
• Investment banker pursuing deals with defense and government services companies.
• Attorney or advisor representing defense and government services companies.
• Partner or operating executive of a defense or government services or company.
• Executive search professional recruiting for the PE industry.
 
Remember, register with our Early Bird Discount by June 3, 2011, and you’ll save $400 off our standard fee! Please make your reservation now while seats are available; we don’t want you to be disappointed later.  We’ll be looking forward to greeting you.
 
For more information, please feel free to contact Shaina Mardinly at 212-832-7333 ext. 0 [email protected].
 
This conference is being produced by The Capital Roundtable, America’s leading conference organization focusing on “need-to-know” information for professionals in the middle-market private equity community.  For more information about The Capital Roundtable’s 30 annual MasterClasses and other events and programs, please visitwww.capitalroundtable.com.
The Capital Roundtable thanks SunTrust Robinson Humphrey Inc. for sponsoring this outstanding event. It’s due in great part to their collaboration and support that we have the resources to make this event so worthwhile for you.