Transaction: L-1 Identity Solutions

Following a comprehensive assessment of the company’s strategic alternatives, L-1 Identity Solutions, a leading provider of biometric identity management, secure credentialing solutions, enterprise access control and identity enrollment services, agreed to be acquired by Safran. The $1.6 billion acquisition added a suite of technologies that enhanced Safran’s existing technology and product offerings across a broad range of Identity Management and Homeland Security applications.  L-1 also provided Safran with an ideal platform to build its footprint in the critical U.S. market.  Due to regulatory constraints, the successful completion of the transaction required the divestiture of  L-1’s Intelligence Services Group to BAE Systems prior to the acquisition of L-1.  Safran’s purchase price equated to a transaction multiple of approximately 12.7x CY2011 adjusted EBITDA.