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Navtech’s acquisition of European Aeronautical Group creates one of the world's leading companies for commercial aviation dispatch, charting and crew
planning products. More
Questions & Answers
More than two years of careful planning has led to Navtech's acquisition of EAG, and this
acquisition is a significant step in Navtech's strategic goal to become the premiere supplier of
integrated flight operations solutions to airlines around the world.
Navtech is focussed on increasing its product offering breadth and furthering its geographic/customer expansion. We expect to realize significant revenue growth and increased efficiencies
as a result of our combined product scope and market presence, which will position us for further
product line/geographic expansion. SAS has also indicated that Navtech will be a good, long-term
strategic partner for its airline business.
This acquisition creates tremendous growth opportunities for Navtech and its employees. Both
organizations have an extremely complementary skill set, and remarkably little product overlap.
Navtech is well positioned to emerge as the number two flight operations management provider with a tremendous airline customer base and one of the most comprehensive suites of flight operations management solutions. We know the market is looking for a credible #2 provider and, collectively, we have the opportunity to fulfill that need.
Abry Partners gave Navtech subordinated debt to finance this acquisition. Navtech is confident in
our ability to meet the demands placed upon the company and sees tremendous growth
opportunities in the future. Abry Partners is also confident, noting that they see great strategic
value in bringing these two companies together, both for the market and as a business
transaction.
Navtech has a tremendous track record of growth and is even stronger with the EAG acquisition.
Each company has a similar revenue model that generates significant recurring revenue.
Navtech's management has experience in acquiring companies in the past. EAG is a stable organization with a solid management team. Both companies have a great track record of growth
and have a remarkably similar customer base (predominantly mid-size carriers, although each has
a couple of major carrier as customers, as well) and revenue model (generating recurring
revenue).
Both companies also have complementary product portfolios and a heritage of delivering flight
operations solutions to the commercial airline market. The significant similarities that already
exist within the two companies will help significantly in the transition to a single, larger
organization.
We are focused on future growth, which will create new and exciting opportunities for EAG and
Navtech employees with the new Navtech.
More than two years of careful planning has led to Navtech's acquisition of EAG. Detailed analysis
of product and market fit, and an experienced management team that has a track record of
successfully managing acquisitions in the past ensure that this acquisition is part of Navtech’s
overall strategy and support, rather than distracts from, Navtech’s focus on delivering integrated
flight operations solutions.
EAG's highly successful charting and navdata products fill a gap that previously existed in
Navtech's product portfolio. EAG also has a customer base of more than 100 airlines,
predominantly in Europe, which will significantly increase our customer base.
Navtech has a track record of growth, even in troubled times for the airline industry. Navtech has
world leading crew planning solutions for commercial airlines, which we expect will have great
appeal for European airlines. Navtech also brings a singular focus on the integrated flight
operations market, which will help to drive things forward for all customers and employees.
Corporate Backgrounder
Navtech, Inc., a leading international provider of flight operations software, services more than
100 airlines in 25 countries. Navtech's software provides a competitive edge to airlines by
facilitating significant cost savings in fuel management and crew planning, two areas that
represent a majority of an airline's variable operating expenditures.
Navtech has achieved strong growth with a revenue model that provides more than 80%
recurring revenue, and has maintained 15 consecutive quarters of profitability. Navtech has a
proven track record of growing its business even during periods of airline industry volatility.
Navtech has successfully built its North American flight dispatch market share, and more
recently its crew planning market share, by competing head-to-head on product functionality
and customer support, not price.
European Aeronautical Group is a wholly owned subsidiary of the SAS Group, with operations
in Sweden and the U.K. The Group produces advanced aeronautical documentation and
systems for the aviation industry. Its product line includes different versions of aeronautical and
flight navigation documentation and flight and route planning for various systems. EAG is wellknown
for its aeronautical charting and navigational data product line, which includes electronic
or paper-based air navigation maps of worldwide airports and airspace.
The acquisition of EAG is a significant step in Navtech's goal of becoming the premiere supplier
of integrated flight operations solutions to airlines around the world. With the addition of EAG's
charting capabilities, Navtech has one of the most comprehensive flight operations
management product portfolios that includes aeronautical charting, navigational data, flight
planning, crew planning, runway analysis, and weight & balance capabilities. Significant
revenue growth and increased efficiencies are expected to result from the newly combined
product scope and market presence.
The newly combined company has more than 250 employees and services more than 200
commercial airlines around the world. The company has a strong market presence in North
America and Europe, and a growing presence in Asia.
- Navtech, Inc. (OTCBB: NAVH), completed the acquisition of European Aeronautical Group(EAG) from the SAS Group for SEK 162 million (approximately $20 million US) on November
22, 2005.
- An additional consideration is conditional on Navtech meeting certain business performance
measures.
- History of dialogue goes back 2 years
- Navtech management saw EAG as an excellent product and market fit
- SAS Group mandated to sell non-airline subsidiaries
- SAS Group views Navtech as good long-term strategic partner
- The financing for the transaction was provided by ABRY Partners of Boston, Cambridge
Information Group (CIG) of Bethesda, MD and Externalis of Brussels, Belgium. ABRY
provided subordinated debt to Navtech, Inc.
- The deal transforms Navtech into one of the world's leading flight operations solutions
providers with consolidated revenues in 2004 of $31.7 million US
- Combined staff size of approximately 250 based in Canada, the United States, Sweden and
U.K.
- Combined product offering: Navigational Data, Flight Planning, Crew Planning, Runway
Performance, Aeronautical Charts, Weight & Balance
- Combined customer base of more than 200 airlines including Delta, Air Canada, SAS, British
Airways, Air Asia, EVA Airways and JetBlue Airways.
- Furthers strategic objectives, and provides the product scope to enter the Electronic Flight
Bag market
- Critical mass in the US and European markets, with a growing presence in the developing
Asian market place
- Revenue/market share provides a greater critical mass for company initiatives (cross selling,
product line expansion, geographic expansion, future acquisitions)
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