North Korea is making the world uneasy with its missile launches. It’s also driving business for defense contractors.
Take, for example, US defense giant Northrop Grumman’s planned $7.8 billion purchase of Orbital ATK, a smaller contractor focused on aerospace and missiles. As part of the deal—announced Monday (Sept. 18) and subject to regulatory approval—Northrop said it will pay $134.50 for each Orbital share, a 22% premium on Friday’s closing price, and assume $1.4 billion in net debt.
What makes Orbital so attractive? The tensions surrounding North Korea certainly don’t hurt.
In a call with analysts, Northrop CEO Wes Bush made an obvious reference to North Korea: “Clearly, as we watch what’s happening around our globe, the rather rapid advance of some of our potential adversaries is quite concerning.”
Keep reading this article at: http://www.govexec.com/contracting/2017/09/us-defense-contractors-north-korean-hostilities-are-good-business/141146/