Alliant Techsystems Inc. will spin off its $2.2 billion Outdoor Sports business into a separately traded and operated public company in a tax-free distribution to its shareholders as part of a larger plan to unlock shareholder value.
The Arlington, VA defense contractor said its board of directors had unanimously approved the spin-off as part of a larger a plan to create two independent, public companies with leadership in Outdoor Sports and Aerospace and Defense (A&D). The tax-free spin-off of the company's Sporting Group (“Sporting”) to ATK shareholders will be immediately followed by a tax-free, all-stock merger between ATK's Aerospace and Defense Groups (“ATK A&D”) and Orbital Sciences Corporation (“Orbital”), pursuant to which Orbital shareholders will receive shares of ATK common stock as consideration.
Since entering the commercial ammunition and sporting accessories space in 2001, ATK has built a leading position in the shooting sports for hunters, shooting enthusiasts and law enforcement professionals. The acquisitions of Savage and Bushnell in 2013 enabled ATK to expand its core competencies while creating opportunities to enter into new, adjacent markets in the outdoor recreation industry.
In today's growing market, the Sporting Group enjoys expanded distribution for some of the most widely known and respected brands in the industry: Federal Premium, Bushnell, Savage Arms, BLACKHAWK!, Primos, Final Approach, Uncle Mike's, Hoppe's, RCBS, Alliant Powder, CCI, Speer, Champion Targets, Gold Tip Arrows, Weaver Optics, Outers, Bolle, Cebe, and Serengeti.
“Sporting continues to deliver excellent performance,” said Mark W. DeYoung, President and Chief Executive Officer of ATK. “Results from our recently completed fourth quarter demonstrated continued revenue and earnings growth, and margin expansion. Full details on our fourth quarter results will be discussed on our May 15 earnings call.”
ATK believes that separating Sporting into a standalone entity will facilitate opportunities to further drive growth and marshal resources to broaden and deepen its market leadership. ATK believes that a more focused corporate leadership team, operating within a clearly defined commercial market with a competitive business model, will contribute to unlocking significant value for ATK shareholders.
Following the completion of the transaction, Sporting will also enjoy a strong balance sheet that will provide the ability to fund its growth strategy. Over the past 10 years, ATK's Sporting Group has delivered annual sales growth of approximately 16 percent (14 percent organic growth).
Sporting is expected to be a world leader in outdoor recreation products with adjusted pro forma last twelve months ended December 2013 (LTM Dec) revenues of $2.2 billion and LTM Dec 2013 adjusted EBITDA of $361 million.
ATK operates in three business segments: Aerospace Group, Defense Group, and Sporting Group. The company has grown significantly over the past two decades through organic growth and acquisitions, building leadership positions in several core and adjacent market segments.
The company's Sporting and A&D businesses operate in two fundamentally different markets with very different operating dynamics, compliance requirements, customer sets and growth opportunities. As standalone companies, they will be more focused businesses, with clear and distinct strategic visions and objectives, additional operational flexibility and the financial strength to make the most of their unique opportunities in their respective industries.
