Presented at NCMA's World Congress 2016
Presenters: Baker Tilly's Aaron Raddock, CFE, CFCM, Senior Manager and Todd Overman, JD, Partner, Bass Berry & Sims PLC
The rise in mergers and acquisitions among federal contractors is poised to continue. Such transactions are inherently risky to all parties, especially with the added regulations unique to the federal marketplace. A thorough knowledge of these complexities is critical to the diligence process. This session will provide an overview of the diligence process, how contracts professionals can add value, primary risks to look out for, and new risks for 2016. www.bakertilly.com/governmentcontractors
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Baker Tilly Presents: Government Contractor Mergers & Acquisitions: Making the Most of the Diligence Process
1.
2. Government Contractor Mergers
& Acquisitions: Making the Most
of the Diligence Process
Breakout Session #: F10
Todd Overman, Partner, Bass, Berry & Sims
Aaron Raddock, Senior Manager, Baker Tilly
Lance Novak, CFO, Military & Veterans at United Healthcare
Date: Tuesday, July 26
Time: 4:00pm-5:15pm
3. 2
Agenda
• Overview of the diligence process
• Structure of a transaction
• How contracts professionals can add value
• Pre and post-transaction risks for
contractors
• Top Diligence Issues for 2016
• Questions
5. 4
Overview of the Transaction
Lifecycle
Prepare
Engage banker
Understand market
Identify strengths/
weaknesses
Assess readiness/
timing
Identify buyers/
approach
CIM development
Marketing
Contact approved
parties
Develop/deliver
tailored message
NDA
CIM distribution
Management
meetings/
presentations
Negotiate/
Select
LOIs
Scope
Compare
Negotiate
Selection
Due
Diligence
Buyer’s diligence
Financial modeling
Transaction
Structuring
Purchase
agreements
Transaction closing
Integration
Analyze
Develop integration
plan
Execute and
measure success
6. 5
Looking at a Deal: Due Diligence
Process
• The due diligence process typically involves a comprehensive review
of documents related to the business being acquired, and may include
visits to the Seller’s locations and discussions with the Seller’s
management team (including management presentations)
• The Purchaser typically assembles a multidisciplinary due diligence
team, including inside and outside counsel, business and financial
personnel, and accounting and tax personnel
‒ Legal subject matter experts involved in a transaction often include tax,
employee benefits, IP, real estate, environmental, and where applicable,
regulatory counsel
‒ Many Purchasers also engage outside accounting firms to assist them in
the due diligence process, especially in larger acquisitions
• Due diligence is almost always performed under significant time
constraints
7. 6
Looking at a Deal: Due Diligence
Process
• Due diligence serves to:
‒ Confirm the valuation of the Seller’s business
‒ Justify the Purchaser’s business reasons for the transaction
‒ Provide a knowledge base to more effectively negotiate the
definitive agreement and mitigate risks associated with the Seller’s
business
‒ Allow the Purchaser to effectively review the Seller’s disclosure
schedules
‒ Identify contingent liabilities and other risks associated with the
business (e.g., pending litigation, potential environmental
liabilities, organizational conflicts of interest, etc.)
‒ Identify legal and contractual requirements for the proper transfer
of ownership of the business to the Purchaser (e.g., corporate
approvals from Seller, novations, third-party consents, etc.)
‒ Facilitate the successful integration of the Seller’s business into
the Purchaser
8. 7
Typical Document Requests
• Contracts (not closed out)
‒ Types of Vehicles
‒ Modifications
‒ Task Orders
‒ Correspondence
‒ Subcontracts/Vendor Agreements
• Pipeline/Backlog (sample on next slide)
• Teaming Agreements/Joint Ventures
• IP/Software Development Records
‒ Funding
‒ Marking
• CPARs/Audits
11. 10
Structuring the Transaction
• How to structure the transaction?
‒ Stock sale
‒ Asset sale
‒ Merger
• Change of Name vs. Novation
• Novation Process
‒ To allow for the assignment and transfer of contracts,
the FAR provides a process known as a novation by
which the government will give consent and waive the
prohibition of the Anti-Assignment Act
‒ Through a three-party novation agreement, the
government expressly agrees to the transfer of a
government contract from one contractor to another
12. 11
Structuring the Transaction
• It’s the USG’s decision when to allow for a novation:
‒ “when it is in the Government’s interest not to concur in the
transfer of a contract from one company to another company, the
original contractor remains under contractual obligation to the
Government, and the contract may be terminated for reasons of
default, should the original contractor not perform.” FAR
42.1204(c) (emphasis added)
• It is good practice to engage the Contracting Officer (at
the appropriate time) to have the seller/contract holder
socialize the potential sale and transfer of the contract
13. 12
Structuring the Transaction
• Types of transactions that trigger novations
‒ Structure of the transaction is critical (stock vs. asset/merger)
‒ Generally no government consents are required for stock
purchase
‒ Whereas novations are required for asset purchases (and
mergers). FAR provides several examples:
• Sale of assets used in performing government contract with a
provision for assuming liabilities;
• Transfer of assets incident to a merger or corporate consolidation;
and
• Incorporation of a proprietorship or partnership, or formation of a
partnership
• Tips:
‒ Include novation as a condition subsequent in post closing
covenants
‒ Include rescission and unwind provisions or purchase price
reduction if novation is not approved within a set period of time
15. 14
Contracts Professionals Add Value
• Join the Diligence team
− Government contracting expertise should be utilized in all due
diligence efforts involving Government contractors
− Whether on the buy side or sell side, leadership needs individuals
who understand the unique pre and post transaction risks
associated with government contractors
− Contracting Professionals can serve as a key facet of this cross
functional team and can supplement outside experts
• Share your Contracts Knowledge
− Much of the valuation of the seller company and its key risks stem
from the contracts
− Help compile and/or evaluate the pipeline
− Explain customer relationships and identify the nature of current
and future revenue sources
16. 15
Contracts Professionals Add Value
• Identify Key Risks
− Help explain key contractual risks and obligations
− On the buy side, perform a detailed review of the seller’s contracts
− Engage with seller contracts personnel
− Share high risks clauses and compliance obligations with the
diligence team for follow-up
• Compliance Controls
− Assist in the evaluation of compliance controls designed to fulfill
the contract obligations identified
− Review audit findings and related documentation
− In smaller companies, contracts and compliance may be the same
function
• Provide Assistance during Integration
− Closing is just the beginning
− Consider Integration pre-transaction and begin planning (e.g.,
novations, name changes, customer notifications, additional
controls needed, etc.)
18. 17
Pre-Transaction: Buyers of
Government Contractors
• Considerations and potential impacts vary based on intended post-
merger entity (i.e., consolidation vs. acquisition of separate business
unit)
• Revenue and Contract Mix
− Contract types (i.e., firm fixed price, time and materials, cost plus, etc.)
− Small business contracts, set aside – will they transfer to Buyer?
• Look for set aside clauses (e.g., FAR 52.219-6)
• Generally set asides will transfer but 8(a) contracts will not
− Prime vs. sub contractor, teaming arrangements
− Agencies, markets
− Revenue concentration
• Funding Status
− Estimates to complete on incrementally funded awards
− Value of unexercised options
− Value of IDIQ contracts (maximum award value is a poor indicator)
19. 18
Pre-Transaction: Buyers of
Government Contractors
• Cost Allowability Considerations
− Costs of financial restructuring and mergers and acquisitions are unallowable
pursuant to FAR 31.205-27 (this does not include post-transaction integration)
− Determine where to draw the line between transaction and integration activity
− Establish project accounts to capture costs of unallowable activities
• Unique Contract terms
− Indirect cost or other ceilings; allowability requirements
− Unusual or delayed payment terms, milestones, fee structures
− Assignment and change in ownership provisions, or cancellation terms
− Other restrictions
• Contract Backlog and Pipeline
− Option terms, renewal dates
− Funded vs. unfunded, incrementally funded contracts
− Margins
− Bid and proposal process, capture rate
− Potential lost contract revenue and post deal considerations
− Synergies
20. 19
Pre-Transaction: Buyers of
Government Contractors
• Unbilled Receivables
− Size and age of federal contract receivables
− Invoicing system effectiveness
− Status of unaudited or incomplete Incurred Cost Proposals
− “Buyer” cannot invoice until novation process is finalized
• Subcontract Agreements
− Key relationships / status
− Controversies and disputes
− Pending claims
− Assignment restrictions
• Classified Contracts and Security Clearances
− Secret contracts limit due diligence capabilities
− Importance of retaining key personnel
− Additional complications / impact if Buyer is a foreign-owned entity
• Changes
− Nature and frequency of constructive changes
− Contractor identification of changes, and success rate / recoverability under REAs
21. 20
Pre-Transaction: Buyers of
Government Contractors
• Cost Accounting Standards (CAS) Impacts
− CAS coverage triggers (if not previously covered)
− Necessitates indirect rate restructuring?
− Affects cost accounting practices
− Results in changes to disclosed practices
• Business and accounting systems
− Many government contractors are subject to one or more of the six DFARS
business systems clauses (accounting, estimating, purchasing, government
property, material management and accounting systems, and earned value
management system)
− Covered systems are subject to periodic review by DCAA or DCMA
− Deficiencies seriously impact contract payment flow, contractor responsibility
determinations, and eligibility / competitiveness for award of new contracts
− Existence of any compliance reports or negative audit findings related to such
systems
− Quality of existing systems
− Systems incompatible with Buyer’s systems?
− Future investment required to improve systems?
− Potential integration issues
22. 21
Pre-Transaction: Buyers of
Government Contractors
• Organizational conflicts of interest
− Review for existence of potential conflicts
− Does Target have a strong conflict identification process?
− Assess transaction and financial impacts
− Mitigation strategies possible?
• Intellectual property
− Patents, copyrights, technical data, software – what is the portfolio of the Target?
− Who owns intellectual property and under what terms (e.g., unlimited rights vs.
government purpose rights)?
− Target’s ability to justify intellectual property value, and rights restrictions if
challenged
• GSA / VA Schedule Contracts
− Existing compliance issues (OIG investigations, audit reports, CAV reviews)
− Hidden issues – current disclosures, PRC / BOA tracking mechanisms, etc.
− Labor category harmonization
23. 22
Pre-Transaction: Buyers of
Government Contractors
• Labor Law Compliance
− Exposure to higher risk labor laws such as Service Contract Act (SCA) or Davis-
Bacon and related Acts (DBRA)
− Status of compliance with 14 labor laws identified in proposed “Fair Pay and Safe
Workplaces” rule
− Ability to report on historical compliance from prior years
• Open Audits / Investigations
− Status of open audits and historical activity
− Potential impact of unresolved audits and investigations (risk and likelihood)
• Joint ventures: Know what you’re really buying
− Most government contractors are a party to one or more joint ventures and enter
JVs for a variety of reasons
− Understand the legal form of the JV and the implications of that legal form
− Does the JV create antitrust issues? Impose covenants not to compete on affiliates
of JV members and if so, how will that affect the purchaser?
− Does the JV create organizational conflicts of interest for the purchaser?
− How will a change of control of the Target affect its rights as a JV member?
− What rights does the Target have to participate in management of the JV?
− Understand consolidation requirements and financial reporting post closing
24. 23
Post-Transaction Considerations for
Government Contractors
• Revisit Indirect Cost Structure for New Organizational Structure
− Definition of a segment / business unit
− Impacts to home office allocations and service centers
− Additional or revised indirect cost rates
− New Provisional Billing Rates or Forward Pricing Rate Proposal?
• Cost accounting practice changes
− Not all organizational changes equate to cost accounting practice changes
− Assess need for GDM or cost impact
− Revise disclosure statement as needed
• Consolidation of GSA Schedules / SINs / Labor categories
− Streamline duplicative offerings
• Consolidation / Revision of Business System Descriptions
− Align business systems and compliance processes
− Update policies, procedures, and system descriptions to reflect new organization
• Notifications / Disclosures
− Novations and Agency-specific requirements (e.g., DOD contractors with
restructuring costs > $2.5M)
26. 25
Top Diligence Issues for 2016
• Past Performance
‒ With increased competition, past performance ratings can dramatically
influence the award of future work
‒ Structure of transaction can result in loss of past performance history
• Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces / Labor Law Compliance
‒ Requires contractors to disclose their compliance with 14 different labor
laws within the past three years, and to update that information at least
twice a year, as a determination factor during award
‒ Raises the stakes on contractor labor law compliance
‒ New FLSA salary thresholds and proposed sick leave rule further impacts
contractors obligations
• Data Rights
‒ Government is increasingly aggressive in obtaining rights to intellectual
property (e.g., Better Buying Power 3.0)
‒ Proper compliance and management of intellectual property rights,
including technical data and computer software, is a must
27. 26
Top Diligence Issues for 2016
• Supply Chain Management
‒ The proliferation of counterfeit parts and increased scrutiny over supply
chain practices is leading to additional consequences for government
contractors that have not yet been fully realized
‒ The government’s expectations of prime contractors and higher tier
subcontractors with respect to the management of their supply chain has
changed
• IR&D costs under DOD Contracts
‒ Proposed rules relating to increased scrutiny and additional disclosures
in connection with IR&D costs under DOD contracts may give buyers
another item to examine
‒ Such rules place additional risk on allowability of IR&D
• Small business compliance
‒ The transferability and/or future qualification of set aside work will
continue to be a mainstay diligence issue
28. 27
Top Diligence Issues for 2016
• Cybersecurity
‒ This past year has seen a host of security issues an new/impending
regulations to comply with
• Federal Supply Schedule Risks
‒ Manufacturers using resellers are at risk as a result of VMware and
Carahsoft $75.5 Million FCA settlement with GSA in June 2015
‒ Increased scrutiny of Trade Agreement Act compliance
‒ Additional pricing pressure (e.g., horizontal pricing and Contract Awarded
Labor Category (“CALC”) tools)