Belcan adds Schafer, forms new government services business

Cincinnati-based Belcan has agreed to acquire scientific and technical services contractor Schafer Corp. for an undisclosed amount and subsequently formed a new business segment focused on government services in cyber, IT and data management.

Belcan expects to close the deal in the second quarter and this transaction represents its fifth acquisition in the past 18 months. Boca Raton, Fla.-based private equity firm AE Industrial Partners bought engineering and information technology services provider Belcan in July 2015 after 60 years of family ownership.

Including Schafer, three of Belcan’s acquisitions under AE’s ownership have been in government services. Those deals include the July 2016 buy of Landsdowne, Va.-based Intercom Consulting & Federal Systems Corp. and the January purchase of Albuquerque, N.M.-based The Kemtah Group.

As part of its Schafer buy, Belcan has appointed contracting industry veteran Lee Shabe to president of the government services business segment. Shabe’s industry career includes executive roles at NNData, Vion Corp., the former L-3 national Security Solutions business and Data Tactics Corp.

Founded in 1972, Schafer is headquartered in Arlington, Va., with nearly 400 employees that provide military and civil government agencies services in areas such as weapons of mass destruction, space, cybersecurity, air and missile defense and micro materials.

Schafer’s national security customers include the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, DARPA, IARPA, DTRA and the combatant commands. Civilian agency customers include NASA, NIST and the Energy Department. The company holds both a Navy Seaport-e and GSA Schedule contract.

New York City-based private equity firm Metalmark Capital acquired Schafer in 2008.

Founded in 1958 by Ralph G. Anderson, Belcan reported 6,000 employees in 49 locations at the time of AE’s purchase in July 2015.

Raymond James & Associates acted as financial adviser for Schafer and Metalmark Capital. PwC held the same capacity for Belcan and AE Industrial Partners.