Cybersecurity firm scooped up for $25 million

Applied Signal Technology, an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance firm based in Sunnyvale, Calif., has added to its cybersecurity portfolio with the acquisition of Seismic LLC, of Hanover, Md., for $25 million in cash.

The privately held 100-person firm, which posted revenue of $15 million in 2009, specializes in cybersecurity, software engineering, data management, and systems engineering and integration for the Defense Department and other intelligence agencies.

The acquisition is expected to enhance Applied Signal Technology’s capabilities in cyber threat intelligence, computer network defense and predictive security, information advantage, and computer network operations and application security.

“We believe that the current urgent need for cyber intelligence services will continue to expand into the future,” said William Van Vleet, president and chief executive officer of Applied Signal Technology, a publicly traded company that posted 2009 revenue of $202.6 million. “The acquisition of Seismic, a fast-growing, profitable and extremely talented organization, cements our position in that exciting market.”

The company also said it expects to continue expanding its software and network services business.

Aronson Capital Partners served as an adviser to Applied Signal Technology.