King & Wood Mallesons has advised US listed TransDigm Group on its acquisition of ILC Holdings Inc., the parent company of defense firm Data Device Corporation (DDC), from Behrman Capital for US$1 billion. 

DDC is a leading supplier of data-networking and power supply products for the global military and commercial aerospace markets. With a strong presence across key military aircraft platforms and a growing presence in the commercial aircraft market, the company expects to generate sales of over US$200 million in 2016, with roughly 75% coming from the defence market and the rest from the commercial aerospace market.

Mark Sanders, London Corporate partner, said, “This is another sizable acquisition for TransDigm, which meets TransDigm’s strategic, operational and value-creation criteria. We are delighted to have been able to use our transactional cross- border capabilities in Europe to support TransDigm, whilst also leveraging our expertise in the aerospace sector.” 

The King & Wood Mallesons team of over 30 lawyers from across Europe was led by London Corporate partner Mark Sanders with Frankfurt managing associate Norman Wasse. They were supported by partners James Walsh (Commerce & Technology, London); Carl Richards (Employment, London); Wyn Derbyshire (Pensions, London); Simon Holmes (EU, Competition & Regulatory, London); Tilman Siebert (EU, Competition & Regulatory, Munich); Lars Reubekeul (Real Estate, Munich); Barbara Geck (Employment, Frankfurt); Pierre-Louis Perin (Corporate, Paris); Anne Quenedey (Tax, Paris); and Ian Borman (Finance, London).

This deal is one of many transactions King & Wood Mallesons has recently acted on for TransDigm. These transactions include TransDigm’s acquisition of EME Holding GmbH; its acquisition of the aerospace business Franke Aquarotter GmbH; and, most recently, its acquisition of international Telair Group for $725 million.

King & Wood Mallesons advised TransDigm on all legal and regulatory aspects relating to its UK and European businesses and Baker & Hostetler advised TransDigm on the US aspects of the deal. Having obtained all governmental approvals, TransDigm has completed the acquisition, which was signed in May 2016.