Houlihan Lokey Advises Axom Technologies Inc.

Houlihan Lokey is pleased to announce that Axom Technologies Inc. (Axom) has been acquired by By Light Professional IT Services LLC (By Light), a portfolio company of Sagewind Capital LLC (Sagewind), becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of By Light and operating as a separate division.

Axom, a service-disabled veteran-owned small business (SDVODB), was founded in 2004 with a mission to serve the nation by delivering secure, state-of-the-art information technology, cyber solutions, and engineering services. As the leading internal service provider (ISP) deploying, maintaining, and securing networks that provide connectivity and interoperability, the company has a strong understanding of the needs surrounding the intelligence community. Axom currently holds 10 Department of Defense (DoD) prime programs, supporting Fort Meade, DISA, SOCOM, and other DoD customers, and is headquartered in Annapolis Junction, Maryland.

This transaction reinforces key trends in the government services M&A market:

• Private equity-backed companies continue to be aggressive consolidators
• Buyers have a strong interest in programs that serve classified customers
• Companies that provide mission-critical capabilities are highly coveted

Founded in 2002, By Light is an ISO 9001, ISO 20000, ISO 27001, HITRUST, and CMMI Dev 3 registered and certified company, providing a full range of professional services, hardware, and software engineering solutions to defense, civilian, and commercial customers worldwide. By Light provides comprehensive hardware and software systems engineering solutions for the design and implementation of both classified and unclassified government networks. Together, By Light and Axom can offer an expanded range of scalable, cost-effective, enterprise-wide services to both existing and new customers while also increasing the competitiveness of the combined company for highly sought-after work in the defense and intelligence communities. By Light is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.

Sagewind has a proven track record of providing capital and financial resources to help promising small and middle-market companies achieve success faster while generating long-term equity value. Through its investments, Sagewind is building a portfolio of companies in key sectors that have the potential for organic growth and can serve as platforms for substantial value creation through a buy-and-build strategy of strategic acquisitions. Sagewind is headquartered in New York, New York.