Author Topic: Orbital and ATK’s Aerospace and Defense Groups to Combine in $5 Billion Merger  (Read 91636 times)

Online sdsds

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Writing online for the Washington Business Journal, Senior Staff Reporter Jill R. Aitoro indicates:
Quote
The planned merger of Orbital Sciences Corp. and Alliant Techsystems Inc.’s defense and aerospace business got the attention of the Pentagon, which plans to review the union to ensure it doesn't negatively impact competition.

The full story:
Pentagon to review planned ATK-Orbital merger
May 9, 2014
http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/blog/fedbiz_daily/2014/05/pentagon-to-review-planned-atk-orbital-merger.html
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Offline Ben the Space Brit

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No big surprise; the Pentagon would do this for any merger of big defence contractors.
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Offline woods170

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Writing online for the Washington Business Journal, Senior Staff Reporter Jill R. Aitoro indicates:
Quote
The planned merger of Orbital Sciences Corp. and Alliant Techsystems Inc.’s defense and aerospace business got the attention of the Pentagon, which plans to review the union to ensure it doesn't negatively impact competition.

The full story:
Pentagon to review planned ATK-Orbital merger
May 9, 2014
http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/blog/fedbiz_daily/2014/05/pentagon-to-review-planned-atk-orbital-merger.html

Emphasis mine:
Considering the non-competed 36 core block-buy deal that was recently closed I find this somewhat ironic.

Offline Ben the Space Brit

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Considering the non-competed 36 core block-buy deal that was recently closed I find this somewhat ironic.

Well, I suppose it's possible that DoD will adopt a 'once bitten, twice shy' philosophy for the future. It's unlikely, but it is possible.
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A Form 425 regarding Orbital Sciences Corporation has been filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
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Offline rayleighscatter

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ATK and Orbital press release (they were identical) today on the potential merger.
Quote
Companies Announce January 27 as New Date of Special Stockholder Meetings and Anticipated February 2015 Closing in Connection with Previously Announced Transaction to Merge ATK’s A&D Businesses with Orbital

Arlington, Va., Nov. 17, 2014—Alliant Techsystems Inc. (“ATK”) (NYSE: ATK) and Orbital Sciences Corporation (“Orbital”) (NYSE: ORB) announced today that the two companies have set January 27, 2015 as the new date for their separate, special stockholder meetings in connection with the proposed transaction to spin off ATK’s Sporting Group business and immediately thereafter, merge ATK’s Aerospace and Defense Groups with Orbital. On October 28, 2014, both companies communicated they would hold separate, special stockholder meetings on December 9, 2014 for ATK stockholders to vote on the issuance of shares to stockholders of Orbital and for Orbital stockholders to approve the proposed transaction. Following this announcement on October 28, 2014, a failure occurred during Orbital’s Antares launch. Since the incident, the companies have conducted a thorough review and analysis of the launch failure and Orbital’s proposed recovery plan and long-term competitive position. Following this review, ATK’s board of directors continues to support the strategic merits of the transaction and recommends that ATK stockholders vote to approve the issuance of shares to Orbital stockholders. Orbital’s board of directors also continues to recommend that Orbital stockholders vote to approve the proposed transaction.

“During the course of the last two weeks, both companies have diligently evaluated and analyzed information relating to the Antares incident and Orbital’s go-forward plan,” said Mark DeYoung, President and Chief Executive Officer of ATK. “We believe it was responsible and essential to conduct this special due diligence and as a result of our findings, management and our board of directors continue to endorse the previously announced transaction. The strategy to spin off our sporting business and merge our A&D businesses with Orbital supports long-term value creation, enhances the competitive position of both our sporting and A&D businesses, and makes long-term sense for our shareholders, employees, company, and our very diverse set of customers.”

“Working with NASA, our primary Antares customer, and our industrial suppliers, Orbital has implemented a comprehensive go-forward plan to fulfill the company’s commitment to the space agency’s commercial cargo program and to upgrade the propulsion system on the Antares rocket. As previously announced, Orbital does not believe this plan will cause material adverse financial changes in 2015 or future years,” said David W. Thompson, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Orbital.

As a result of the Antares launch failure and the time required to complete the subsequent review process, the companies have postponed the special stockholder meetings until January 27, 2015, to be held at each company’s respective corporate headquarters. ATK and Orbital stockholders of record as of the close of business on December 16, 2014 will be entitled to vote at their respective special stockholder meetings. The record date for the spinoff will be determined and publicly announced at a later date.

The transaction is expected to close in February 2015, and is subject to customary closing conditions including regulatory approvals and the approval of both ATK’s and Orbital’s stockholders. Additional information concerning the special meetings and the transaction will be included in an amendment to the ATK registration statement on Form S-4, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and, once declared effective, the joint proxy statement/prospectus will be mailed to ATK and Orbital stockholders who are entitled to vote at the respective special meetings.

Offline rayleighscatter

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And ATK is holding a conference call with investors on the 19th.
Quote
ATK to Hold Conference Call to Update Investors on Previously Announced Transaction with Orbital and on the Sporting Business Market

Nov 17, 2014

ARLINGTON, Va., Nov. 17, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Alliant Techsystems Inc. ("ATK") (NYSE: ATK) announced it will hold an investor conference call and webcast to update investors on the proposed transaction to spin off ATK's Sporting Group business and immediately thereafter, merge ATK's Aerospace and Defense Groups with Orbital Sciences Corporation ("Orbital") (NYSE: ORB). ATK expects to discuss its thorough review and analysis of Orbital's Antares launch failure, proposed recovery plan and long-term competitive position. As previously announced, ATK's board of directors continues to support the strategic merits of the proposed transaction and recommends that ATK stockholders vote to approve the related issuance of shares to Orbital stockholders in connection with the merger. In addition to the proposed transaction, ATK will update investors on the sporting market. ATK may also discuss its outlook and matters of strategy during the call.  Conference call details are as follows:

This call is being webcast and can be accessed at ATK's website http://ir.atk.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=118594&p=irol-audioarchives.  Information about downloading Windows Media Player software, which is required to access the webcast, will be available on the website.

When:
   

4:30 p.m. ET, Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2014

Who:
   

Mark DeYoung, President and Chief Executive Officer

   

Neal Cohen, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

   

Michael Pici, Director of Investor Relations

Telephone recording: For those who cannot participate in the live webcast, a telephone recording of the conference call will be available. The telephone number is 719-457-0820, and the confirmation code is 3072897. The recording will be available for one month after the call.

Institutional investors can access the call via a password-protected event management site, StreetEvents (www.streetevents.com).

Online Chris Bergin

ATK and Orbital Receive U.S. DOJ Clearance for Proposed Merger

 

Arlington, Va., Dec. 4, 2014—Alliant Techsystems Inc. (“ATK”) (NYSE: ATK) and Orbital Sciences Corporation (“Orbital”) (NYSE: ORB) announced that the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) has unconditionally cleared the proposed merger of ATK’s Aerospace and Defense Groups with Orbital. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) informed ATK and Orbital today, December 4, 2014, that the FTC and DOJ terminated the Hart-Scott-Rodino waiting period effective December 4, 2014. As previously announced, ATK and Orbital have entered into a transaction agreement, whereby ATK’s Aerospace and Defense Groups will merge with Orbital immediately following the spin-off of ATK’s Sporting Group business to ATK stockholders as a newly formed company called Vista Outdoor Inc. The companies anticipate completing the transaction in February 2015, subject to the satisfaction of remaining closing conditions, including the approval of both ATK’s and Orbital’s stockholders at special meetings scheduled for January 27, 2015.

 

Additional information concerning the special meetings and the transaction is included in ATK’s registration statement on Form S-4, which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and, once it is declared effective, the joint proxy statement/prospectus included in the Form S-4 will be mailed to ATK and Orbital stockholders who are entitled to vote at the respective special meetings.

 

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

 

Certain statements in this communication regarding the proposed transaction between ATK and Orbital, pursuant to which the newly formed sporting company, Vista Outdoor Inc. (“Vista Outdoor”), will be distributed to ATK’s stockholders and Orbital will merge with a subsidiary of ATK with Orbital surviving the merger as a wholly-owned subsidiary of ATK (the “Transaction”), the expected timetable for completing the Transaction, benefits and synergies of the Transaction and the expected tax treatment for the Transaction, future opportunities for Vista Outdoor and the ATK/Orbital combined company (the “Combined Company”) and products and any other statements regarding Vista Outdoor’s, ATK’s, Orbital’s, and the Combined Company’s future expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, financial conditions, assumptions or future events or performance that are not historical facts are “forward-looking” statements made within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements are often, but not always, made through the use of words or phrases such as “may,” “will,” “expected,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “project,” or “continue,” and similar expressions. All such forward-looking statements involve estimates and assumptions that are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results expressed in the statements. Among the key factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements are the following: the parties’ ability to consummate the Transaction; the conditions to the completion of the Transaction, including the receipt of approval of both ATK’s stockholders and Orbital’s stockholders; the regulatory approvals required for the Transaction not being obtained on the terms expected or on the anticipated schedule; the parties’ ability to meet expectations regarding the timing, completion and accounting and tax treatments of the Transaction; the possibility that the parties may be unable to achieve expected synergies and operating efficiencies in connection with the Transaction within the expected time-frames or at all and to successfully integrate Orbital’s operations with those of the ATK Aerospace & Defense (“ATK A&D”); the integration of Orbital’s operations with those of ATK A&D being more difficult, time-consuming or costly than expected; the impact of the Antares launch failure on Orbital and its business; operating costs, customer loss and business disruption (including, without limitation, difficulties in maintaining relationships with employees, customers, clients or suppliers) being greater than expected following the Transaction; the retention of certain key employees being difficult; Vista Outdoor’s ability to operate successfully as a standalone business; Vista Outdoor’s, ATK’s and Orbital’s ability to adapt its services to changes in technology or the marketplace; Vista Outdoor’s, ATK’s and Orbital’s ability to maintain and grow its relationship with its customers; reductions or changes in NASA or U.S. Government military spending, timing of payments and budgetary policies, including impacts of sequestration under the Budget Control Act of 2011, and sourcing strategies; intense competition; increases in costs, which the business may not be able to react to due to the nature of U.S. Government contracts; changes in cost and revenue estimates and/or timing of programs; the potential termination of U.S. Government contracts and the potential inability to recover termination costs; reduction or change in demand for commercial ammunition, firearms or accessories, including the risk that placed orders exceed actual customer requirements; risks associated with expansion into commercial markets; actual pension and other postretirement plan asset returns and assumptions regarding future returns, discount rates, service costs, mortality rates, and health care cost trend rates; greater risk associated with international business, including foreign currency exchange rates and fluctuations in those rates; other risks associated with U.S. Government contracts that might expose Vista Outdoor, ATK or Orbital to adverse consequences; costs of servicing debt, including cash requirements and interest rate fluctuations; security threats, including cybersecurity and other industrial and physical security threats, and other disruptions; supply, availability, and costs of raw materials and components, including commodity price fluctuations; government laws and other rules and regulations applicable to Vista Outdoor, ATK and Orbital, such as procurement and import-export control, and federal and state firearms and ammunition regulations; the novation of U.S. Government contracts; performance of subcontractors; development of key technologies and retention of a qualified workforce; fires or explosions at any of Vista Outdoor’s, ATK’s or Orbital’s facilities; environmental laws that govern past practices and rules and regulations, noncompliance with which may expose Vista Outdoor, ATK or Orbital to adverse consequences; impacts of financial market disruptions or volatility to customers and vendors; results of acquisitions or other transactions, including the ability to successfully integrate acquired businesses and realize anticipated synergies, cost savings and other benefits, and costs incurred for pursuits and proposed acquisitions that have not yet or may not close; unanticipated changes in the tax provision or exposure to additional tax liabilities; and the costs and ultimate outcome of litigation matters and other legal proceedings. Additional information concerning these and other factors can be found in Vista Outdoor, ATK and Orbital’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including ATK and Orbital’s most recent Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, ATK’s registration statement on Form S-4 (which registration statement has not yet been declared effective) and Vista Outdoor’s registration statement on Form 10 (which registration statement has not yet been declared effective). Vista Outdoor, ATK and Orbital assume no obligation to update or revise publicly the information in this communication, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as otherwise required by law. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements that speak only as of the date hereof.

 

Additional Information and Where to Find It

 

In connection with the proposed transaction between ATK and Orbital, ATK and Orbital intend to file relevant materials with the SEC.  ATK has filed a registration statement on Form S-4 that includes a joint proxy statement of ATK and Orbital that also constitutes a prospectus of ATK (which registration statement has not yet been declared effective). In addition, Vista Outdoor filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form 10 (which registration statement has not yet been declared effective). INVESTORS AND SECURITYHOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT, FORM 10, REGISTRATION STATEMENTS/PROSPECTUSES AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED OR TO BE FILED WITH THE SEC BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT ATK, ORBITAL, VISTA OUTDOOR AND THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. The joint proxy statement, Form 10, registration statements/prospectuses and other documents relating to the proposed transaction can be obtained free of charge from the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. These documents can also be obtained free of charge from ATK upon written request to ATK by emailing [email protected] or by calling Michael Pici at 703-412-3216 or from Orbital upon written request to Orbital at [email protected] or by calling Barron Beneski at 703-406-5528.

 

Participants in Solicitation

 

This communication is not a solicitation of a proxy from any investor or securityholder. ATK, Orbital and certain of their respective directors and executive officers, however, may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the proposed transaction under the rules of the SEC. Information regarding ATK directors and executive officers may be found in its Annual Report for the year ended March 31, 2014 on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on May 23, 2014 and the definitive proxy statement relating to its 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders filed with the SEC on June 13, 2014. Information regarding Orbital's directors and executive officers may be found in its Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2013 on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 25, 2014 and the definitive proxy statement relating to its 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders filed with the SEC on March 11, 2014. These documents can be obtained free of charge from the sources indicated above. Additional information regarding the interests of these participants is also included in the joint proxy statement/prospectus.

 

Non-Solicitation

 

This communication shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

About ATK

 

ATK is an aerospace, defense and outdoor sports and recreation company with operations in 21 states, Puerto Rico and internationally. News and information can be found on the Internet at www.atk.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/atk or on Twitter @ATK.

 

About Orbital

 

Orbital develops and manufactures small- and medium-class rockets and space systems for commercial, military and civil government customers. The company’s primary products are satellites and launch vehicles, including low-Earth orbit, geosynchronous-Earth orbit and planetary exploration spacecraft for communications, remote sensing, scientific and defense missions; human-rated space systems for Earth-orbit, lunar and other missions; ground- and air-launched rockets that deliver satellites into orbit; and missile defense systems that are used as interceptor and target vehicles. Orbital also provides research rocket and satellite subsystems and space-related technical services to U.S. Government agencies and laboratories. More information about Orbital can be found at http://www.orbital.com. Follow the company on Twitter @OrbitalSciences.

 
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Offline Galactic Penguin SST

And the deal has been closed.  ;)

Orbital Stockholders Approve Merger with ATK's Aerospace and Defense Groups

-- Merger Expected to Close February 9; New Company to Begin Operations February 10 --

(Dulles, VA 27 January 2015) - Orbital Sciences Corporation (NYSE: ORB) today announced that at a special meeting held this morning, the company’s stockholders voted overwhelmingly to approve the proposed merger with the Aerospace and Defense Groups of Alliant Techsystems Inc. (NYSE: ATK), pursuant to the definitive transaction agreement dated April 28, 2014. Approximately 99% of the votes cast at the special meeting voted in favor of the adoption of the transaction agreement, which represented approximately 85% of the total number of outstanding shares of Orbital common stock as of the December 16, 2014 record date for the special meeting.

“Today, Orbital’s stockholders endorsed the proposed merger with ATK’s Aerospace and Defense Groups by voting strongly in favor of the transaction, as did ATK shareholders at a separate special meeting also held earlier today,” said Mr. David W. Thompson, Orbital’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “We are now on a clear path to completing the merger and beginning operations of Orbital ATK two weeks from today.”

Subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the remaining conditions to closing, the merger is expected to close on Monday, February 9, 2015. Assuming completion of the merger, shares of Orbital common stock are expected to be delisted after the close of trading on February 9. As a result of the merger, each share of Orbital common stock will be converted into the right to receive 0.449 shares of common stock of ATK, with cash paid in lieu of fractional shares. At closing of the merger, ATK will be renamed Orbital ATK, Inc. and shares of Orbital ATK common stock will trade under the new ticker symbol “OA” on the New York Stock Exchange beginning February 10.

About Orbital

Orbital develops and manufactures small- and medium-class rockets and space systems for commercial, military and civil government customers. The company’s primary products are satellites and launch vehicles, including low-Earth orbit, geosynchronous-Earth orbit and planetary exploration spacecraft for communications, remote sensing, scientific and defense missions; human-rated space systems for Earth-orbit, lunar and other missions; ground- and air-launched rockets that deliver satellites into orbit; and missile defense systems that are used as interceptor and target vehicles. Orbital also provides research rocket and satellite subsystems and space-related technical services to U.S. Government agencies and laboratories. More information about Orbital can be found at http://www.orbital.com. Follow the company on Twitter @OrbitalSciences.

“Safe Harbor” Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

Certain statements in this press release may be forward-looking in nature or “forward-looking” statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words or phrases such as “may,” “will,” “expected,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “project,” or “continue,” and similar expressions are used to identify these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements concerning the proposed merger transaction between Orbital and ATK. All such forward-looking statements involve estimates and assumptions that are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results expressed in the statements. Information concerning these factors can be found in Orbital’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. There can be no assurance that the proposed merger transaction will be consummated. As a result, these statements speak only as of the date that they were made and Orbital assumes no obligation to update or revise publicly the information in this communication, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as otherwise required by law.
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Online Chris Bergin

Nice. Super Group formed!
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Online Chris Bergin

New sign for the Super Group! :) (Sent to me just now)
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Offline woods170

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New sign for the Super Group! :) (Sent to me just now)
For a super group they sure have done a poor job in cleaning that wall (for getting rid of the dirt-covered outline of the previous sign) and plugging the holes from the previous sign.
« Last Edit: 02/06/2015 01:18 pm by woods170 »

Offline arachnitect

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New sign for the Super Group! :) (Sent to me just now)
For a super group they sure have done a poor job in cleaning that wall (for getting rid of the dirt-covered outline of the previous sign) and plugging the holes from the previous sign.

I wonder if they're going to do a comprehensive "rebranding" soon. I hope so. I don't understand why the switch to blue? It's a step up from what they had in the shareholder proposals, but not much.

Orbital's red and white scheme was classy (Stargazer looks great!). The ATK black and white looked edgier and more befitting a company that specialized in munitions and composites.

Blue text with ellipses logo just looks like they stole the most boring elements of the other aerospace giants' branding.

Not that it really matters, but why be mediocre? Good design is cheap.

Offline mmeijeri

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No - where's the satellite component?

Who says there has to be one?
I do.

The majority of revenue in this business is in the payload, not the launch services. Thus, what made Orbital grow and be attractive for this merger was to be able to sell either sats plus external launch services, or "full service" sat on orbit.

How do you compete with that otherwise.

Pardon me, but are we arguing aerospace economics, aerospace management, or aerospace strategy? Or your whim for the sake of argument? I'm honestly clueless to your post.


Quote
ULA exists off of Boeing and Lockheed's joint desire to exploit EELV as long as possible. Wrecks financial performance to add a capital sink like low volume engines you only consume and might not sell to others enough. Also, neither Boeing or Lockheed would supply enough capital to spin-off something that could on its own compete against either or both of them.

It doesn't have to be ULA buying Aerojet. I'd guess the reverse or a true merger is more likely.
Then what would be the point of such a merger? Because its cool to you?

Businesses merge when they need to restructure strategically. Clearly here ATK is dead-ended and cannot adapt, it needs to get out of the box. Orbital is under resourced and can do more. So it makes sense. What is your rational for a ULA merger?

Am I asking to much of you to explain your reasoning beyond whim all to present in these threads?

Bump.
Pro-tip: you don't have to be a jerk if someone doesn't agree with your theories

Offline Space Ghost 1962

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No - where's the satellite component?

Who says there has to be one?
I do.

The majority of revenue in this business is in the payload, not the launch services. Thus, what made Orbital grow and be attractive for this merger was to be able to sell either sats plus external launch services, or "full service" sat on orbit.

How do you compete with that otherwise.

Pardon me, but are we arguing aerospace economics, aerospace management, or aerospace strategy? Or your whim for the sake of argument? I'm honestly clueless to your post.


Quote
ULA exists off of Boeing and Lockheed's joint desire to exploit EELV as long as possible. Wrecks financial performance to add a capital sink like low volume engines you only consume and might not sell to others enough. Also, neither Boeing or Lockheed would supply enough capital to spin-off something that could on its own compete against either or both of them.

It doesn't have to be ULA buying Aerojet. I'd guess the reverse or a true merger is more likely.
Then what would be the point of such a merger? Because its cool to you?

Businesses merge when they need to restructure strategically. Clearly here ATK is dead-ended and cannot adapt, it needs to get out of the box. Orbital is under resourced and can do more. So it makes sense. What is your rational for a ULA merger?

Am I asking to much of you to explain your reasoning beyond whim all to present in these threads?

Bump.

Alright, you win! You get a "gold star" for predicting 1.5 years ahead of time this. Take a bow!

ULA is dead ended by lack of Russian engines, "parents" not risking billions on new LV/engines, and a industry wide contraction due to changing competitive landscape and reduced future govt defense spending.

That about cover it?
« Last Edit: 09/09/2015 09:11 pm by Space Ghost 1962 »

Offline mmeijeri

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Nope, I did not predict this, I was just annoyed at the brusque and condescending way you declared it a silly thought.
« Last Edit: 09/09/2015 09:25 pm by mmeijeri »
Pro-tip: you don't have to be a jerk if someone doesn't agree with your theories

Offline Space Ghost 1962

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Nope, I did not predict this, I was just annoyed at the brusque and condescending way you declared it a silly thought.

My apologies. Not my intent in the slightest to be either, to you or anyone.

Online catdlr

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Orbital ATK: One Year, One Company

Published on Feb 10, 2016
Orbital ATK celebrates its first year as a company after the merger between Orbital Sciences Corporation and Alliant Techsystems, Inc. in February 2015. The merger brought into existence a new $4.5 billion space, defense and aviation systems manufacturer that employs approximately 12,000 people in 18 states across the United States.

Tony De La Rosa, ...I'm no Feline Dealer!! I move mountains.  but I'm better known for "I think it's highly sexual." Japanese to English Translation.

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