The acquisition is expected to be mutually beneficial. “We seek to increase our capabilities in government operations contracting, overhaul and maintenance, airfield operations and specialized technical services,” Nicholas Masucci, CEO of the Berger Group, said. “The strengths and global reach of our large company will greatly complement the capabilities of Ranger International, enabling them to provide enhanced services to clients around the world.”

Steve Townes, CEO of Ranger, said: “This merger gives our company the resources necessary to perform even better for our clients and employees. We can expand with the global footprint of Berger as well as bring new dimensions to Berger’s current offerings. This acquisition will also allow both companies to enter new territories and take on more programs and contracts.”

Ranger was advised in this strategic acquisition event by the Wyche law firm, and by the investment bank of Houlihan Lokey.

About The Berger Group of Companies

The Berger Group of Companies, a top 20 Engineering News-Record firm headquartered in Morristown, NJ, with offices in Washington, D.C., and a number of other cities within the United States and worldwide, is a multidisciplinary architecture, engineering, planning and environmental consulting firm. With over 5,000 architects, planners, engineers, economists and environmental scientists, the Berger Group has worked on hundreds of thousands of miles of highway, thousands of miles of railroad and bridges as well as numerous airfields, seaports, buildings, dams, water supply systems and other infrastructure across the United States and in more than 140 countries. By utilizing our vast global capabilities and local responsiveness, the Berger Group is dedicated to providing solutions for a better world.

BERGER GROUP HEADQUARTERS:

412 Mount Kemble Avenue, PO Box 1946, Morristown, New Jersey 07962-1946
Phone 973 407 1000 | Fax 973 267 6354 | www.bergergroup.com

SOURCE:

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/berger-group-of-companies-acquires-ranger-international-services-group-138526194.html

The transaction combining US Logistics with Ranger International originally won The M&A Advisor’s Deal of the Year Award in 2009, for a lower middle market sized merger. US Logistics, Inc., is a North Carolina company specializing in the maintenance, modification, and overhaul of tactical vehicles and aircraft. The “Deals of the Decade” celebration served as the grand opening reception to the 2011 M&A Advisor Summit, featuring the 10th Annual M&A Awards Gala. This event brought together leading dealmakers and M&A thought leaders for an exclusive assembly in New York on December 12th and 13th.

The M&A Advisor announced the winners of the 10th Annual M&A Advisor Awards to a lively, sold-out crowd at the New York Athletic Club on Tuesday, December 13. The gala is the premier celebration of the year for the industry’s leading dealmakers. The 10th Annual Awards event was held in conjunction with the 2011 M&A Advisor Summit that featured over 400 of the industry’s leading M&A professionals.

“The award winners represent the best of the M&A industry in 2011 and earned these honors by standing out in a group of very impressive finalists,” said Roger Aguinaldo, CEO and Founder of The M&A Advisor. “From the lower middle market transaction to the multi-billion Deal of the Year, we are recognizing the leading transactions, firms and individuals that represent the highest levels of performance.”

The award was accepted by Generational Equity, the investment bank that assisted Ranger International with the merger. Tom Staszak was Generational Equity’s lead managing director for the merger, facilitating the sale of US Logistics. Ranger’s advisors on the transaction included the Wyche law firm of Greenville, SC, the Patton Boggs law firm in Washington, D.C., and the national accounting firm RSM McGladrey. Senior financing for Ranger International’s growth is provided by Bank of America.

Ranger International is the latest private equity consolidation platform launched and managed by Ranger Aerospace LLC. Other previous large-scale private equity successes by Ranger Aerospace include ASIG (Aircraft Service International Group, Inc., www.asig.com), and Keystone Helicopter (www.keystonehelicopter.com). Those platforms were built-up to substantial critical mass through aggressive internal growth and add-on acquisitions, then ultimately sold to huge strategic buyers. Each has since grown to even larger scale, as segment-leading brands. Ranger’s previous ventures have employed as many as 4,250 employees, with operations at as many as 56 airfields and operating sites in North America and Europe. Ranger’s management effectiveness has manifested in award-winning quality and superior IRR returns in “realized” investments.

Forward Looking Statements: The Company from time to time may discuss forward-looking information. Except for factual historical information, all forward looking statements are estimates by the Company’s management and are subject to various risks and uncertainties that are beyond the Company’s control and may cause actual results to differ materially from management’s expectations.

Ranger International's Buyout Wins Deal of the Decade Award. (L-R): Steve Townes CEO, Bill McLendon COO, Jeffrey Hartman CFO. (PRNewsFoto/Ranger Aerospace)

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The head office for Ranger Saudia is at 494 King Abdullah Ibn Abdulaziz Road, Jalubal Building, Suite 3, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Ranger Saudia is owned by Saudi principals, and will be jointly staffed by local senior Saudi personnel and deployed senior Ranger personnel from the U.S. The corporate identity and branding of the new venture builds upon the many years of brand equity of Ranger Aerospace and its affiliates, using the traditional Ranger motif for the logo which has been employed in the aerospace services sector since 1988, and in the private equity sector since 1997.

Ahmed Bashir, speaking on behalf of the parties in the Ranger Saudia teaming group, said: “Through Ranger Saudia, we will provide cost-effective technical services to various government agencies here in the Kingdom, and also create jobs here for the Saudi people. Our vision for this is wide, and our strategy is very long-term. The industrial sectors for Ranger Saudia are many and diverse across the entire spectrum of aerospace/defense, aviation, aircraft, spares & logistics, airfield services, engineering, components, MRO, and avionics. The capital strengths of our principals, combined with the aerospace acumen of our business partners from Ranger International, together create a formidable new competitive force on behalf of Saudi and GCC government customers.”

Steve Hanvey, President/CEO of Ranger TechWorks, said: “We are proud and honored to be entering into this important growth program with Ranger Saudia and its Saudi principals as our partners. Our initial projects stem directly from the core strengths and past performance of Ranger TechWorks and other Ranger subsidiaries. I envision that we will have a substantial and growing presence on aerospace/defense projects throughout KSA and the GCC States in the coming years. In my 40 years of aerospace industry experience, this is quite possibly the most dynamic long-term growth channel that I have ever seen.”

Steve Townes, Ranger Aerospace founder and CEO of Ranger International Services Group said: “It is our privilege to co-invest with strong partners on behalf of a whole new array of international customers. Acting primarily as a subcontractor to Ranger Saudia or other Saudi-controlled companies, this venture will yield potentially dramatic growth in the next few years for our total enterprise.”

For more information about Ranger Saudia, visit www.rangersaudia.com.

GREENVILLE, S.C. – May 26, 2011– Ranger International Services Group, a private equity consolidator specializing in government services, announces the winning of a GSA Engineering Services Division award to Ranger’s wholly owned subsidiary US Logistics. The award is a blanket purchase agreement (BPA) for procurement services and analysis, with special focus on engineering procurements. The engineering sister company of US Logistics, Ranger TechWorks, will assist in carrying out the various task orders under this award. The initial contracting site will be in New York, and the blanket purchase agreement allows possible other work sites to be added at the discretion of the General Services Administration. The initial award is for a one year base period through May 2012, and 4 one-year option years extending through May 2016. This GSA award marks the first time during the companies’ post-merger integration that they pursued and won a federal contract together. Other joint pursuits are in work by various Ranger subsidiaries and affiliates.

US Logistics, a GSA-authorized contractor since 2005, is a government logistics support services provider which specializes in tactical vehicle overhauls and repairs, technical staffing, logistics solutions, and aircraft technical services. Ranger TechWorks is a value adding engineering services company that specializes in military or commercial aircraft technical programs, airfield equipment projects, and specialty aerospace/defense engineering solutions. Both are backed by the large institutional shareholders of Ranger International Services Group. Major General (ret.) Chuck Swannack, President of US Logistics, said: “Our teams work well together, and the GSA selected us on a Best Value basis.” Steve Hanvey, President of Ranger TechWorks, said: “We want to help the GSA in its quest for Victory Over Red Tape, to borrow their slogan, and this engineering focused award lets us give the government customer a cost effective commercial solution in that segment of their supply chain.”

As the federal government’s workplace solutions provider, the U.S. General Services Administration works to foster an effective, sustainable and transparent government for the United States. GSA’s expertise in government workplace solutions include:

• Effective management of government assets including more than 9,600 government buildings and 210,000 vehicles;

• Leveraging the government’s buying power through responsible acquisition of products and services making up more than 11 percent of the government’s total procurement dollars;

• Providing innovative technology solutions to enhance government efficiency and increase citizen engagement; and,

• Promoting responsible use of federal resources through development of government-wide policies ranging from federal travel to property and management practices.

Steve Townes, Ranger Aerospace founder and CEO of Ranger International Services Group said: “Teamwork is a key to any business success. This award is a classic example of excellent collaboration among our outstanding people, on behalf of our U.S. government customers.”

Ranger International maintains a lean cost model, and is able to offer its Government or Prime Contractor customers an absolute cost advantage combined with measurably superior quality metrics on a consistent and reliable basis. The company is growing steadily, and seeking additional related growth contracts, new market channels, and possibly additional acquisitions in the government technical services sector. At December 31, 2010, the company closed its latest fiscal year with record-high multi-year contracted backlogs of $265 Million.

Ranger, the parent company, is a privately held investment and management holding company that partners with larger private equity institutions to acquire and grow companies in aviation services and aerospace/defense support operations. Ranger and its co-investors add value to acquired companies via seasoned veterans experienced in an array of aerospace/defense operations, engineering, business services, TQM, marketing, and private equity. The Ranger headquarters office is in Greenville S.C. For information about Ranger International Services Group and its subsidiaries and affiliates, visit: www.rangerinternational.com, www.us-L.com, www.cavinternational.com, www.rangertechworks.com, or www.rangeraerospace.com.

Forward Looking Statements: The Company from time to time may discuss forward-looking information. Except for factual historical information, all forward looking statements are estimates by the Company’s management and are subject to various risks and uncertainties that are beyond the Company’s control and may cause actual results to differ materially from management’s expectations.

US Logistics provides skilled technical services and Logistics Support Services (LSS) in support of US Department of Defense contracts worldwide, with hundreds of its personnel deployed overseas. In addition to tactical wheeled and combat tracked vehicle MRO services, US Logistics also performs aircraft technical services programs, technical workforce augmentation, and contract field teams. US Logistics recently won the largest prime contract in its history with the US Marine Corps, for hundreds of technical jobs overhauling tactical vehicles at the USMC Logistics Base in Barstow, California.

US Logistics operates in the growing military outsourcing arena. The US Government is pursuing competitive sourcing and privatization to free up dollars for its highest priorities, especially modernization. It is within this arena that US Logistics has established its strong reputation for quality, reliability, and cost-effectiveness. In an array of challenging contracts over its history, US Logistics has completed projects in eight countries and 38 states. Its people serve inside the U.S. as well as in critical locations overseas. The company maintains a lean cost model, and is able to offer its Government or Prime Contractor customers an absolute cost advantage combined with measurably superior quality metrics on a consistent and reliable basis. US Logistics has strong backing from large institutional shareholders, and a deeply experienced management team at multiple levels.

Ranger International, the parent company, is a privately held investment and management holding company that partners with larger private equity institutions to acquire and grow companies in aviation services and aerospace/defense support operations. Ranger Aerospace and its co-investors add value to acquired companies via seasoned veterans experienced in an array of aerospace/defense operations, engineering, business services, TQM, marketing, and private equity. The Ranger headquarters office is in Greenville, SC. For more information on US Logistics, please visit www.us-L.com. For information about Ranger and other US Logistics affiliates, visit: www.rangerinternational.com, www.cavinternational.com, www.rangertechworks.com, and www.rangeraerospace.com.

The founder of US Logistics, Mike Boyce, has been promoted by the Board of Directors to Vice Chairman of the company. Mr. Boyce said to all of his employees: “US Logistics is proud to have a leader of Chuck’s caliber and experience as our new CEO. As a large stockholder, I am confident in Chuck Swannack’s ability to keep growing our high-quality enterprise. Our customers know him and respect him. He knows every nuance of serving the warfighter, and every aspect of the heavy equipment on which we perform technical services. He’s got my vote as he takes the reins, and I ask all of our employees and customers to work with Chuck in accomplishing our many common objectives.”

Chuck Swannack said: “Our goals remain the same, to serve our customers so they can get their missions done better. Our commitment to our customers and to our own people is simple: to be the best we can be every day. We’re growing steadily because our customers are entrusting more and more work to the US Logistics team. US Logistics is very good at its job. We are committed to serving their technical services needs with high quality and cost-effective pricing. I know I speak for all of us in thanking and praising Mike Boyce for creating this remarkable company, and I look forward to his continuing mentorship as our Vice Chairman.”

Chuck Swannack has won the respect and confidence of US Logistics’ customers, which includes direct prime contracts with DOD agencies as well as subcontracts and teaming arrangements with major prime contractors. He has a widely recognized reputation for taking care of his people and fostering a mission-oriented organization. MG Swannack served in Operation Iraqi Freedom and led elements of the 82nd division in the advance to Baghdad and in the succeeding year in western Iraq. MG Swannack is a 1971 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and served in progressive leadership and staff positions throughout his distinguished career. He also holds a master’s degree in engineering from Georgia Tech, graduated from the National War College, and took advanced studies at the John F. Kennedy School at Harvard University. Prior to joining US Logistics, MG Swannack mentored US Army Reserve and Army National Guard senior military leaders in soon to be deployed units to help prepare them for the rigors of combat in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

US Logistics provides technical and labor services in support of US Department of Defense contracts worldwide, with hundreds of its personnel deployed overseas. In addition to tactical wheeled and tracked vehicle MRO services, US Logistics also performs aircraft technical services programs, technical labor services, and contract field teams. US Logistics recently won the largest prime contract in its history with the US Marine Corps, for hundreds of technical jobs overhauling tactical vehicles at the USMC Logistics Base in Barstow, California.

US Logistics operates in the growing military outsourcing arena. The US Government is pursuing competitive sourcing and privatization to free up dollars for its highest priorities, especially modernization. It is within this arena that US Logistics has established its strong reputation for quality, reliability, and cost-effectiveness. In an array of challenging contracts over its history, US Logistics has completed projects in eight countries and 38 states. The company maintains a lean cost model, and is able to offer its Government or Prime Contractor customers an absolute cost advantage combined with measurably superior quality metrics on a consistent and reliable basis.

Ranger International, the parent company, is a privately held investment and management holding company that partners with larger private equity institutions to acquire and grow companies in aviation services and aerospace/defense support operations. Ranger and its co-investors add value to acquired companies via seasoned veterans experienced in an array of aerospace/defense operations, engineering, business services, TQM, marketing, and private equity. The Ranger headquarters office is in Greenville, S.C. For more information on US Logistics, please visit www.us-L.com. For information about Ranger and other US Logistics affiliates, visit: www.rangerinternational.com, www.cavint.com, www.rangertechworks.com, or www.rangeraerospace.com.

Forward Looking Statements: The Company from time to time may discuss forward-looking information. Except for factual historical information, all forward looking statements are estimates by the Company’s management and are subject to various risks and uncertainties that are beyond the Company’s control and may cause actual results to differ materially from management’s expectations.

The merger is expected to result in increased employment across both companies and greatly expand the current customer base, with revenue anticipated to reach $100 million by the end of 2009. Both current Ranger subsidiaries are growing steadily, with robust bidding pipelines and plenty of opportunities for expansion and investment.

Mike Boyce, who will serve as president of the new holding company, while continuing to serve in his current position as president and CEO of US Logistics, is extremely optimistic about the possibilities and potential future of US Logistics.

Says Boyce of the merger, “As a major stockholder and Board Member of the holding company, I want you to know that I am deeply committed…Our customers can count on our total enterprise to be there, every day, every mission, with a reliable and vigilant focus on quality, safety, and FAR compliance. We can capably take on more and larger challenges now. Our customers know that this enterprise will develop and expand far beyond our previous horizons. As we grow, it means the real possibility for career growth and diverse new paths for our best performers.”

About the Companies
US Logistics
A world-wide leader in the maintenance, modification, reset and overhaul of tactical military vehicles, aircraft and Aerospace Ground Equipment (AGE). We also specialize in Aircraft Washing, Corrosion Control and Abatement Services for the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army.
www.us-l.com/

Ranger International
A privately held investment and management holding company that partners with private equity institutions to acquire and grow companies in aviation services and aerospace support operations. Ranger and its co-investors add value to acquired companies via seasoned veterans experienced in aviation services, aerospace program management, engineering, finance, government programs, executive search, C-level consulting, corporate development, MIS, marketing & strategic planning, LEAN initiatives, Total Quality Management, mergers & acquisitions, post-merger integration, and turnarounds.
www.rangeraerospace.com

CAV International, Inc.
Founded in 1996, CAV International provides technical and labor services in support of US Department of Defense Contracts worldwide. Headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado, the Company primarily provides air terminal and ground handling services and passenger terminal operations for the US Air Force’s Air Mobility Command (AMC) and commissary services for the Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA).
www.cavint.com

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C., July 14 /PRNewswire/ — US Logistics, Inc., a US Government outsourcing contractor specializing in the maintenance, modification, and overhaul of tactical vehicles, aircraft, and aerospace ground equipment (AGE), has been awarded an initial US Marine Corps multi-year contract for tactical vehicle maintenance which, at full maturity with all options exercised, would have total value of nearly $100 million. The US Department of Defense announced on July 1, 2009 that it has selected US Logistics (www.us-l.com) to provide labor in Barstow, California to support the overhaul and maintenance on several hundred military vehicles returning from Iraq. This time and materials contract is for a base period of 3 months plus 5 option periods each for an additional 6 months. If all of the options are exercised this will be a 33-month effort concluding in March of 2012. The maximum dollar value would reach $98 million if all of the options are exercised. The number of personnel for this contract could rise to a maximum of about 360 persons to support this mission-critical maintenance effort.

Mike Boyce, President of USL, said: “US Logistics is extremely proud to have been chosen to perform this very important maintenance work for the US Marine Corps. This award is solid testimony to the excellence of our people, and the skills that we bring to our Government customers. We are working with the Barstow program office and the Albany, GA contracts office to have personnel on the ground within the next few weeks. US Logistics is capable, over time, of providing this type of highly efficient, cost-effective technical workforce at multiple depots, for multiple large scale maintenance and retrofit programs.”

The work on this new Marine Corps contract will be performed at the Marine Corps Logistics Base-Barstow (MCB). MCB is one of three very large support depots in the Marines’ national logistics network. Barstow supports Marine forces west of the Mississippi, the Far East and Asia. MCB provides a ready and controlled source of technical competence for the entire array of Marine Corps ground weapon systems and equipment. MCB is the only remaining full capability ground combat support maintenance facility west of the Mississippi River, according to its official website.

MCLB Albany GA is the command center for the national Marine Corps depots, and the contracting office for this new award to US Logistics.

US Logistics operates in the growing military outsourcing arena. The US Government is pursuing competitive sourcing and privatization to free up dollars for its highest priorities, especially modernization. It is within this arena that US Logistics has established its strong reputation for quality, reliability, and cost-effectiveness. The company provides expertise in program and project management, with diverse capabilities which allow it to quickly and proficiently respond to contract requirements and missions. In an array of challenging contracts over its history, US Logistics has completed projects in eight countries and 38 states. The company maintains a lean cost model, and is able to offer its Government or Prime Contractor customers an absolute cost advantage combined with measurably superior quality metrics on a consistent and reliable basis.

US Logistics provides technical and labor services in support of US Department of Defense contracts worldwide, with hundreds of its personnel deployed overseas. In addition to tactical wheeled and tracked vehicle MRO services, US Logistics also services aircraft programs. USL’s aircraft programs include corrosion control, wash services, transient alert, maintenance and operations support, technical labor services, and contract field teams.

US Logistics’ seasoned management team has on average over 20 years of technical services and logistics experience, with a heavy career focus on vehicular and aircraft logistics support. Most leaders and technicians in the company are ex-military. The Company’s excellent track record and steady growth make US Logistics a Partner of Choice for the US Government and selected Prime Contractor partners, including the Marine Corps, Air Force, and other branches of the military. USL focuses internally to be a strong and fair employer, aiming to be an Employer of Choice for entrepreneurial technical services professionals who thrive in the military contracting environment.

Mike Boyce further explained: “At a time when our economy is suffering and so many companies are faltering, US Logistics is proud to be expanding, creating more good jobs for good people. Our prospects for continued growth are outstanding.”

Forward-Looking Statements: The Company from time to time may discuss forward-looking information. Except for factual historical information, all forward-looking statements are estimates by the Company’s management and are subject to various risks and uncertainties that are beyond the Company’s control and may cause actual results to differ materially from management’s expectations.

For more information on the web, visit www.us-l.com.