Jun 3, 2019   SOURCE: BusinessWire

HEICO Corporation Acquires Leading Surveillance Countermeasures Company

HEICO Corporation (NYSE HEI.A and HEI) today announced that its Electronic Technologies Group acquired 75% of the ownership of Cookeville, TN-based Research Electronics International, LLC (“REI”) in an all cash transaction. REI’s two owners/managers retained the remaining 25% ownership. No further financial details were disclosed.

HEICO expects the acquisition to be accretive to its earnings within the first 12 months after closing.

REI is the leading designer and manufacturer of Technical Surveillance Countermeasures (“TSCM”) equipment to detect devices used for espionage and information theft. REI’s products, which are fully designed and manufactured internally, are known as the most advanced and user-friendly in the TSCM industry. REI’s customers include government agencies, law enforcement, corporate security personnel and TSCM professionals worldwide. REI’s equipment is in use in over 100 countries.

REI was founded in 1983 by its President, Bruce Barsumian. Tom Jones acquired 50% of REI and became its Chief Operating Officer in 1995. The two have been REI’s equal owners since then. Upon the HEICO acquisition, Mr. Jones succeeded to the President’s position and Mr. Barsumian is now REI’s Chief Scientist, at his request. Both Mr. Barsumian and Mr. Jones remain committed to REI, as both Team Members and substantial owners.

REI will continue to operate in its current 50,000 square foot, state-of-the-art, fully-integrated and self-contained domestic research, design, manufacturing and training facility located in Cookeville, TN. Further, HEICO and REI stated that they do not expect any staff turnover from among REI’s 65 highly-regarded Team Members to result from the acquisition.

Bruce Barsumian and Tom Jones together commented, “Partnering with HEICO is the right thing for our customers, Team Members, suppliers and for our families. For more than 36 years, REI has been the most innovative business in our field and we wanted to be a part of a group that is committed to innovation, while also treating its people well. We found that partner in HEICO and look forward to a strong future together.”

Laurans A. Mendelson, HEICO’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, along with Victor H. Mendelson, HEICO’s Co-President and Chief Executive Officer of its Electronic Technologies Group, jointly remarked, “From the moment we met Bruce and Tom, we knew they and their company were perfect fits with HEICO’s culture. Their passion for their products, customers, Team Members and suppliers in a niche market greatly impressed us. We have no doubt REI will continue to be the best in its field.”

Certain statements in this press release constitute forward-looking statements, which are subject to risks, uncertainties and contingencies. HEICO's actual results may differ materially from those expressed in or implied by those forward-looking statements as a result of factors including: lower demand for commercial air travel or airline fleet changes or airline purchasing decisions, which could cause lower demand for our goods and services; product specification costs and requirements, which could cause an increase to our costs to complete contracts; governmental and regulatory demands, export policies and restrictions, reductions in defense, space or homeland security spending by U.S. and/or foreign customers or competition from existing and new competitors, which could reduce our sales; our ability to introduce new products and services at profitable pricing levels, which could reduce our sales or sales growth; product development or manufacturing difficulties, which could increase our product development costs and delay sales; our ability to make acquisitions and achieve operating synergies from acquired businesses; customer credit risk; interest, foreign currency exchange and income tax rates; economic conditions within and outside of the aviation, defense, space, medical, telecommunications and electronics industries, which could negatively impact our costs and revenues; and defense spending or budget cuts, which could reduce our defense-related revenue. Parties receiving this material are encouraged to review all of HEICO's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to filings on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by applicable law.

HEICO Corporation is engaged primarily in the design, production, servicing and distribution of products and services to certain niche segments of the aviation, defense, space, medical, telecommunications and electronics industries through its Hollywood, Florida-based Flight Support Group and its Miami, Florida-based Electronic Technologies Group. HEICO's customers include a majority of the world's airlines and overhaul shops, as well as numerous defense and space contractors and military agencies worldwide, in addition to medical, telecommunications and electronics equipment manufacturers. For more information about HEICO, please visit our website at http://www.heico.com.