McGladrey Capital Markets leads negotiations as Synchronous Aerospace acquires Helicomb International

Costa Mesa, Calif. – January 07, 2009 – Synchronous Aerospace, a portfolio company of Littlejohn & Co, has announced a definitive agreement to acquire Helicomb International. Transaction terms were not disclosed.

McGladrey Capital Markets LLC initiated the transaction, led the negotiations and acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Helicomb. Johnson, Jones, Dornblaser, Coffman & Shorb LLP acted as legal advisor to Helicomb, and Morrison Cohen acted as legal advisor to the buyer.

“The McGladrey Capital Markets team ran an efficient, effective process that achieved a strong valuation with minimal disruption to Helicomb’s business,” says Bob Austin, president and majority shareholder of Helicomb. “The results exceeded my personal expectations, especially given the challenging market conditions.”

About Helicomb International

Founded in 1981 and based in Tulsa, Okla., Helicomb produces commercial and military aircraft structures manufactured from a broad range of composite and metal-bonded materials for leading aerospace manufacturers, Tier 1 suppliers and overhaul service providers.

About Synchronous Aerospace

Synchronous is a Santa Ana, Calif.-based leading provider of flight-critical machined aluminum and hard-metal parts; integrated kits and assemblies; composite, metallic and metal-bonded airframe structures; and systems details to the commercial, fixed- and rotary-wing military, and space markets. The company's products span the entire body of an aircraft, including the wing, airframe, engine and fuselage. From facilities strategically located throughout the United States, Synchronous sells to leading aerospace original equipment manufacturers, Tier I suppliers and key MRO service providers.

About Littlejohn & Co

Littlejohn & Co LLC is a Greenwich, Conn.-based control-oriented private equity firm seeking investment opportunities in the middle-market sector that are undergoing a fundamental change in capital structure, strategy, operations or growth that can benefit from the firm’s operational and strategic approach. The firm’s professionals manage three funds with committed capital of approximately $1.6 billion. The firm is currently investing from Littlejohn Fund III LP, which has $850 million in capital commitments. For more information, visit www.littlejohnllc.com, or Littlejohn can be reached at 203-552-3500.

About McGladrey Capital Markets

McGladrey Capital Markets LLC is a global provider of investment banking services to private and public companies with annual revenues of up to $1 billion. The firm’s services include mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, recapitalizations, capital raising, fairness opinions and restructurings. McGladrey Capital Markets, which offers in-depth expertise in 13 distinct industry sectors, brings together companies, capital and creativity on a national and international scale to help clients achieve their personal and strategic objectives.

McGladrey Capital Markets is affiliated with RSM McGladrey Inc., a professional services firm providing accounting, tax and business consulting. Both firms are indirect subsidiaries of H&R Block Inc. (NYSE: HRB), the world’s preeminent tax services provider. McGladrey Capital Markets is also a member of RSM International, a worldwide network of professional services firms.

McGladrey Capital Markets’ international headquarters are located in Costa Mesa, Calif. It also has offices in Chicago, Boston, Dallas, New York and London. The firm is a member of FINRA and SIPC.