ULTRA I&C
OUR CLIENT
- A defense technology business specializing in mission-critical software, encryption, and edge-compute products for national security missions, most recently operating as the Mission Solutions business unit of Ultra Intelligence & Communications (Ultra I&C), an Advent International portfolio company.
- Headquartered in Austin, Texas, with approximately 220 employees, including more than 135 specialized engineers.
- Recognized for its Apex, ADSI, ACTS, Rain, and Knox product lines, delivering AI-driven battle management, resilient communications, and edge infrastructure to the U.S. military and allied forces.
- Operated as a distinct, product-centric business line within the broader Ultra I&C portfolio, alongside its Tactical Communications and Crypto Solutions businesses.
Why NorthWind?
NorthWind Partners was engaged by Advent International shortly after the Cobham and Ultra Electronics combination, as the two organizations’ businesses were being integrated, to help build the leadership bench needed to shape and scale what would become Ultra I&C’s Mission Solutions business.
Over the course of the engagement, NorthWind recruited and placed two Board Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Growth Officer, a President, the head of Marketing & Communications, and two Vice Presidents of Business Development: a leadership team spanning governance, strategy, growth, and commercial execution.
Jon Rucker, delivered by NorthWind as President and CEO, brought decades of defense-sector leadership experience (including senior roles at SAIC, CACI, and Lockheed Martin) to guide the business’s strategy, culture, and go-to-market execution through its transformation into a standalone, scaled platform.
The Result
Under the leadership team NorthWind placed, the business grew from an integrated capability inside a larger portfolio into a standalone, product-centric platform (anchored by its Apex, ADSI, ACTS, Rain, and Knox offerings), earning recognition as a trusted, scaled supplier of mission-critical software, encryption, and edge-compute technology to the U.S. military and allied forces.
- In June 2026, Booz Allen Hamilton (NYSE: BAH) entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the business for $720 million, with Booz Allen citing expectations of strong double-digit revenue growth and EBITDA margins well above 20%, validation of the platform NorthWind’s placements built and positioned for a premium strategic exit.
Note: revenue growth and margin figures reflect Booz Allen’s publicly stated forward expectations for the acquired business, not historical, audited results.