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| [December 11, 2012] |
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Navitas Systems LLC Acquisition of A123 Systems' Government Business Approved by Bankruptcy Court
WOODRIDGE, Ill. --(Business Wire)--
Navitas Systems LLC (www.navitassys.com),
a leading provider of energy-enabled system solutions and energy storage
products for commercial, industrial and government agency customers,
today announced that the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District
of Delaware (the "Court") has approved the sale of A123 Systems' Ann
Arbor, Mich.-based government business, including all U.S. military
contracts, for $2.3 million to Navitas. A123 is a developer and
manufacturer of advanced Nanophosphate® lithium iron phosphate batteries
and systems for the transportation, electric grid, commercial and
government markets.
Alan ElShafei, Chairman and Founder of Navitas Systems, said "In our due
diligence of A123's government business leading up to last week's
auction, we received detailed briefings on the impressive depth and
breadth of A123's proprietary Nanophosphate lithium ion battery
chemistry and other advanced technologies being developed for critical
government and military applications. Based on this group's robust and
vital technology roadmap, we're absolutely committed to invest in the
people and infrastructure needed to continue delivering outstanding
U.S.-designed battery solutions to military and government customers."
The Navitas management team has a successful track record in past
ventures due in part to its solid capital structure and disciplined
approach to profitability, and also its continued investment in both
people and IP. The Navitas team intends to continue to invest in the Ann
Arbor R&D facility to enhance its focus on research and development of
advanced chemistry batteries and low-volume cell manufacturing. The
closing on this transaction is expected in early 2013.
Nancie ElShafei, CEO and owner of Navitas Systems, said "Te suite of
advanced battery technologies coming soon to military and government
agencies is being developed by an even more impressive group of
world-class scientists and engineers. We're determined to maintain and
grow this organization as a strategic asset in maintaining U.S.
competitiveness".
"The military demand for secure, small and light-weight unmanned
surveillance and reconnaissance systems is surging. Whether airborne,
land-based, seaborne or submersible, such systems will turn to safe,
efficient batteries for electric power or propulsion", said USAF Lt.
General (Ret.) Mark Shackelford. "Navitas Systems has the innovative
expertise to bring advanced chemistry solutions to lithium ion energy
storage and power management systems, and is well-postured to become a
preferred supplier for this rapidly expanding market."
Navitas views the dual locations of both Ann Arbor, Mich. and Woodridge,
Ill. to be a unique advantage in developing specialized applications for
the government and military given the need to keep pushing the
boundaries in terms of energy stored per unit weight and size. Thomas
Golab, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives for Navitas Systems, said
"We purposefully sited our headquarters just outside the expansive
campus of the Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratories. Over
the years, our team has developed a good working relationship with
Argonne's advanced battery personnel, and we see this as an additive
opportunity for both organizations. With the recent announcement by the
DOE to locate the Energy Hub at Argonne--combined with the acquisition
of A123's advanced R&D facilities in Ann Arbor-we find ourselves
literally and ideally positioned to maintain ,attract, and interact with
the scientific talent needed to compete on a world stage".
"I was delighted to learn that Navitas Systems will acquire A123's
government business, which indicates that Navitas permitted the highest
possible value to be paid for the balance of A123 Systems' assets and
the largest possible new investment to be made in U.S. battery
technology. That is good news for the U.S. advanced battery industry,"
said James Greenberger, Executive Director for the National Alliance for
Advanced Technology Batteries (NAATBatt), the trade association for the
U.S. advanced battery industry. "I have known Alan ElShafei and his team
at Navitas (formerly MicroSun IESS) for many years. Alan has been a
quiet success in the industry during a time when others were dominating
the news. I'm sure that we will be hearing a lot more about Navitas
Systems in the future, and all of us at NAATBatt wish them great
success."
About Navitas Systems, LLC
Navitas Systems, founded in 2010, is a woman-owned small business
headquartered in Woodridge Illinois. Located in a state-of-the-art
100,000 square feet facility-with local and offshore partners and solid
financial stability, Navitas is well positioned to continue serving
major worldwide customers.
What drives Navitas is the passion for bridging the gap between customer
challenges and environmentally and financially sustainable solutions.
Navitas Systems is a leader in integrated design, technology
development, and manufacturing, providing energy enabled system
solutions and energy storage products for commercial, industrial and
government agency customers. Navitas products range from customized
energy storage solutions for motive, idle-reduction and defense related
applications, along with custom renewable energy integrated power
systems, to standard products like lithium based lead-acid replacement
batteries. For more information visit www.navitassys.com
and follow @Navitas_Systems on Twitter (News - Alert).

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