Dechert Advises The Entwistle Company on Acquisition of The Hales Group

Dechert advised The Entwistle Company (Entwistle) on its acquisition of The Hales Group of companies (Hales) from its founders, Ray and Trudy Hales.

The acquisition supports Entwistle's strategy to expand its manufacturing capabilities and strengthen its ability to support U.S. defense and infrastructure programs by adding specialized coating, fabrication and logistics services.

Headquartered in Clayton, North Carolina, Hales provides coating, storage, transportation and structural steel services in support of Newport News Shipbuilding and U.S. Navy programs, including submarine and aircraft carrier platforms. Hales also delivers structural steel fabrication, protective coatings and specialized logistics services for Department of Transportation infrastructure projects throughout the eastern United States.

Following the transaction, Hales will operate as a standalone subsidiary of Entwistle, with the existing management team continuing to lead the business and execute its current operating strategy.

This transaction represents Entwistle's first acquisition since its ownership transition under NTC in 2020. Entwistle is a designer and manufacturer of components and machinery systems for the U.S. military and allied forces, supporting programs across the U.S. Navy, Air Force and Army, including aircraft launch and recovery systems, fueling systems, ordnance, ground support equipment, shipboard machinery and military spares.

The Dechert team was led by corporate partner David Cosgrove and included associates Sarah Wesley Wheaton, Sam Biermann and Conor Shea; global finance partner Alon Goldberger and associates Anthony Rydelek and Lea Jiang; real estate associate Devyn Kurpis; tax partner David Passey and associate Insung Kim; environmental special counsel John Ix; intellectual property associate Frank Hwang; employee benefits associate Michael Binko; and labor partner Ian Downes and associate Catherine Gorey.

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