Page 19: of Maritime Logistics Professional Magazine (Q4 2014)

will complement Nova?s portfolio of non-destructive testing (NDT) solutions with industry-leading Phased Array in- struments used in O&G seismic data ac-quisition. Earlier in the year, Nova had acquired another UK company called Phoenix Inspection Systems, a provider of ultrasonic NDT equipment to the off- shore industry. Beyond this sample of 2014 offshore service and equipment deals, there were many smaller transactions as well as large, recognizable mergers and acquisi- tions. Our examples and review provide a sense for the  avor of middle market deal activity in the marine, and particu- larly offshore industry sectors. M&A transactions enable compa-nies to grow and change in a number of ways. Mid-sized companies are able to expand through the addition of syner- gistic technologies and services; Invest- ment companies can team with experi- enced managers to gain control of and grow and company that they know well; and entities that are struggling  nancial-ly or have run out of ideas can  nd new life under the direction of an ambitious acquiring company. The Author Harry Ward leads the transportation and logistics practice at The McLean Group, a middle-market investment bank based in the Washington, DC area. Mr. Ward has executive management experience in the marine industry and focuses on mergers and acquisitions for mid-sized companies. He is a US Naval Academy graduate and earned an MBA at San Diego State University. 18-33 Q4 MP2014.indd 1918-33 Q4 MP2014.indd 1911/17/2014 11:24:36 AM11/17/2014 11:24:36 AM