FAIRFIELD,VA - SRA, a provider of technology and strategic consulting services and solutions, has acquired Constella Group, LLC, a privately-held provider of global health consulting services.

Constella, headquartered in Durham, N.C., employees 1,500 with offices in the U.S., Germany, the United Kingdom, Asia, the Indian subcontinent, Africa and Australia, and experience in over 100 countries. It is organized by three interrelated service offerings: health sciences, international development and product development.

The two companies are no strangers to each other, according to Constella's founder and CEO, Donald Holzworth.

"We've worked with SRA for many years and have high respect for their management and culture," Holzworth explained. "Our companies were both built on a powerful vision, and we look forward to significant opportunities for growth and expansion together."

Constella collaborates with health agencies and companies worldwide on initiatives such as communicating health prevention messages to the public, creating social marketing programs in developing countries, and helping pharmaceutical companies bring important drugs to market. Their services include research and evaluation, communications and social marketing, policy development, program management and support, strategic consulting, technology, and clinical research and regulatory affairs.

"Constella's deep domain expertise, combined with the capabilities of our existing health business, will offer a comprehensive solution in the global health marketplace," said SRA President and CEO Stan Sloane. "We're delighted to welcome Constella's employees and customers to SRA. They will form the foundation of a new health business unit to be led by Don Holzworth, which will bring even greater focus to this growing market in the future."

Constella Group expanded to working in more than 60 countries around the world with its acquisition of Futures Group in 2005. A year later, Constella completed two acquisitions - Origin Pharmaceuticals and Lineberry Research Associates.  Excluding pre-acquisition revenue for those two companies, Costella’s revenue for calendar year 2006 was approximately $169 million.

SRA is predicting immediate returns on the acquisition and is already looking at additional possibilities for growth.

"Constella's health market credentials address a key element of our long-term strategy," SRA Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Stephen Hughes noted in a written statement. "We expect this transaction to be accretive to earnings in fiscal year 2008, with significant cash tax benefits. We believe the strength and stability of our cash flows provide ample borrowing capacity to make further acquisitions in the near term."

Completion of the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and the Hart-Scott-Rodino waiting period, and closing is expected within approximately one month.