"This strategic acquisition creates the equivalent of a global $2 billion Government Services organization with full service capabilities drawing on the best in class capabilities of both organizations."

Wyle delivers an array of cutting edge, custom solutions that drive mission success for customers in the U.S. Department of Defense, NASA and other federal agencies. Wyle's expertise includes systems and sustainment engineering, program and acquisition management, life science research, space medical operations, information technology and the testing and evaluation of aircraft, advanced systems and networks.

This acquisition will combine KBR's strengths in international, large-scale government logistics and support operations with Wyle's specialized technical services, largely focused in the contiguous U.S. The addition of Wyle's highly advanced capabilities significantly expands KBR's global Government Services offerings, moving the business towards the high growth, more specialized, technology- and science-driven sources of long-term annuity type revenues with greater differentiation and higher margins, all of which are consistent with our previously announced strategy. Together with Wyle, KBR will now provide capabilities that span the full spectrum of the life-cycle of aerospace and defense programs from research and development, through test and evaluation, to operations, maintenance, and field logistics.

"Adding Wyle's highly specialized and differentiated offerings to our global government services portfolio improves KBR's overall risk profile by expanding into other government funding sources for higher-margin and largely cost-reimbursable work," Bradie continued. "This acquisition provides us with broader relationships with U.S. Government clients and grows our U.S. presence by acquiring a highly respected U.S.-focused franchise. The acquisition is expected to be accretive in the first year and provide longer term synergistic opportunities in markets where KBR's large-scale logistics and project management capabilities combine with Wyle's specialized technical capabilities," said Bradie.

Wyle will become a KBR business unit within KBR's Government Services segment and will maintain much of its current structure to ensure business continuity. KBR and Wyle's management teams will be highly focused on a successful transition which retains Wyle's greatest asset, its 3,800 professionals, while also capitalizing on the new opportunities of the combined company across all of Government Services regions including the U.S., Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), and Asia Pacific (APAC). As of year-end 2015, Wyle's funded backlog was $440 million with an additional $1.1 billion of orders not yet funded, but expected.

One hundred percent of Wyle's business will be acquired through the acquisition of shares pursuant to a merger sub-transaction structure. The transaction price to KBR is $570 million, after adjustments for approximately $30 million of acquired tax benefits, and subject to other customary adjustments, including for net working capital, net cash and indebtedness of Wyle. The transaction is expected to be immediately accretive to KBR's earnings per share and will initially be funded by utilizing KBR's existing line of credit facility and approximately $200 million in cash.

The transaction has been unanimously approved by the KBR Board of Directors and is subject to certain regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. The closing is expected to occur in the third quarter of 2016.

The report evaluates statistical data, comments concerning the acrid smell of burn-pit emissions, as well as satellite images, that demonstrate pollution from open-air trash burning on US bases. Bond reports that at the Balad Air Base in Iraq (2003 to late 2009), it incinerated up to 300 tons of waste per day at its peak. The open-air burn pit “continuously produced a column of smoke” so high it was even incorporated by programs for simulated flight navigation at the air base.

The report states that, “Thousands of US soldiers and other coalition troops were exposed to burn-pit emissions, which have been linked with toxins known to cause negative health outcomes. These chemicals include dioxins, ‘acetaldehyde, acrolein, arsenic, benzene … ethylbenzene, formaldehyde, hydrogen cyanide, hydrogen chloride, hydrogen fluoride, various metals, nitrogen dioxide, phosgene, sulfuric acid, sulfur dioxide, toluene, trichloroethane, trichloropropane, and xylene’ (Curtis 2006). And just as important as the actual chemical constituents, burning trash at US bases without controls produced pollution in the form of very small particulate matter, which can get lodged in human lungs and is associated with a number of chronic illnesses (IoM 2011).”

The author concludes that the same strategy of “denial” only works so long and then the truth is revealed. He reflects that the denial strategy was utilized early on concerning “Agent Orange.,” decades ago. It was a toxic herbicide utilized by US in the Vietnam War. Subsequently, exposure to Agent Orange was recognized as a substance that was causally related to serious medical conditions.

A consolidated lawsuit is now proceeding ahead in the US District Court against KBR, a government contractor. The lawsuit alleges that KBR, exposed American service members and private civilian contract workers to dangerous and toxic fumes from its unauthorized use of open-air surface burn pits. The exposed individuals and their families brought a lawsuit against KBR for its allegedly improper use of the burn pits and for failing to warn veterans and civilians of the hazards of being exposed.

The cases allege that prolonged exposure to the burn pits' smoke, ash and fumes that may have resulted in chronic diseases, risk of future illness and death. The lawsuit alleges that KBR burned large amounts of unsorted waste, including hazardous waste, medical waste, and human waste, at military facilities in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The cases In re KBR Inc, Burn Pit Litigation, have been consolidated, and are venued in U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, Greenbelt Division, before Judge Roger W. Titus.

Click here to read more about burn pit claims for benefits and lawsuits.