MDA acquires SatixFy UK division
September 4, 2023
By Chris Forrester
SatixFy Communications, a specialist in next-generation satellite communication systems based on in-house-developed chipsets, has announced a $60 million (€55.5m) transaction with MDA, a provider of advanced technology and services to the rapidly expanding global space industry.
The strategic transaction establishes cooperation between the companies, to utilise SatixFy’s digital payload chip based technology to advanced digital satellite payloads, which the parties believe to be unparalleled in today’s market, and is expected to open up SatixFy’s solutions to broader markets. SatixFy has decided to focus its space business on being a technology provider to satellite payload design companies offering its digital multi beam forming and beam-hopping on-board-processing radiation hardening chipsets.
The transaction is a combination of a $40 million share purchase agreement, selling SatixFy’s holdings in its SatixFy Space Systems UK, one of SatixFy’s UK based subsidiaries, to MDA as well as an additional $20 million in advanced payments under new commercial agreements which includes the previous $10 million advanced payment made in June to be applied to future orders of space grade chips. SatixFy Space Systems is SatixFy’s satellite payload subsidiary expert in the development of digital satellite payloads systems and subsystems, including digital beam forming antennas and on-board processing. SatixFy will continue to retain all its related ASIC intellectual property and new chips’ development to support the growing market and customers building satellite digital payloads.
The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory, lender and other third party and shareholder approvals and is expected to occur in the fourth quarter of 2023.
Nir Barkan, Acting CEO of SatixFy, commented: “This landmark agreement for SatixFy with MDA, a leading provider of advanced satellite technology, is a major achievement for SatixFy. We recently took the strategic decision to focus our satellite business on our core competencies of development of groundbreaking chipsets supporting multi beam digital antennas and on board processing for the space industry and advanced ground terminals. Today’s announcement is an integral part of that strategy and brings SatixFy’s cutting-edge space chipsets into MDA’s digital payloads, representing a strong step forward in the commercialization of our technology. It demonstrates our market leadership in providing space-grade chips technologies for next-generation satellites and positions SatixFy as a leading innovator in the satellite communications industry and strengthens our competitive positioning. Furthermore, we expect that this transaction will increase our chipset sale into satellite digital payloads and will lead to increased collaboration between MDA and SatixFy in new areas. MDA has been a steadfast SatixFy customer, and we are thrilled to fortify this relationship further. In addition, we will continue to expand our ground terminals and chipset offering to the satellite communication markets.“
“The acquisition of SatixFy’s digital payload division advances MDA’s satellite systems strategy as we continue to invest and expand in next generation satellite technology and talent to meet growing customer demand,” added Mike Greenley, CEO of MDA. “MDA and SatixFy have worked together to advance our digital satellite technology solutions and our teams are well acquainted, highly complementary and collaborative. This acquisition is a natural next step in solidifying and strengthening our market position and addressing customer demand as we continue to capitalize on the growth in the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite communication market.”