SatixFy Communications Ltd. (“SatixFy”) (NYSE AMERICAN: SATX), a leader in next-generation satellite communication systems based on in-house-developed chipsets, today announced a $60 million transaction with MDA Ltd. (“MDA”) (TSX: MDA), a leading provider of advanced technology and services to the rapidly expanding global space industry.
The strategic transaction establishes cooperation between the companies, to utilize SatixFy’s revolutionary 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 as well as new customers. SatixFy has decided strategically to focus its space business on being a technology provider to satellite payload design companies offering its unique 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 Ltd, 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,” said 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.”
About SatixFy
SatixFy develops end-to-end next-generation satellite communications systems, including satellite payloads, user terminals and modems, based on powerful chipsets that it develops in house.
SatixFy’s products include modems that feature Software Defined Radio (SDR) and Fully Electronically Steered Multi Beam Antennas (ESMA) that support the advanced communications standard DVB-S2X. SatixFy’s innovative ASICs improve the overall performance of satellite communications systems, reduce the weight and power requirements of terminals and payloads, and save real estate for gateway equipment. SatixFy’s advanced VSATs and multi-beam fully electronically steered antenna arrays are optimized for a variety of mobile applications and services, using LEO, MEO and GEO satellite communications systems, for aero/in-flight connectivity systems, high-end communications-on-the-move applications, and more.
SatixFy is headquartered in Rehovot, Israel with additional offices in the UK, US and Bulgaria.
For more information, please refer to www.SatixFy.com.
ABOUT MDA
Serving the world from its Canadian home and global offices, MDA (TSX:MDA) is an international space mission partner and a robotics, satellite systems and geointelligence pioneer with a 50-year story of firsts on and above the Earth. With over 2,800 employees across Canada, the US and the UK, MDA is leading the charge towards viable Moon colonies, enhanced Earth observation, communication in a hyper-connected world, and more. With a track record of making space ambitions come true, MDA enables highly skilled people to continually push boundaries, tackle big challenges, and imagine solutions that inspire and endure to change the world for the better, on the ground and in the stars. Learn more by visiting mda.space.
