Calian Group Expands European Satellite Business With Acquisition of Germany-based SatService

OTTAWA, ON April 1, 2019 -- Effective April 1, 2019 Calian Group Ltd. (TSX:CGY) has acquired SatService, Gesellschaft für Kommunikationssysteme mbH. (“SatService”), a solid player in the European satellite ground systems market.

Based in Steisslingen, Germany, SatService offers innovative engineering solutions and products for the satellite communications market. Its business will support Calian SED’s expansion in the European market with turnkey satellite solutions as well as products. SatService product offerings include the sat-nms line of first-class software and hardware solutions for antenna control and tracking, monitoring and control systems and L-band transmission.

“SatService has a very strong technical team and a reputation for excellent service and support,” said Patrick Thera, President, Calian SED. “Our skillsets and product offerings are very complementary which includes our combined abilities to provide turnkey satellite radio-frequency (RF) ground systems. SatService offers innovative products that serve as key building blocks for communication network solutions including antenna control and L-band signal management. Our combined locations in Germany and Canada broaden our base of operations to support customers throughout Europe, North America and beyond. We look forward to working with their team to support each other in our growth agendas as we look to expand our footprint in the satellite ground systems market.”

“We are pleased to become part of the Calian SED team and increase our coverage of the satellite ground station market,” stated Michael Ulbricht, former owner of SatService. “I am also very pleased to continue as managing director for the next few years to support and grow the business that I have dedicated more than 20 years to. As always, my team and I will support our customers with innovative engineering and rock-solid implementation.”

"The purchase price is 6,450,000 euros on closing and two additional payments in December 2019 and December 2020, based on the achievement of a certain level of EBITDA in each of those periods. With an excellent margin profile and annual revenues of approximately CAD $10 million, we expect this acquisition to be EBITDA accretive from day one," stated Patrick Houston, Chief Financial Officer, Calian. Further details regarding the acquisition will be provided with Calian’s results for the second quarter ending March 31, 2019. “SatService’ results will be consolidated and reported as part of Calian’s Systems Engineering Division (SED).”

“I am thrilled to report our first major international acquisition. Although Calian SED has delivered systems on every continent but Antarctica, this gives us our first significant physical presence in Europe, broadening our global footprint,” stated Kevin Ford, Chief Executive Officer, Calian. “This acquisition supports the customer diversification and service line evolution pillars of our growth strategy by bringing new innovations and products in our satellite communications business while increasing our capacity for growth in our targeted customer segments.”