Canadian space hardware maker Com Dev has bought access to Anokiwave’s radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC) technology with a US$500,000 investment.
The group said it joined the Californian semiconductor firm’s recent financing raise under a deal…
Canadian space hardware maker Com Dev has bought access to Anokiwave‘s radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC) technology with a US$500,000 investment.
The group said it joined the Californian semiconductor firm’s recent financing raise under a deal that will see them jointly pursue space market opportunities.
Financial details were not disclosed although, in a Form D filed in late March, Anokiwave said it sold US$2.61m worth of equity to 20 investors, with US$1.5m remaining to be sold at the time.
Anokiwave’s portfolio includes microwave and millimetre wave active electronically scanned array (AESA) technology, a type of phased array radar system that aims beams through emitting separate radio waves from numerous transmit/receive modules. It also develops silicon core integrated circuits for commercial terrestrial and government systems.
Com Dev CEO Michael Pley said: “Anokiwave has developed some very advanced technology that nicely complements our own product roadmap.
“We are pleased to be able to support their continued growth, and look forward to working with them to develop the next generation of products for the satellite communications market.”
It is the Canadian firm’s second acquisition this year aimed at buying up technology ahead of an anticipated surge in demand for its use in space.
It follows the US$20.1m acquisition of Californian manufacturer Pacific Wave Systems last month to enter the waveguide industry.
Com Dev plans to use its waveguide products, which direct electromagnetic signals between various satellite-based components, with its other space solutions to meet increasing demand for high throughput services.
The group also anticipates growth to come from its majority-owned satellite data services subsidiary exactEarth.
In March, exactEarth hired Canaccord Genuity to explore M&A and funding options to expand its existing vessel tracking business into the much larger maritime data services market.
Com Dev posted C$53.6m in revenue for the three months to 31 January 2015, a 3.5% increase compared with the corresponding period in 2014. Q1 2015 EBITDA, when adjusted for non-recurring charges, was C$12.1m compared with C$11.4m in Q1 2014.
