- Astrium acquires world leader in small satellites Surrey Satellite
Technology Limited (SSTL)
- Acquisition completed following EC approval
- SSTL will remain an independent company with its own brand
identity
“This is great news that we have acquired SSTL. The UK space industry is in a strong
position at present – at Astrium we have a healthy order book and we are
recruiting engineers, scientists and technicians to build telecommunication,
Earth observation, navigation and scientific satellites. Acquiring SSTL means
we will have a substantial complement to what we can offer customers around the
world – SSTL has expertise in small satellites and an innovative approach to
developing new markets for space.” said Colin Paynter, CEO of Astrium in the
UK.
Professor Sir Martin Sweeting, Executive Chairman of
SSTL, said: “This acquisition is essential for SSTL, both in enabling our
future plans and maintaining the ability to expand our R&D investment in
competitive new technologies. Being part of Europe’s
leading space company will considerably strengthen SSTL’s market position.”
SSTL joins Astrium following a decision by the University of Surrey to sell its majority stake of 85%
in the small satellite manufacturer. SSTL will remain an independent UK
company with its individual brand and unique approach to space, whilst
benefiting from access to greater resources to support the company’s growth.
Astrium will benefit from enhanced links with the University of Surrey
to support staff training and development, also leading to greater cooperation
and increased research on space technology and systems.
SSTL has built its worldwide reputation in small
satellites through the development of innovative technologies which have
lowered the cost of operational space missions with real world applications,
such as GIOVE-A, providing in-orbit validation for the Galileo programme, and
the RapidEye and DMC constellations providing commercial Earth observation
services. The company has recently added a small geostationary platform to
their product range as well as very high resolution imaging systems for small
satellite applications.
Astrium is one of the world’s leaders for its
expertise in space transportation, spacecraft and satellite services including
prime contractor for Ariane 5, the Columbus
space laboratory and the Automated Transfer Vehicle for the International Space
Station, and its leading-edge large and complex geostationary
telecommunications satellites, and the Skynet 5 secure communications system
for the UK Ministry of Defence. SSTL will complement Astrium’s existing space
capabilities that include space transportation, satellites and services.
Under the share purchase agreement, SSTL will be owned
by Astrium NV
in the Netherlands.
The acquisition will enhance long-term research
collaboration between the University
of Surrey and Astrium and
will further advance the University’s cutting edge space research capacity. The
sale will support the already-strong presence that Guildford
and the south-east have in the aeronautical and space industries, creating a
centre of expertise for space technology.
This will allow for the region to benefit from the Government’s
commitment to invest in the UK
space industry.
About Astrium
Astrium, a wholly owned subsidiary of EADS, is
dedicated to providing civil and defence space systems and services. In 2007,
Astrium had a turnover of €3.5 billion and 12,000 employees in France, Germany,
the United Kingdom, Spain and the Netherlands. Its three main areas
of activity are Astrium Space Transportation for launchers and orbital
infrastructure, and Astrium Satellites for spacecraft and ground segment, and
its wholly owned subsidiary Astrium Services for the development and delivery
of satellite services. In the UK, Astrium
employs more than 3,000 space engineers, scientists and technicians.
EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defence and
related services. In 2007, EADS
generated revenues of €39.1 billion and employed a workforce of more than
116,000.
About SSTL
SSTL develops
innovative technologies to change the economics of space, delivering cost
effective satellite missions within rapid timescales. The company is a world
leader in the design, manufacture and operation of high performance small
satellites with experience gained over more than 25 years and 32 missions
launched.
SSTL employs 300 staff working on LEO, MEO, GEO and interplanetary
missions, turnkey satellite platforms and space-proven satellite subsystems and
optical systems. The company also
provides training and development programmes and consultancy services, and
performs studies for ESA, NASA and commercial customers related to platform
design, mission analysis and planning.
Astrium Media Contacts:
Jeremy Close
(Astrium UK) Phone: +44 (0)1 438 77 3872
Matthieu
Duvelleroy (Astrium FR) Phone: +33 (0)
1 77 75 80 32
Mathias Pikelj
(Astrium GER) Phone:
+ 49 (0) 7545 89123
Francisco Lechón (Astrium SP) Phone: + 34 91 586 37 41
www.astrium.eads.net
SSTL Media Contacts:
Robin Wolstenholme Phone: +44 (0) 1 30 688
22 88
Stephen Ballard
Phone: +44 (0) 1
30 688 22 88
www.sstl.co.uk
