SpeedCast Ltd
announced the buyout
of SatComms
Australia, a leading
satellite solutions
provider in
Australia. The
closing of the
transaction is
subject to
regulatory approval.
The acquisition will
further consolidate
SpeedCast’s
leadership position
in the Asia-Pacific
region and provide
SpeedCast with an
expanded presence in
Australia. SpeedCast
also announced the
appointment of
Michael Malone as a
non-executive Board
Director and the
appointment of John
Mackay as Chairman
of the Board.
SatComms
Australia (“SatComms”)
is a specialized
provider of mobile
and fixed satellite
solutions in the
Australian market
and in the
Asia-Pacific region.
The company services
customers in the
natural resources,
maritime and
Government sectors.
SatComms is based in
Queensland,
Australia with a
teleport and
operations center in
Henderson, Western
Australia.
With this
acquisition,
SpeedCast will
further extend its
stronghold in the
Australian market
with new points of
presence and
infrastructure in
Western Australia
and Queensland and a
strengthened
portfolio of mobile
satellite services.
SpeedCast will be
even better
positioned to serve
its growing number
of natural resources
customers and
support their
mission-critical
communications in
Australia and
globally.
SatComms'
strength in mobile
satellite solutions
will augment
SpeedCast's current
L-band offering, a
key technology for
offshore and
exploration
customers. Satcomms’
significant presence
in Queensland,
Australia will
enhance SpeedCast's
ability to support
customers in this
important region, a
hub for gas
exploration and
production. The
SatComms teleport in
Western Australia
will provide
flexibility and
network
customization
capabilities to
SpeedCast's natural
resources customers.
With two fully owned
teleports in
Australia, one in
Adelaide and one in
Perth, SpeedCast
will be able to
offer the highest
levels of redundancy
including site and
satellite diversity.
The acquisition
follows the opening
of SpeedCast's new
office in Perth in
February,
highlighting the
Company's commitment
to the Western
Australian market.
“With the
SatComms
acquisition,
SpeedCast expands it
presence and its
commitment to the
Australian market,
and marks our third
acquisition in
Australia in just 18
months,” said
Pierre-Jean Beylier,
CEO of SpeedCast. “SatComms
uniquely complements
SpeedCast’s
leadership in the
VSAT market with
great strength in
mobile satellite
services, extensive
teleport
infrastructure in
Western Australia,
and a sales and
engineering presence
in Queensland. There
are significant
synergies between
the two companies,
which will further
enhance our ability
to deliver
customized turnkey
solutions to our
customers in
Australia and
beyond.”
Joining
SpeedCast, SatComms
will now be able to
offer its customers
a wider portfolio of
products and
services and better
serve its customers’
needs worldwide.
SpeedCast will
partner with
SatComms’
outstanding
management team and
employees to
continue to provide
best-in-class
services to SatComms
customers, while
augmenting
SpeedCast’s own team
and expertise.
SatComms will
complement
SpeedCast’s current
Australian
infrastructure,
adding additional
points of presence
in this strategic
market.
“We look
forward to joining
SpeedCast, a leader
in satellite
communications
services in
Asia-Pacific,” said
Andrew Burdall, CEO
of SatComms. “With
SpeedCast’s
experience and
infrastructure, we
believe that
SatComms will have
the opportunity to
drive further growth
and advance our
commitment to
providing our
customers with
reliable and
efficient
solutions.” SatComms’
COO, Piers
Cunningham, added,
“We see a great
opportunity to offer
our customers a
broader range of
satellite services
and solutions,
global satellite
coverage and
worldwide
engineering
support.” Mr.
Burdall and Mr.
Cunningham will
remain with the
newly merged entity
and take on
leadership roles
within SpeedCast.
SpeedCast also
announced the
appointment of a new
Independent Director
– Michael Malone,
former Chief
Executive Officer of
iiNet Ltd., and the
appointment of a new
Chairman of the
Board – John Mackay,
current SpeedCast
Board Member and
former Chairman and
Chief Executive
Officer of TransACT
Communications Pty
Ltd. Mr. Mackay
takes over the
Chairman role from
Edward Sippel,
Managing Director
for TA Associates,
who will continue to
serve on the Board.
Michael Malone
is the former Chief
Executive Officer of
iiNet Ltd., the
second largest
provider of ADSL in
Australia, where he
served as CEO and
Executive Director
for over 20 years.
Mr. Malone was a
founder of iiNet and
was responsible for
its development
since 1993,
including over 40
acquisitions over
two decades. Mr.
Malone led the IPO
of iiNet in 1999
through to that
Company’s position
today as a leader in
its industry with a
market
capitalization of
over $1Bn. He was
the 2011 Ernst and
Young Entrepreneur
of the Year for
Australia and is
widely recognized
for his achievements
in the industry. Mr.
Malone is based in
Perth, Australia.
John Mackay
AM, has been
Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer of
two major utilities
based in Canberra
for 15 years, and
was Chief Executive
Officer and Chairman
of TransACT
Communications Pty
Ltd, a leading
broadband
communications
company in
Australia. He serves
on the Board of
Directors of various
organizations
including: the
Canberra Investment
Corp. Ltd., the
Little Company of
Mary Health Care,
and the Canberra
Raiders. Mr. Mackay
recently retired as
the Chancellor of
the University of
Canberra. He has
been awarded the
Order of Australia
and was chosen as
Canberra Citizen of
the Year. Mr. Mackay
has been on
SpeedCast's board
since December 2012
and is based in
Canberra, Australia.
