MDA Space (MDA.TO) was last seen down 6.9% in after-hours New York trading after the company on Wednesday said it made a "firm and irrevocable" offer to acquire a 70% stake in Collecte Localisation Satellites (CLS) for about 567-million euros (C$920 million) in cash.
The remaining 30% stake in CLS would be retained by the French space agency (CNES). If CLS is unable to refinance its existing debt before the deal closes, MDA Space may provide an additional 198-million euros to repay that debt, the company said.
CLS is a provider of AI-powered Earth observation services and satellite Internet of Things solutions, and is expected to generate about 286-million euros (C$465 million) in revenue in 2026, according to the statement.
"In accordance with applicable French law, the signing of the definitive securities purchase agreement in respect of the transaction remains subject to the information and consultation procedures of relevant employee representative bodies," MDA said, adding that the deal is set to close by late 2026 or early 2027.
Separately, MDA Space announced a bought-deal public offering of 20-million shares at $35.60 per share, raising about $712 million in gross proceeds. The underwriters also have the option to purchase up to an additional 15% of the offering to cover overallotments.
The company plans to use the proceeds to help fund its acquisition of the 70% stake in CLS. The funds may also be used to repay some or all of CLS's existing debt, if needed, as well as to cover related financing and transaction costs.
The offering is expected to close on July 14, the company said, adding that "the closing of the offering is not conditional on the closing of the acquisition and the acquisition is not conditional on the closing of the offering."
The company's shares were last seen down $2.76, or 6.9%, to $36.00 after hours. They closed down C$1.42, or 2.5%, to C$54.90 on the Toronto Stock Exchange