Vancouver-based MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates is reportedly looking at its “strategic options” — meaning selling either parts or the whole company. But, MDA said it won’t be selling its Information Systems (i.e. the space bits) division or “any portion thereof.” The Vancouver Sun said the company is reviewing its options after being approached by a few buyout funds to take the company private, while defense and technology companies are interested in buying parts of the business.
A 2008 bid to sell MDA’s space assets to U.S.-based Alliant Techsystems was quashed by the Canadian government for strategic reasons, so speculation now centers on the company shedding its profitable real estate title business and focus on satellite and space opportunities.
MDC has a diverse portfolio of space and information systems businesses, including supplying robotic arms for the Space Shuttle and International Space Station (ISS), real estate software, home repair cost estimating, geographic imaging using radar satellites, and satellite design and operation.