Signature
Industries Limited, a subsidiary of US based Digital Angel
Corporation announces that it has agreed to purchase Chemring
Group PLC’s subsidiary, McMurdo Marine Electronics,
based in Portsmouth, UK.
Signature’s
SARBE division and McMurdo are to combine to create the world’s
largest supplier of satellite communication survival radios
for the military aviation and maritime markets.
Following
receipt of a cash deposit of £0.25 million, £2.8
million will be paid in cash at completion for fixed assets,
stock and goodwill. Deferred contingent consideration of
up to £1.5 million will be paid in December 2007.
Completion,
which is conditional upon the transfer of certain product
approvals, is expected to take place in the first quarter
of 2007.
Both
companies have a long history of supplying safety critical
survival radio products. SARBE are the world leader in the
military survival radio sector and McMurdo hold a similar
position in the maritime industry.
With
impending changes to the COSPAS-SARSAT satellite monitoring
system, much of the equipment currently in service will require
replacement by February 2009.
SARBE and McMurdo are well positioned to exploit the impending opportunities
in their respective markets.
David
Cairnie, CEO of Signature Industries stated “We are
delighted that we have been successful in seizing this opportunity
to bring together two of the strongest players in Survival
Radio. We are now strategically well positioned to capitalise
on the rapidly expanding markets in the military, marine
and recreational sectors”
ABOUT
Digital Angel Corporation
Digital
Angel Corporation develops and deploys sensor and communications
technologies that enable rapid and accurate identification,
location tracking, and condition monitoring of high-value
assets. Applications for the Company’s products include
identification and monitoring of humans, pets, fish, poultry
and livestock through its patented implantable microchips;
location tracking and
message monitoring of vehicles and aircraft in remote locations
through systems that integrate GPS and geosynchronous satellite
communications; and monitoring of asset conditions such as
temperature and movement, through advanced miniature sensors.
Digital
Angel Corporation is majority-owned by Applied Digital Inc.
(Nasdaq:ADSX). For more information about Digital Angel,
please visit www.DigitalAngelCorp.com.
ABOUT
Signature Industries Limited SARBE Division
Signature
Industries’ SARBE division is a major supplier of Search
and Rescue (SAR) military air crew Personal Locator Beacons
(PLBs) and other military rescue beacons for use in the event
of an ejection or other event requiring emergency evacuation
of an aircraft in a remote, possibly hostile location. Now
in its fifth decade of developing and manufacturing PLBs,
SARBE is the chosen supplier of PLBs in more than 40 countries
worldwide.
SARBE
pioneered the introduction of GPS pinpoint location technology
for personal locator beacons in the early 1990s.
Recent successes include:-
· Supply of a £4.3 million contract to the Indian Air Force.
· Supply of the sophisticated G2R beacon for use by UK RAF Strike Command.
· A joint award with DAC for a development contract from the United States
Air Force for the redesign of the survival beacon carried by all air crew.
· Award of a development and supply contract for a 10 day duration survival
radio for use by submariners.
Signature
Industries is majority owned by Digital Angel Corporation.
For more information about Signature Industries, visit www.signatureindustries.com,
and for SARBE visit www.sarbe.com.
ABOUT
McMurdo
Established
in 1937, McMurdo leads the way in the development and manufacture
of emergency location beacons and NAVTEX technology.
Based in Portsmouth England, McMurdo first produced a COSPAS-SARSAT (www.cospas-sarsat.com)
approved EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon), in July
1989.
McMurdo further galvanised its position as the leader in safety equipment
technology in 1992 with the release of the first GMDSS approved Search
And Rescue Transponder (SART). Since that date McMurdo have continually
led the way in the functionality and accuracy of emergency location beacons
launching a PLB for use on land, sea or air in 2000. Also in that year
GPS technology was introduced to both the EPIRB and the PLB
NAVTEX
technology is another area where McMurdo has considerable
expertise, developing and manufacturing NAVTEX receivers
for both SOLAS and non-SOLAS vessels.
The
McMurdo name stands for high quality products using the latest
technology. Organisations such as the Royal Navy and the
US Coastguard understand the importance of ultra-reliable
high quality equipment which is why they have chosen McMurdo
products for their vessels and their crew.
McMurdo
products are used around the world, on land, sea and in the
air, where safety is important you will find McMurdo.
For
more information about McMurdo, visit www.mcmurdo.co.uk.