MDA Space is moving down the vertical stack of Earth Observation with a deal to acquire the majority stake in French data analytics and insight company Collecte Localisation Satellites, known as CLS.
MDA Space CEO Mike Greenley told investors this acquisition creates a “vertically integrated, AI-driven, advanced data analytics platform for Earth Observation,” just ahead of MDA Space launching its next-generation Chorus constellation.
“The strategic rationale behind this transaction is to combine upstream and downstream services to deliver value that neither company could replicate on its own with an unmatched global scale,” Greenley said.
MDA Space announced the agreement Wednesday to acquire 70% of CLS from CLS’s parent company for approximately 567 million euro (roughly $650 million) in cash. French space agency CNES will retain a 30% stake.
This is MDA Space’s second acquisition in less than a month after its deal to acquire Denver-based satellite manufacturer Blue Canyon Technologies to gain a direct foothold in the U.S. defense market.
MDA Space CFO Guillaume Lavoie told investors that together, the two acquisitions have a total cost of 2 billion Canadian dollars ($1.4 billion) including fees, and the company has “fully committed bank financing” to cover both transactions.
The CLS deal is subject to regulatory approval and MDA Space expects it to close in late 2026 or early 2027.
The acquisition complements MDA Space’s EO business from the synthetic aperture radar (SAR) Radarsat constellation. MDA Space is also preparing to launch the next-generation, Chorus constellation, which is currently expected to launch in late 2026.
CLS is on the downstream side, bringing together multiple sources of satellite imagery and other data to provide monitoring, forecasting, and value-added services. Greenley cited the company has developed 250 proprietary algorithms and models and it serves five primary client ecosystems: environmental monitoring, energy and infrastructure monitoring and forecasting, fisheries monitoring, maritime security, and mobility.
The company reported revenue of 203 million euros in 2025 ($232 million). CLS has 1,200 employees worldwide over 40 sites.
Lavoie told investors that the CLS Global Direct Sales Network will become a sales distribution channel for Chorus and will accelerate revenue for the constellation.
“Our upstream capabilities are expected to strengthen CLS’s analytics platform, improving the quality of the intelligence CLS delivers to its customers. Cross-selling opportunities open across the full customer base, and increased vertical integration from satellite sensors to analytics to customer insights creates a more competitive and differentiated business than either standalone company,” Lavoie said.
