On left Martin Kits van Heyningen, KVH’s chief executive officer and Morten Aasen, Virtek’s managing director on right.
“Virtek, its talented team of software engineers, and its proven middleware applications are an excellent fit with KVH and our rapidly expanding satellite communication business, most notably in the commercial marine market,” explains Martin Kits van Heyningen, KVH’s chief executive officer.
“The capabilities offered by Virtek’s CommBox™ technology complement and expand the comprehensive satellite communication concept that is at the heart of the TracPhone V7 and mini-VSAT Broadband solution. The integration of this powerful middleware technology will strengthen our competitive position in the maritime broadband marketplace, enable us to offer a wide range of value-added functionality to customers, and provide a path to enhance the efficiency and versatility of our mini-VSAT Broadband data communications network.”
Founded in 2000, Norway-based Virtek has sold its CommBox system to more than 700 vessels owned by 50 different shipping companies primarily based in Scandinavia and Northern Europe. Currently, Virtek anticipates 2010 revenues to be in the range of $2 to $3 million.
Speaking of the acquisition and the opportunities ahead, Morten Aasen, Virtek’s managing director, says, “We are excited to become part of KVH, the fastest growing maritime VSAT provider. Our experience illustrates that commercial organizations need the same data on the move that they rely upon in the office. The combination of the CommBox technology with the mini-VSAT Broadband service creates a versatile end-to-end solution for mariners with powerful integration capabilities that reduce total communication cost while maintaining high flexibility and improve ship-shore and shore-ship communication. We will also be able to provide easy control of least cost routing among multiple communication options, improve crew welfare and morale by offering private voice, e-mail and web browsing, and enable remote support for our customers’ IT departments. Together with the speed, reliability, and affordability of KVH’s mini-VSAT Broadband network, we are preparing to offer a versatile solution ideal for virtually any commercial or leisure mariner in need of satellite communications and broadband access.”
Virtek’s CommBox technology provides these functions through an array of features that include automated switching between satellite services for redundancy, geographic coverage, and cost control; onboard firewall and virus protection; optimized data transmissions; mobile communications tools such as mail servers and web servers; and communications tools to facilitate file transfers and remote access to onboard equipment. As a result, KVH anticipates being able to support a significantly larger population of users with its existing satellite capacity as well as offer value-added services like Internet cafés, advanced crew calling services, and premium content services like chart and software updates, digital newspapers, weather reports, and Internet Protocol television (IPTV).
“While the acquisition is expected to be only modestly accretive in the near-term, excluding transaction costs, we believe that the true value of this acquisition will be the synergistic effect that Virtek’s technology will have on our ability to sell and expand our mini-VSAT Broadband service within the maritime market. To help ensure the success of this effort, Virtek’s current management and team will continue to operate as a discrete unit while also integrating the CommBox, future technology, and other development and sales efforts into KVH’s overall strategic initiatives. We are pleased to welcome Virtek to the KVH family and look forward to making their expertise and technology an integral component in what is already the fastest growing maritime VSAT network available,” concludes Mr. Kits van Heyningen.
The $6.5 million all-cash acquisition is subject to normal closing procedures and adjustments and is expected to be concluded in the next few weeks.