Leonardo signed a preliminary contract to acquire 70% of Alea, a company specializing in communication software on broadband and 5G networks. He announces it in a note the Italian aerospace group, emphasizing that "the operation will make it possible to guarantee new functions and advanced performances in support of emergency management, public safety, companies, critical infrastructures and transport".
The agreement also provides for an option that will allow Leonardo to increase the share capital of the new subsidiary to 100% in the future.
“The acquisition of Alea – continues the note – will make it possible to integrate a new solution dedicated to Leonardo into Leonardo's portfolio operational communications of the railway sector to FRMCS (Future Rail Mobile Communication System) standard e the “Talkway” suite for business critical communications".
In detail, "the new FRMCS technology, which will progressively replace the GSM-R standard currently in use on thousands of kilometers of railways around the world, is a key element for the digitization of rail transport", continues Leonardo.
The "Talkway" solution, on the other hand, "allows you to carry out professional "Push-To-Talk" communications from smartphones, similar to radio communications, video and photo management, messaging and localization constantly monitored from the operations room via a dedicated web platform".
The closing of the transaction is subject to a series of conditions precedent, including the possible exercise of the Golden Power by the government. if everything goes as planned by Leonardo, the deal will be concluded by the third quarter of 2021.
About an hour after the start of trading, Leonardo's stock on the stock exchange gains just over one percentage point, to 7,346 euros. In the same minutes, the Ftse Mib floats around parity.
