SSY.L Regulatory News (SSY)

SCISYS PLC

("SciSys" or the "Company")

SciSys Space Division sees substantial extensions to order book

SciSys PLC (stock code: SSY), the specialist supplier of bespoke software systems, IT based solutions and support services is pleased to provide an update on a number of recent contract wins by its Space Division.

The SciSys Space Division* (the "Division") is a leading supplier of spacecraft ground software systems and onboard software to the European Space Agency ("ESA") and many other customers worldwide. In the period since 30 September 2011 (the "Period"), the Division has been awarded contracts worth in excess of €12M in aggregate on projects for European Space Agency and European Commission programmes.

Further details on the individual contracts

In November the Division was selected by Thales Alenia Space France (Toulouse) as the element prime contractor for the Galileo** Network Monitoring Facility ("GNMF"). The recently signed contract has a value of EUR 1.6 million and will be based at SciSys' German office in Bochum. The purpose of the GNMF is to manage the Galileo mission data dissemination networks. Features include collection and aggregation of monitor and control (M&C) data, reception and processing of performance data as well as the configuration control for distributed equipment being installed worldwide in the Galileo data dissemination networks.

Earlier in the Period, contracts valued at over €6M were awarded to the Bochum team for Galileo ground segment systems to perform asset management, monitoring & control and archiving for the Galileo Ground Mission Segment and the Galileo Ground Control Segment (GCC). Additionally a separate contract worth over €2M was awarded to the SciSys team in Bristol for the Galileo spacecraft mission planning and operations preparation systems.

These contracts are to maintain and evolve the Galileo systems for the Full Operational Constellation (FOC) phase 1 of the Galileo programme. The systems are currently being used to support operations for the first two Galileo spacecraft, which were successfully launched at the end of October 2011. The evolutions will extend the systems to support the FOC constellation and operations from several control centres in particular from the GCC sites in Fucino (Italy) and Oberpfaffenhofen (Germany).

Building on the win of the GFC-8 frame contract at the European Space Operations Centre last year, the SciSys team at Chippenham has recently started work on a project worth €1.6M excluding options to develop the Sentinel-2 and Sentinel-3 earth observation spacecraft operations simulators. These simulators are essential tools for the validation of the ground systems, operations preparation and the training of the mission operations team. The operational simulators are procured as part of the EC's Global Monitoring for Environment & Security (GMES) programme and will be used at ESA's European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) and by Eumetsat. 

Elsewhere the Division has been successful in winning a number of smaller projects and contract extensions helping broaden its client base and the range of applications on which the skills and domain knowledge gained by SciSys in the Space sector are deployed. They include projects for the automation of oil and gas drilling, allowingoperators to focus on key actions that require human decision-making, leaving the repetitive tasks to the computer; extensions to the EarthCare Satellite programme; and work on next generation low cost short life mission satellite systems.

Conclusion

Together, these contract wins give a solid base to SciSys' Space Division's order book for the next few years and position SciSys for involvement in future ESA, National and Commercial programmes.

Commenting on the contract successes, Mike Love, Chairman of SciSys PLC, said:

"These contracts provide very good visibility for the Space Division, adding €12m to the order book, whilst additionally underpinning the improvement in Space UK margins following the restructuring."

Dr Horst Wulf, Director SciSys Space Division, added:

"These contract wins recognise the excellent reputation earned by the Space Division and the benefits for our customers of co-operation with a highly qualified and motivated team. We have built a firm foundation for the future, once more underlining our status as one of the key industrial partners for the European Space Programme"

*SciSys' Space Division spans SciSys UK Ltd (Bristol and Chippenham, UK) and VCS AG (Bochum & Darmstadt, Germany). Both are wholly owned subsidiaries of SciSys Plc.

** GALILEO is a programme of and funded by the European Union. The GALILEO programme is managed by the European Space Agency on behalf of the European Union.

About SciSys PLC

Employing nearly 450 staff, SciSys is a leading developer of Information and Communications Technology services, e-Business and advanced technology solutions. The Company operates in a broad spectrum of market sectors including Media Broadcast, Space, Government & Defence, Environment and Applications Support sectors. SciSys clients are predominantly blue chip and public sector organizations. Customers include Environment Agency, the Ministry of Defence, Astrium, Arqiva, Cable & Wireless Worldwide, the European Space Agency, Eumetsat, the BBC, the National Archives and Transport for London. The company has UK offices in Chippenham, Bristol and Reading and three offices located in Germany. More information is available at www.scisys.co.uk.