MDA Still Bullish on Selling Space Unit to a U.S. Firm

PARIS –
Canada’s MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates (MDA) is optimistic it will be able to sell its space division to a U.S. company in the coming months despite the Canadian government’s rejection of just such a deal – the $1.33 billion sale to Alliant Techsystems Inc. (ATK) of Edina, Minn
. The key,
MDA Chief Executive Dan Friedman said May 12
, is
whether the Canadian government succeeds in winning British- and Australian-level exemptions to U.S. laws on extraterritorial rights regarding U.S. companies operating abroad.