Kleos Space S.A. (ASX: KSS, Frankfurt: KS1, Kleos or Company), a space-powered defence & intelligence technology company, is pleased to announce that it has appointed New York-based James A. Quella as a strategic advisor to the Board, to conduct a corporate finance review and to assist in the identification and execution of a strategic corporate transaction.
Mr Quella is a highly experienced corporate director and strategic advisor with current appointments including director of Dun & Bradstreet Inc, since February 2019, and director of Getty Images (and CC Neuberger Principal Holdings II prior to their business combination) since August 2020. He is a former Senior Managing Director, Senior Operating Partner, and Head of Portfolio Operations Group at Blackstone’s Private Equity Group, having served in those roles from 2003 to 2014.
Mr Quella is a Kleos security holder – holding approximately 2.5% of the issued capital – and has served as a member of Kleos’ Advisory Board since May 2021.
As Strategic Advisor to the Board, Mr Quella has been tasked with conducting a review of the Company’s corporate financing strategy with a view towards the completion of a future corporate action – whether that be a merger, acquisition, or other strategic corporate activity. In this role, Mr Quella will be bringing his substantial experience in managing businesses and in mergers and acquisitions, his familiarity with corporate finance and strategic business financing activities, and his extensive experience serving as a director for various public and private companies.
On his appointment, Mr Quella said:
“I am excited to be taking on this new role at Kleos Space as a Strategic Advisor to the Board. Kleos today is at a critical inflection point, with data now being delivered from its Vigilance Mission to feed its signal processing technology and with a strong pipeline of demand for its intelligence products.
“There is significant unappreciated value here and I am looking forward to helping realise that through a strategic transaction, working closely with Kleos’ world-class board and management team.”
Mr Quella will be paid a fixed retainer for the duration of his appointment of US$5,000.00 per month and will be paid a success-based fee in the event that Kleos conducts a corporate transaction. The engagement of Mr Quella is otherwise on terms customary for consultancy agreements of this nature.
Kleos Chair, Pete Round said:
“James is the right guy at the right time for Kleos Space. I very much look forward to working with him to take Kleos to the next stage of its development.”
