Item 1. Business
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Founded in 1967, we have a longstanding history of providing critical communications technology and solutions to customers around the world. We serve two core end-markets: secure satellite and wireless communications via our Satellite and Space Communications segment and public safety via our Allerium (formerly, our Terrestrial and Wireless Networks) segment. In both cases, we are at the forefront of the technologies that solve extraordinarily complex communications problems – whether it is a 911 call captured, routed and data-enhanced to optimize the public safety result in situations where every second matters, or providing communications infrastructure that ensures people, businesses and governments can connect anywhere on earth, under any conditions – including on the battlefield. We believe the demand for the communications solutions we provide is growing since public safety professionals require the most effective and comprehensive systems to respond to emergencies; and governments and enterprises are seeking advanced, reliable secure wireless connectivity.
We are pleased to report that the transformation plan that we announced in January 2025 has contributed to our improved operational and financial performance, as evidenced by a number of meaningful developments which have occurred in our business. Most notably, we removed the substantial doubt regarding our ability to continue as a going concern, which had been disclosed in our SEC filings for the previous seven fiscal quarters. Such positive development occurred, in substantial part, due to the following achievements in our business and operations: (i) positive operating cash flows of $2.3 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2025, which was the first quarter of positive operating cash flows in eight quarters, followed by operating cash flows of $11.4 million in our fourth quarter of fiscal 2025; (ii) liquidity of $47.0 million at July 31, 2025, which improved from approximately $18.0 million in December 2023; (iii) accounts payable have been paid down to $26.0 million as of July 31, 2025, a reduction from $66.5 million in October 2023; (iv) our Credit Facility was further amended, in March 2025 (to cure covenant breaches that occurred for the period ended January 31, 2025 and provide a covenant holiday for two quarters) and then again in July 2025 (when we were not in breach of any covenants, to provide a covenant holiday through January 31, 2027), thereby reducing total outstanding senior debt related to our Credit Facility from $202.9 million as of January 31, 2025 to $133.9 million as of July 31, 2025; (vi) a 12.6% increase in net sales from the first quarter to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025, despite the phasing out of low margin legacy contracts; (vii) gross profit, as a percentage of consolidated net sales, improved sequentially throughout fiscal 2025 from 12.5% in the first quarter, to 26.7% in the second quarter, to 30.7% in the third quarter and 31.2% in the fourth quarter; (viii) Adjusted EBITDA improved sequentially throughout fiscal 2025 from negative $30.8 million in the first quarter, to positive $2.9 million in the second quarter, to $12.6 million in the third quarter and $13.3 million in the fourth quarter; and (ix) secured long-term customer commitments, including a multi-year contract extension with a top tier mobile network operator in the U.S., valued in excess of $130.0 million.
While our transformation plan has contributed to improved operational and financial performance, our business, financial condition and/or operating results in the future are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, as further discussed throughout this Form 10-K, including in Item 1A. - Risk Factors , and other filings with the SEC .
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Business Segments
We operate two core businesses: Satellite and Space Communications and Allerium, each of which we believe are serving end markets themselves undergoing a period of long-term growth, reinvestment and rapid technological change. Our Satellite and Space Communications segment is one of a limited number of U.S.-based providers of satellite modems and high-power amplifiers, a market leader in troposcatter technologies, and serves some of the world’s largest defense contractors and allied foreign governments, as well as multiple U.S. government agencies, including branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, U.S. Department of Defense (“DoD”) and U.S. Space Force (“USSF”), among others. Our Allerium segment is a leading provider of next generation 911 (“NG-911”) infrastructure and solutions for state and local governments and telecommunication carriers.
Satellite and Space Communications Segment Allerium Segment
• Satellite Modems and Amplifiers: A leading U.S.-based provider of satellite modems and high-power amplifiers, facilitating the transmission of voice, video and data over GEO, MEO and LEO satellite constellations
• Troposcatter Technologies: A global leader in troposcatter technologies, capable of securely transmitting digitized voice, video, and data over distances up to 200 miles, with strong market share in existing C-band and X-band troposcatter systems worldwide
• Cybersecurity Training (Formerly known as Government Services) : Provide advanced cybersecurity training, primarily in support of U.S. Government and certain commercial and university customers based on mature and proven training tools and programming
• Space Components: Specializes in delivering components for antennas and high-reliability electronic components and engineering services for space programs
• Customers include the world’s largest defense contractors, allied foreign governments, as well as multiple U.S. government agencies (including all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces)
• Next-Generation 911 Solutions: we provide emergency call routing, location validation, network, policy-based routing rules, logging and security functionality to states and local governments
• Global Carrier Location and Messaging Services: Software and equipment for location-based and text messaging services for carriers, including for public safety, commercial and government services, and wireless emergency alerts solutions for network operators
• Call-Handling Solutions: we provide comprehensive 911 call handling applications for Public Safety Answering Points ("PSAPs")
• Customers include state and local governments across the U.S., Canada and Australia, and several of the largest telecommunications companies in the world (including Verizon, AT&T, Nokia and Vodafone)
Financial information about our business segments is provided in Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - Note (13) Segment Information included in Part II - Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data . The markets and key technologies for each segment are further described below.
Satellite and Space Communications Segment
Overview
Our Satellite and Space Communications segment operates in a market that has undergone a significant transformation in recent years, driven by an increase in global defense spending, rising geopolitical tensions and rapid development of new satellite systems, including commercial non-geostationary orbit ("NGSO") systems like Amazon Kuiper, SpaceX Starlink, Eutelsat OneWeb and SES O3B mPower. These next-generation communications systems rely on the type of sophisticated communications equipment this segment designs, manufactures and supports, including modems, amplifiers, frequency converters and associated software. We are strategically positioned in this evolving landscape, with an innovative product portfolio, a strong U.S.-based manufacturing presence and a proven track record serving the U.S. government, a number of international governments and a variety of established and emerging commercial customers.
The U.S. Space Force ("USSF") Commercial Space Strategy and the U.S. Department of Defense ("DoD") Combined Joint All Domain Command and Control ("CJADC2") approaches to prioritizing capabilities which deliver innovation at the speed of relevance align well with our Satellite and Space Communications business’ next-generation digital solutions. Today, only a limited number of companies, including Comtech, can serve the complex needs of the U.S. and other governments and meet this demand.
The DoD’s satellite communications (“SATCOM”) strategy is also increasingly focused on integrating commercial innovation into its architecture. This includes leveraging commercial capabilities for the majority of wideband communication needs, while retaining government-owned, specialized systems for protected communications. This hybrid approach is supported by increased funding, a new acquisition strategy and centralized procurement through the Commercial Satellite Communications Office (“CSCO”).
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Comtech’s software-defined platforms, multi-orbit capabilities and security-hardened solutions are well aligned with this strategy. We believe our ability to rapidly adapt to mission needs, in combination with our U.S.-based manufacturing, trusted supply chain and proven track record, positions us as a key enabler of the DoD’s shift toward a more flexible, resilient and commercially integrated SATCOM architecture.
In addition to aligning with evolving U.S. defense strategies, our Satellite and Space Communications segment benefits from a strategically balanced mix of commercial and government customers. We serve a diverse base that spans U.S. and international defense agencies, global satellite operators and emerging commercial SATCOM ventures. This diversification across customer types and geographies helps mitigate risk, enhances resilience to market fluctuations, and positions the segment for sustained growth. We believe this well-distributed customer portfolio strengthens our ability to scale innovation, respond to dynamic mission requirements, and capture opportunities in both established and emerging global markets.
Our Satellite and Space Communications segment is organized into four technology areas: satellite modem and amplifier technologies, troposcatter technologies, cybersecurity training (formerly, government services) and space components and antennas.
Satellite Modem and Amplifier Technologies
We believe we are a leading provider of satellite earth station modems, solid-state amplifiers ("SSPAs"), frequency converters and traveling wave tube amplifiers ("TWTAs"). Our product portfolio includes a wide range of advanced, software-defined satellite modems and high-performance SSPAs and TWTAs and associated frequency conversion hardware, supported by robust network management software. We hold strong positions in high-throughput modem markets, including cellular backhaul, defense, commercial LEO and MEO satellite networks, as well as the nascent market to support 5G non-terrestrial networks ("NTN"), a sector that could grow in the coming years.
In fiscal 2025, we announced the launch of our new Digital Common Ground (“DCG”) portfolio of modems, designed to enable the U.S. DoD and coalition partners to move to digitized, hybrid satellite network architectures. Built on our proven SATCOM modem portfolio, DCG modems are designed and built at Comtech’s headquarters in Chandler, AZ and support both commercial and government satellite operations on a common, software-defined platform that can be rapidly reconfigured to address evolving mission needs.
We believe our DCG portfolio is one of the first product lines on the market today offering robust access to multi-orbit capabilities across commercial and purpose-built networks. The DCG product line is also one of the first to be Digital Intermediate Frequency Interoperability (“DIFI”) compliant, adhering to DoD and coalition communications standards to enable seamless information flow between services, a key tenet of CJADC2. The DCG product line offers industry leading performance, through multi-gigabit throughput at launch. In addition, we incorporate modern cybersecurity design principles at every level across our DCG product line, ranging from a trusted supply chain to a thoughtful software upgrade lifecycle, including in-field updates. We believe the technologies incorporated into our DCG product line create a meaningful competitive advantage for us.
We also provide rugged, highly efficient, and reliable high-power amplifiers ("HPAs") for commercial and military applications around the world. These HPAs support mission-critical communications accross air, land and sea, including fixed traditional and direct-to-home broadcast, mobile news gathering, transportable and flyaway systems, secure high data rate communications and broadband SATCOM access. Our HPA portfolio includes configurations that are formally qualified for aircraft use, currently supporting both retrofit and linefit installations. We offer solutions across GEO, MEO and LEO orbits and across a range of frequency bands, including C, X, Ku, Ka, Q and V bands, aligning with anticipated demand in higher, less crowded frequencies.
Troposcatter Technologies
We believe we are a world leader in the design and supply of troposcatter equipment. We have designed, manufactured, and delivered troposcatter systems for well over fifty years. We have significantly advanced the capabilities of our Troposcatter Family of Systems (“FoS”), delivering a next-generation, software-defined solution that represents a thousand-fold performance increase over prior generations of equipment.
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Our next-generation Troposcatter terminals have been selected by the U.S. Army, the Marines and international defense organizations to support the tactical communications needs. While our traditional customer base has been military and defense agencies, advances in mobility and performance opened new commercial markets, including oil and gas, utilities, marine and rail sectors.
Simultaneously, the defense landscape is evolving. For years, U.S. and allied forces mostly engaged in actions against unconventional adversaries with less advanced technology. Today, the rise of state-based threats and near peer adversaries with advanced technologies is reshaping defense strategies. This shift increases demand for sophisticated communications solutions procured from trusted, domestic providers and creates a natural upgrade cycle for legacy systems deployed globally. Our Multi-Path Radio ("MPR") capability has enabled troposcatter to be deployed in compact, mobile systems, including unmanned vehicles.
We’re optimistic about the long-term potential of our Troposcatter FoS. We believe we offer one of the most advanced and capable solutions in the industry, with a set of newly-developing end markets that we anticipate will position us for sustained growth.
Cybersecurity Training
We provide mission-critical, high-security cyber training to U.S. government customers, both at customer sites and through our in-house development capabilities. Our competitive advantages include proprietary methods for administration and student management, a proven track record through multiple renewal cycles on a key U.S. government program and deep, trusted customer relationships.
We see expansion opportunities across multiple branches of the U.S. government, driven by a heightened focus on cybersecurity threats and workforce readiness. We are also leveraging our extensive library of cybersecurity training programs to serve state and local governments, as well as private sector enterprises. To enhance scalability and accessibility, we are expanding our student and administration portal capabilities through hosted SaaS delivery models.
Space Components and Antennas
For over 45 years, we have been recognized as an industry leader and global supplier of high-reliability space components, engineering services and supply chain management, supporting selection of space-qualified parts for satellite and launch vehicle tracking systems. Our solutions are geared toward critical U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration ("NASA") programs (such as Artemis) and several international space and defense agencies.
Our engineers are not only involved in product design, but also collaborate closely with customers to develop and test electronic parts specifications that ensure capability, reliability and radiation tolerance to specific mission/project requirements. This includes both individual component services and full Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical (“EEE”) part supply.
We also lead and conduct failure analysis investigations, assist with manufacturing and issue resolution at the source and support reporting and sell-off processes with customers and their primes including the Japanese Space Exploration Agency (“JAXA”) and NASA. Our quality engineering team assures that all products received from suppliers and test facilities are fully compliant with mission specifications prior to shipment.
To further support our customers’ needs, we have expanded our service offerings to include kitting to customer bill of materials, with direct shipments to designated contract manufacturers.
Within the SATCOM market, we are a leading provider of components that support the mission requirements of LEO, MEO and GEO SATCOM and tracking requirements, offering a host of high-performance single-band and multi-band feed solutions. We also supply maritime antenna solutions that are fielded by foreign governments. Our antenna portfolio includes a range of apertures, including support for large systems and complex multi-band antenna and feed systems.
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Satellite and Space Communications: Key Markets and Growth Drivers
As noted previously, the Satellite and Space Communications segment operates in large and expanding global markets, supported by multiple long-term growth drivers. These include technology upgrade cycles, modernization initiatives and increased demand for resilient communications infrastructure from both government and enterprise customers. The deployment of new, large satellite constellations, the proliferation of connected devices, persistent geopolitical tensions, and increased government agency and defense spending are expected to drive sustained investment in SATCOM infrastructure. We believe we are well-positioned to capitalize on this demand through sales of our market-leading next-generation satellite ground infrastructure technologies that can be used with the thousands of new LEO, MEO and large HTS satellites that are expected to be deployed over the next several years, and our advanced troposcatter systems.
Examples of end-market applications that are driving long-term demand for our communication technologies include:
• Government and Military Satellite Communications: Government users rely on high-speed connectivity in a variety of conditions throughout the world to provide real time information sharing, including Situational Awareness (“SA”), dissemination of Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (“ISR”) information, and communications. Our communications solutions provide command and control and satellite networking capabilities that support U.S. and allied government initiatives for assured and resilient communications capabilities, as well as supporting interoperability objectives, including CJADC2 objectives.
• New LEO, MEO and HTS Satellites: Thousands of new satellites in orbit or scheduled for launch over the next several years, according to announcements by Amazon Kuiper, Eutelsat OneWeb, SpaceX Starlink, Telesat Lightspeed and Viasat, which we believe will lead to increasingly complex satellite networks. As service providers work to offer connectivity to these high-speed, high-bandwidth satellites and expand their networks to handle the demand for new LEO, MEO and HTS applications, we believe our networking platforms, and our solid-state amplifiers will ultimately be incorporated into many new installations and equipment upgrades. We continue to provide modems and amplifiers to existing LEO and MEO communications satellite providers and expect to see growth in imaging satellites alongside commercial imaging constellations, including conventional, thermal and hyperspectral.
• 5G NTN and Satellite-Based Cellular Backhaul: Demand for satellite-based cellular backhaul is anticipated to continue to grow as next-generation cellular networks continue to deploy to developing regions of the world, including those that are unserved or underserved by terrestrial infrastructure due to access or challenging geography. We also anticipate growth in demand for deployment of 3rd Generation Partnership Project ("3GPP") 5G NTN capabilities, which several of our next-generation products have been developed with the intention to support.
• Troposcatter Family of Systems: U.S. and allied defense strategies are shifting focus to threats from organized, better equipped and higher technology adversaries, placing a premium on sophisticated communications technology from trusted, onshore providers. Comtech’s Troposcatter Family of Systems (“FoS”) delivers a next-generation, software-defined solution that represents a thousand-fold performance increase over prior generations of equipment. Further, constant innovation means Comtech’s latest generation of equipment can be packed into two small cases, offering significant mobility improvements. Our next-generation troposcatter terminals have been chosen by the U.S. Army, the U.S. Marines and defense organizations overseas to support the tactical communications requirements of our allies. Additionally, we see multiple opportunities for non-defense applications, including oil and gas, utilities, marine and rail industry use.
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Satellite and Space Communications: Customer Base
Our customer base for the Satellite and Space Communications segment includes a diverse mix of government and commercial organizations worldwide, with whom we have longstanding, trusted relationships. These include leading system and network integrators in the global satellite, mobile cellular, defense, broadcast and aerospace industries, as well as the U.S. federal government (including the U.S. Army, Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy), U.S. state and local governments and allied foreign governments. For fiscal 2025, approximately 55.1% of the segment’s sales are derived from U.S. government and related agency contracts. Representative customer categories include:
• The U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Navy, prime contractors to the U.S. Armed Forces, NATO and foreign governments (i.e., ministries of defense), as well as the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command and NASA
• Domestic and international defense customers, as well as prime contractors and system suppliers such as Airbus, Lockheed Martin Corporation, L3Harris Technologies, Inc., Northrop Grumman Corporation, RTX Corp., Thales, The Boeing Company and Viasat Inc.
• Commercial end-customers include Bharat Electronics, Ditel, Kai Networks, Ovzon, JAXA, Mitsubishi Electric, SED Systems (a division of Calian Ltd.), SES S.A. and Speedcast International Limited
• Satellite systems integrators, wireless and other communication service providers, and broadcasters, such as DIRECTV LLC
• Aviation industry, such as the Federal Aviation Administration ("FAA") and system integrators such as Collins Aerospace, an RTX Business
• Oil companies such as Shell Oil Company and PETRONAS
This well-diversified customer base across sectors and geographies enhances our resilience, reduces dependency on any single market and positions the segment for long-term growth.
Allerium Segment
Rebranding to Allerium
During fiscal 2025, we launched the rebranding of our Terrestrial and Wireless Networks segment to "Allerium," a fusion of “all” and “continuum.” Allerium is a name we believe symbolizes the seamless connection, collaboration, reliability and empowerment that we are focused on delivering to public safety professionals and essential service providers. Allerium reflects a brand rooted in experience, driven by innovation and built for those who protect our communities. As the composition of this reportable operating segment has not changed, this rebrand serves to clarify our go-to-market strategy under a single identity, which we believe reaffirms our commitment to delivering successful outcomes when it matters most. The rebrand strengthens market recognition, enhances customer trust and positions the business for sustained growth. Allerium underscores our focus on long-term value creation by improving brand equity, expanding customer reach and enabling more efficient go-to-market execution. It also increases visibility within key public safety and network markets, sectors defined by trust, reliability and innovation. While the rebrand has changed, our mission has not: to serve those who protect our communities, with technology that performs when every connection counts.
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Overview
Our Allerium segment is a leading provider of next generation 911 (“NG-911”) infrastructure and solutions for state and local governments and carriers. From the moment a 911 call is made, Comtech provides highly reliable solutions that contribute to emergency calls being processed instantly, with proper routing to first responders. Our solutions include feature-rich data sets (such as: precise location information, text messaging, photos, videos, real-time call transcription and translation), putting first responders in the best possible position to make decisions when every second counts. Our customers are the businesses, communities and governments that need to implement and improve 911 infrastructure in the U.S., as well as mobile network operators ("MNOs") in the U.S. and abroad that have a need to determine subscriber location within a network or to facilitate messaging services. According to the 2024 Next Generation 911 report published by Frost & Sullivan, a leading third-party research firm, we were the second leading NG-911 primary contract holder, with an estimated market share of 22.1% and a population coverage of nearly 60 million. We have primary contracts with multiple states and counties across the U.S., which we believe positions us as a leader in public safety communication and location technologies.
The Allerium segment is organized into three service areas: next generation 911 and call delivery, call handling solutions and trusted location and messaging solutions.
Next Generation 911 and Call Delivery
In addition to 911 call routing, we provide systems integration, geospatial location information, satellite and location infrastructure terminals, and linkage to NG-911 Emergency Services IP Networks ("ESInet"). We also offer what we believe are best-in-class 911 call handling solutions. We believe state and local governments need to upgrade existing legacy networks, location technologies, and call handling systems to modern NG-911 systems infrastructure, including 911 text messaging services, advanced data, real-time photos, and other types of information sharing over IP networks.
As the U.S., Canada and Australia broadly adopt upgraded NG-911 and call handling solutions, we believe that other countries will follow similar technology and telecommunications advancements. Our public safety and location technology solutions have been deployed since 2006 and are utilized by domestic MNOs, as well as internationally, to provide reliable device location determination for public safety and commercial applications. Many of our technologies, such as positioning, mapping and text messaging are embedded in our public safety and location offerings to help address mapping, routing and geolocations. Our solutions address Federal Communications Commission ("FCC") mandates for emergency services as they relate to location delivery by supporting precise caller location. Our text messaging platforms are used by wireless carriers to provide short messaging services (“SMS”) to their end-customers, as well as being used to communicate with 911 public safety answering points ("PSAP").
Call Handling Solutions
Guardian is our state-of-the-art call handling solution, which provides an integrated call and text-to-and-from 911 solution on a unified platform. The solution provides a flexible user interface, adapts to varying customer environments and preferences, provides powerful call conferencing capabilities, enhanced reporting capabilities and offers geospatial 911 location call display directly from a customized map. Because of its advanced features, it allows us to offer an immediate upgrade path to existing and new customers and has expanded our presence in the public safety solutions market with more than 700 PSAPs and emergency call centers installed in 5 countries.
The Guardian platform includes an integrated cloud-based texting solution we call Guardian Messenger, which provides call takers / dispatchers with the ability to collect, process and share previously unavailable live incident information such as text, photos, and video via SMS and multimedia messaging services (“MMS”), from one integrated desktop. The Guardian platform also offers a cloud-based reporting and analytics solution we call Guardian Insights, designed to assist emergency call center directors to know their operations, so they can better plan and manage resources and workloads.
We are investing in product enhancements for our Guardian platform, which include developing Allerium Mira, our cloud-based emergency call handling, analytics and cyber security solution that we are targeting for launch in fiscal 2026. We have also increased our “911-as-a-Service" offering, deploying hosted 911 call centers solutions across numerous states and regions in the U.S. and provinces in Canada, starting with locations where we have existing NG-911 networks.
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Trusted Location and Messaging Solutions
We provide technologies that enable mobile network operators (“MNOs”) and government agencies to deliver accurate location information, reliable text messaging and geo-targeted public alerts. As MNOs continue their digital transformation, we believe demand will increase for situational awareness capabilities built on advanced mapping and geo-services. Our solutions support device location, network messaging and emergency communications across 2G through 5G environments, helping customers meet regulatory requirements and maintain essential connectivity services. For our installed base, we also provide ongoing operational support, including system administration, optimization, configuration management and maintenance services that ensure performance and continuity.
Our SmartResponse ® cloud-based solution offers a common operational picture to PSAPs and first responders, enabling an effective data-driven response for security agencies and first responders by providing a holistic information environment for them. This new solution offers streaming live feeds from traffic cameras at and near incident locations, and accesses caller information like past residences, criminal history or next-of-kin information at the tap of a button. Offering a bird's-eye view of integrated data, the SmartResponse ® solution empowers first responders to ensure appropriate resources are on the scene and to better serve the public in emergency situations.
Allerium: Key Markets and Growth Drivers
We are a leading provider of modern public safety and location technologies. Our next generation solutions enable rich, multimedia information to be delivered alongside 911 calls and situational awareness data. Also, our E-911 and NG-911 call routing solutions allow global wireless carriers and voice over the Internet ("VoIP") carriers, as well as legacy telecommunications carriers, to deliver emergency communications and rich situational awareness data to public safety emergency call centers nationwide. When someone attempts an emergency communication, or a device or artificial intelligence ("AI") technology detects an emergency, our technologies access the user or device’s location information from wireless, VoIP, or satellite networks and location databases, and route the emergency details to the assigned public safety jurisdiction. Today, we provide public safety and location technologies to many U.S. telecommunication carriers, the largest being Verizon (for which we provide 911 call routing via cellular and wireline service). We believe we service a significant portion of the carrier market for 911 cellular call routing applications, along with one other leading competitor. With the advent of new AI-powered wearable devices, cameras and vehicle telematics, we believe there will be increasing opportunities to expand our service offerings globally.
In addition to our growth in core 911 services, any expansion of 988 networks in the future across the U.S. could have a positive impact on our business. 988 services provide free and confidential support for people in distress, suicide prevention and crisis resources. While the opportunities to expand into 988 services are evolving more slowly than anticipated, we believe we are uniquely positioned to expand our 911 services to mitigate some of the core challenges the 988 network is currently experiencing with area code specific call routing. By connecting 988 services with our proven 911 infrastructure, we believe that location services critical to dispatch personnel can be improved for 988 call responses.
Growth of 5G networks, new network-based positioning technologies, as well as AI are expected to create expanding opportunities for the application of our mobile location services, as multiple verticals, including the Public Safety, Transportation, Manufacturing, Healthcare and Retail industries, advance in their respective digital transformations. As these industries increasingly rely on data from connected devices, we expect our services can facilitate their use of location information in real-time to enhance existing business processes and outcomes, as well as end user experiences. We believe end-market applications such as worker’s safety in high-risk areas, smart manufacturing and autonomous driving would benefit enormously from new precision-positioning techniques. Also, MNOs can now provide even more advanced location-based services, in addition to existing connectivity solutions.
Examples of end-market applications that are driving long-term demand for our Allerium technologies include:
• Emergency Communication Solution (“ECS”): Our ECS solution provides mobile, VoIP, landline, satellite and other originating service providers ("OSP") a single, simplified interface to submit emergency service requests from their users and devices. Our ECS solution provides location verification services, address validation and translation and next-step routing for emergency communications and texts as additional data useful for an emergency responder. This solution provides a trusted, standards-compliant path to PSAPs that adheres to FCC reporting and delivery requirements, taking this burden and complexity off of our OSP customers.
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• Next Generation Core Services (“NGCS”): Our NGCS services implement and manage the NG-911 ESInet consistent with National Emergency Number Association, or NENA, i3 standards. We hold primary statewide contracts in Arizona, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Washington. We also hold direct contracts in counties in Texas (North Central Texas), Illinois (Northern Illinois Next Generation Alliance) and Missouri (St. Louis County). As such, we believe that we are a leader in public safety communication and location technologies.
• Mobile Location Center (“MLC”): Our location technology solutions are embedded in the networks of many MNOs worldwide. We enable the determination of a mobile device’s geospatial position in a variety of environments, leveraging a wide range of signals including GPS, GNSS and multiple cellular positioning technologies ranging from 2G through 5G mobile networks. For our installed base of systems, we provide ongoing operational support, including administration of system components, system optimization, configuration management and maintenance services, including tracking customer support issues, troubleshooting and developing and installing maintenance releases.
In addition, we are developing, and expect to launch in fiscal 2026, our Allerium Mira solution, a multi-tenant, scalable, cloud-agnostic service offering that is purpose-built for the future of public safety. This solution gives agencies a flexible and secure alternative to traditional on-premise systems, with the scalability to grow as their needs evolve. Allerium Mira is being designed to ensure responders can engage with the public on any channel. Its modern, microservices-based design is intended to simplify deployment and ongoing management for agencies. Paired with our NGCS solution, Allerium Mira is expected to enable agencies to unlock more of the network’s potential, delivering smarter, faster, and more resilient emergency responses.
Allerium: Customer Base
Our Allerium segment serves numerous customers, primarily in North America and Australia, with whom we have cultivated longstanding relationships, including state and local governments, and a number of the largest telecommunication companies in the world. Representative customer categories include:
• U.S. state and local governments, such as the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the states of Arizona, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Ohio, South Carolina, and Washington, and North Central Texas Emergency Communications District, the Northern Illinois Next Generation Alliance and St. Louis County, Missouri.
• Telecommunication companies, such as AT&T Inc., Bell Mobility, Inc., Comcast Corp., Nokia Corp., Rogers Communications Canada Inc., TELUS Communications Inc., Verizon Communications Inc. and Vodafone Public Limited Co.
• Telephone companies and federal, provincial, and local governments in Australia, Canada, Cayman Islands and New Zealand.
More Information and Where to Find It
Our Internet website is www.comtech.com , at which you can find our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including investor letters, press releases, annual reports, quarterly reports, current reports, and any amendments to those filings. We also make announcements regarding company developments and financial and operating performance through our blog, Signals, at www.comtech.com/signals . We also use our website to disseminate other material information to our investors (on the Home Page and in the "Investor Relations" section). Among other things, we post on our website our press releases and information about our public conference calls (including the scheduled dates, times and the methods by which investors and others can listen to those calls), and we make available for replay webcasts of those calls and other presentations for a limited time.
We also use social media channels to communicate with customers and the public about our Company, our products, services, and other issues, and we use social media and the Internet to communicate with investors, including information about our stockholder meetings. Information and updates about our Annual Meetings will continue to be posted on our website at www.comtech.com in the "Investors" section.
None of the information on our website, blog or any other website identified herein is incorporated by reference in this Form 10-K and such information should not be considered a part of this Form 10-K.
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Transformation Plan
On January 13, 2025, we announced an expanded plan to transform our business (herein after referred to as our "transformation plan"). Our transformation plan includes, but is not limited to, the initiatives set forth below:
• improve corporate governance;
• strengthen executive leadership;
• upgrade talent in key positions;
• reinvigorate corporate culture that emphasizes transparency, empowerment and accountability;
• align accountability throughout the organization;
• optimize cash flow including disciplined working capital management;
• invest in next-generation solutions for our customers' expanding and emerging needs;
• enhance operational efficiency;
• streamline product lines with a focus on strategic, higher operating margin products;
• improve production efficiency;
• reduce cost structures;
• enhance customer satisfaction;
• improve contractual terms with customers and vendors;
• improve capital structure through amended and improved terms with creditors and reduction of principal and interest amounts due; and
• explore strategic alternatives for our various businesses and product lines, including the potential sale or divestiture of assets or business lines.
Elements of our transformation plan related to our operations have resulted in:
• On November 7, 2023, we completed the divestiture of our solid-state RF microwave high power amplifiers and control components product line, which was included in our Satellite and Space Communications segment, pursuant to a stock sale agreement entered into on October 11, 2023 (the "PST Divestiture"). Net proceeds from the PST Divestiture in fiscal 2024 were $33.2 million and used in part to repay a portion of our outstanding debt at the time, as well as to fund working capital needs.
• We have undertaken a detailed evaluation of our Satellite and Space Communications segment's product portfolio to identify further opportunities to divest, separate and/or rationalize businesses or facilities that are not core to our go-forward focus. Consistent with this effort, in our fourth quarter of fiscal 2024, we made the decision to exit our underperforming operations in Basingstoke, United Kingdom. Such operations were established in connection with the fiscal 2020 acquisition of CGC Technology Limited. Taking into consideration the significant ongoing investment, as well as unfavorable contract terms on prospective antenna sales, we concluded such operations would not generate an attractive return on invested capital and made the decision to exit these operations. Furthermore, we conducted an intensive review of our product portfolio to focus future investment on our most strategic, high-margin revenue opportunities within the Satellite and Space Communications segment. Upon completion of such review, we recorded a non-cash charge of $11.4 million within Cost of Sales on our Consolidated Statement of Operations, primarily related to the write down of inventory during the first quarter of fiscal 2025 associated with approximately 70 products within our satellite ground infrastructure product line that were discontinued.
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• We implemented multiple reductions in force throughout our organization and in all our segments. Inclusive of actions taken in August 2025 (i.e., the start of our fiscal 2026), such reductions approximated 23% of our workforce as of July 31, 2024, or approximately $47.0 million in annualized labor costs. Related to these activities, in fiscal 2025, we recorded $3.6 million of severance costs within Selling, General and Administrative expenses in our Consolidated Statements of Operations .
• In September 2025, we initiated a process to further optimize our operations within our Satellite and Space Communications segment. Such actions include reducing our facility footprint and migrating the manufacturing of certain products to our Chandler, Arizona facility. We expect these actions to take place primarily in the first half of fiscal 2026 and result in approximately $3.0 million of annualized cost savings.
There can be no assurance that our plans will result in acquisitions, divestitures or other strategic changes or outcomes. Also, while anticipated to improve our profitability in future periods, such actions may result in near-term restructuring charges.
Sales, Marketing and Customer Support
Sales and marketing strategies include direct sales through sales, marketing and engineering personnel, indirect sales through independent representatives, value-added resellers, and sales through a combination of the foregoing. We devote resources to evaluating and responding to requests for proposals by governmental agencies around the world and, as needed, we employ the use of specialized consultants to develop our proposals and bids.
We intend to continue to expand international marketing efforts, as needed, by engaging additional independent sales representatives, distributors and value-added resellers and by establishing foreign sales offices. In addition, we expect to leverage our relationships with larger companies (such as prime contractors to the U.S. government and large mobile wireless operators) to market our technology solutions. In fiscal 2026, we expect to continue expanding our social media and Internet presence and further developing an updated marketing and branding strategy, such as the transition of our Terrestrial and Wireless Networks segment to the new Allerium brand.
We are pre-qualified as an approved vendor for certain government contracts. We collaborate in sales efforts under various arrangements with integrators. Our marketing efforts also include advertising, public relations, speaking engagements and attending and sponsoring industry conferences.
Our management, technical and marketing personnel establish and maintain relationships with customers. Our sales strategies include a commitment to providing ongoing customer support for our systems and equipment. This support involves providing direct access to engineering staff or trained technical representatives to resolve technical or operational issues.
Our products and services in many of our product lines have long sales cycles. Once a product is designed into a system, customers may be reluctant to change the incumbent supplier due to the extensive qualification process and potential redesign required in using alternative sources. In addition, in recent years, we have found that overall sales cycles for each of our product lines have significantly increased, as we continue to support our customer's overall migration and upgrade to newer designs and technologies.
Sales by geography and customer type, as a percentage of related net sales, are as follows:
Fiscal Years Ended July 31,
2025 2024 2023 2025 2024 2023 2025 2024 2023
Satellite and Space Communications Allerium
Consolidated
U.S. government 55.1 % 55.4 % 49.9 % 1.2 % 1.1 % 1.7 % 30.3 % 33.7 % 31.3 %
Domestic 13.4 % 15.1 % 16.7 % 90.0 % 89.4 % 89.2 % 48.7 % 44.8 % 44.7 %
Total U.S. 68.5 % 70.5 % 66.6 % 91.2 % 90.5 % 90.9 % 79.0 % 78.5 % 76.0 %
International 31.5 % 29.5 % 33.4 % 8.8 % 9.5 % 9.1 % 21.0 % 21.5 % 24.0 %
Total 100.0 % 100.0 % 100.0 % 100.0 % 100.0 % 100.0 % 100.0 % 100.0 % 100.0 %
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Sales to U.S. government customers include sales to the DoD, intelligence and civilian agencies, as well as sales directly to or through prime contractors.
Domestic sales include sales to commercial customers, as well as to U.S. state and local governments. For fiscal 2025 and 2024, except for the U.S. government, there were no customers that represented more than 10% of consolidated net sales. For fiscal 2023, included in domestic sales are sales to a top tier mobile network operator ("MNO"), which were 10.6% of consolidated net sales.
International sales for fiscal 2025, 2024 and 2023 (which include sales to U.S. domestic companies for inclusion in products that are sold to international customers) were $105.1 million, $115.9 million and $132.1 million, respectively. When we sell internationally, we denominate most of our contracts in U.S. dollars. Some of our sales to international customers are paid for by letters of credit or on an open account. From time to time, some of our international customers may require us to provide performance guarantees.
Except for the U.S., no individual country (including sales to U.S. domestic companies for inclusion in products that are sold to a foreign country) represented more than 10% of consolidated net sales for fiscal 2025, 2024 and 2023.
Backlog
Our backlog as of July 31, 2025 was $672.1 million (of which $177.4 million was attributed to the Satellite and Space Communications segment and $494.7 million was attributed to the Allerium segment). We estimate that a substantial portion of the backlog as of July 31, 2025 will be recognized as sales during the next twenty-four month period, with the rest thereafter. Such estimate could be impacted by our transformation plan discussed throughout this Form 10-K.
At July 31, 2025, 69.6% of our backlog consisted of orders for use by U.S. commercial customers, 12.1% consisted of U.S. government contracts, subcontracts and government funded programs and 18.3% consisted of orders for use by international customers (including sales to U.S. domestic companies for inclusion in products that will be sold to international customers).
Our backlog is defined as orders (sometimes also referred to herein as bookings) that we believe to be firm. Backlog that is derived from U.S. government orders relates to U.S. government contracts that have been awarded, signed and funded. Backlog for our U.S. government customers also includes amounts appropriated by Congress and allotted to the contract by the procuring government agency. Such backlog does not include the value of options that may be exercised in the future on multi-year contracts, nor does it include the value of additional purchase orders that we may receive under indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity ("IDIQ") contracts or basic ordering agreements. In some cases, such as contracts received from large U.S. based telecommunication companies, our backlog may include the value of customer authorizations to proceed or may be computed by multiplying the most recent month’s contract or revenue by the months remaining under the existing long-term agreements, which we consider to be the best available information for anticipating revenue under those agreements. When we acquire a company with existing contracts, we only record bookings for those contracts that meet our definition. Almost all of the contracts in our backlog (including firm orders previously received from the U.S. government) are subject to modification, cancellation at the convenience of the customer, or for default in the event that we are unable to perform under the contract.
A significant portion of the backlog from our U.S. commercial customers relates to large, multi-year contracts to provide state and local governments (and their agencies) with 911 public safety and location technology solutions. Although the contracts themselves represent legal, binding obligations of these governments, funding is often subject to the approval of budgets (for example, on an annual or bi-annual basis). Although funding for these multi-year contracts is dependent on future budgets being approved, we include the full estimated value of these large, multi-year contracts in our backlog given the legal obligations of the customer, the critical nature of the services being provided and the positive historical experience of our state and local government customers passing their respective budgets.
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There can be no assurance that our backlog will result in actual revenue in any particular period, or at all, or that any contract included in backlog will be profitable. There is a higher degree of risk in this regard with respect to unfunded backlog. The actual amount and timing of any revenue is subject to various contingencies, many of which are beyond our control. The actual recognition of revenue on contracts included in backlog may never occur or may change because a program schedule could change, a customer may not follow up with order details (e.g., delivery instructions), fluctuations in currency exchange rates after an order is placed could cause our products to become too expensive for a foreign customer, a customer’s program could be canceled, a contract could be reduced, modified or terminated early due to changes in a customer’s priorities, funding may not be included in future budgets, actual indirect rates being reimbursed on U.S. government contracts may ultimately be less than those indirect rates included in our initial proposals, or an option that we had assumed would be exercised is not exercised. As a result of these contingencies, we may adjust our backlog if we determine that such orders are no longer firm and/or funded. In addition to adjustments from these types of contingencies, variations in backlog from time to time are attributable, in part, to changes in sales mix, the timing of contract proposals, the timing of contract awards, delivery schedules on specific contracts, new bookings obtained through acquisitions or reductions due to divestitures or other restructuring type activities. A large majority of the solutions in our satellite ground infrastructure technologies product line within our Satellite and Space Communications segment operate under short lead times. Backlog in both our Satellite and Space Communications segment and Allerium segment has been, and could be, highly influenced by the nature and timing of orders received from federal, state and local governments and defense-related agencies, causing such orders to be subject to unpredictable funding, deployment and technology decisions by such customers. As a result, we believe our backlog and orders, at any point in time, are not necessarily indicative of the total sales anticipated for any future period.
For more information about risks pertaining to our backlog, see the discussion of our Transformation Plan discussed above, as well as those risks outlined in Item 1A – Risk Factors under Part I of this Form 10-K.
Research and Development
We have established leading technology positions in our fields through internal and customer-funded research and development activities.
Internal research and development expenses are reported as research and development expenses for financial reporting purposes and were $17.4 million, $24.1 million and $48.6 million in fiscal 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively, representing 3.5%, 4.5% and 8.8% of total consolidated net sales, respectively, for these periods. Customer-funded research and development activities relate to the adaptation of our basic technology to specialized customer requirements which is recoverable under contracts and is reflected in net sales with the related costs included in cost of sales. Certain of our government customers also contract with us from time to time to conduct research on telecommunications software, equipment and systems. During fiscal 2025, 2024 and 2023, we were reimbursed by customers for such activities in the amounts of $22.8 million, $23.0 million and $14.0 million, respectively.
In addition to the recent increases in customer-funded research and development activities, in fiscal 2025 and 2024, we also experienced an increase in engineering efforts related to cost to fulfill contract assets and internal use software. In both fiscal 2025 and 2024, we capitalized $2.9 million for cost to fulfill contract assets. In fiscal 2025 and 2024, we capitalized $3.9 million and $3.8 million, respectively, for internal use software. As a result of these trends and the impact of reductions in force actioned in fiscal 2025 and 2024, our research and development expenses for financial reporting purposes significantly decreased as compared to historical periods.
During fiscal 2025, 2024 and 2023, we incurred $0.3 million, $4.1 million and $3.8 million, respectively, of strategic emerging technology costs for next-generation satellite technology to advance our solutions offerings to be used with new broadband satellite constellations. A significant portion of these costs related to our steerable antenna operations in Basingstoke, United Kingdom, which we wound down in fiscal 2025. Future costs, if any, will be reported as part of our ongoing research and development activities and not added back to our Adjusted EBITDA.
Intellectual Property
We rely upon trade secrets, technical know-how, continuing technological innovation and, with respect to certain key technologies, patents to develop and maintain our competitive position. The products we sell require significant engineering design and manufacturing expertise. For technological capabilities that are not protected by patents or licenses, we generally rely on the expertise of our employees and our learned experiences in both the design and manufacture of our products and the delivery of our services.
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Some of our key Satellite and Space Communications segment technology is protected by patents that are significant to protecting our proprietary technology. We have been issued several U.S. patents relating to forward error correction technology that is utilized in our Turbo Product Code or TPC enabled satellite modems. We do not expect that upon expiration of these patents, our future results will be negatively impacted.
We have dozens of patents worldwide relating to wireless location services, text messaging, GPS ephemeris data, emergency public safety data routing, electronic commerce and other areas. To-date, our strategy has been to avoid offensive and defensive patent litigation and focus on building meaningful partnerships with other companies through direct licensing, cross licensing, and other forms of agreements. We do not believe that any single patent or group of patents, patent application or patent license agreement is material to our operations.
We have filed additional patent applications for certain apparatus and processes we believe we have invented covering key features of location services, wireless text alerts, SMS Center, mobile-originated data and E911 network software. There is no assurance that any patent application will result in a patent being issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office or other patent offices, nor is there any guarantee that any issued patent will be valid and enforceable. Additionally, foreign patent rights may or may not be available or pursued in any technology area for which U.S. patent applications have been filed.
Almost all the products and services we sell to the U.S. government include technology and other technical know-how that we have internally developed. In past instances where we have provided government-purpose rights, to our knowledge, the U.S. government has not exercised any of these rights. To the extent that we have provided or will provide government-purpose rights in the future, we believe that given the rapidly changing nature of our technology, our future success will depend primarily on the technical competence and creative skill of our personnel, rather than any contractual protection.
Competition
Our businesses are highly competitive and are characterized by rapid technological change. Some of our competitors are substantially larger, have significantly greater financial, marketing, research and development, technological and operating resources and broader product lines than we have. Other companies are developing new technologies and the shift towards open standards such as IP-based satellite networks will likely result in increased competition. A significant technological breakthrough by others, including new companies, our existing competitors and our customers, could have a material adverse effect on our business. Our future success depends on, among other things, our ability to keep pace with such changes and developments and to respond to the increasing variety of electronic equipment users and transmission technologies.
Some large defense-based companies have subsidiaries or divisions that compete against us in one or more business segments. In addition, new and potential competitors are always emerging. Certain of our customers, such as prime contractors who currently outsource their engineering and manufacturing requirements to us, have technological capabilities in our product areas and could choose to replace our products with products they develop. In some cases, we partner or team with companies (both large and mid-tier) to compete against other teams for large defense programs. In some cases, these same companies may be among our competitors.
Listed below, in alphabetical order, are some of our competitors in each of our two business segments:
Satellite and Space Communications – Advantech Co., Ltd., Aethercomm Inc. (acquired by Frontgrade Technologies, a portfolio company of Veritas Capital), Agilis Satcom, AMERGINT Technologies, Inc. (acquired by ARKA), Amkom Design Group Inc., AnaCom, Inc., Codan Limited, Communications and Power Industries (also referred to as "CPI"), Datum Systems, Inc., dB Control Corp. (a subsidiary of HEICO Corp.), Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd., General Dynamics Corporation, Hughes Network Systems, LLC (a subsidiary of EchoStar), Kratos Defense and Security Solutions (Including Kratos RT Logic and Avtec Systems, Inc.), L3Harris Technologies, Inc., Mission Microwave Technologies, LLC, ND Satcom GmbH, Novelsat LTD, Paradise Datacom Ltd. (a subsidiary of Teledyne Technologies Inc.), Raytheon Technologies Corporation, Safran Defense and Space, Inc., ST Engineering iDirect, Inc. (including Newtec), Starlink Services, LLC (a wholly owned subsidiary of SpaceX), Terrasat Communications Inc., TrellisWare Technologies, Inc., Ultra Intelligence and Communications and ViaSat, Inc.
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Allerium – AT&T Inc., Atos, Axon Enterprise, Inc., Bandwidth.com, Carbyne, Central Square Technologies, 8x8, Inc., Everbridge, Inc. (acquired by Thoma Bravo), Hexagon AB, Immersive Labs, INdigital (acquired by Novacap), Intersec, Intrado Life & Safety, Inc., Invictus Apps, Inc. d/b/a PREPARED (acquired by Axon), LM Ericsson, Lumen Technologies, Inc. (formerly CenturyLink, Inc.), Mobilaris AB, Mobile Arts AB, Motorola Solutions, Inc., NGA911, NextNav, Inc., Nokia Networks (a subsidiary of Nokia Corporation), Polaris Wireless, RapidDeploy Inc. (acquired by Motorola Solutions), RapidSOS, Rave Mobile Safety (acquired by Motorola Solutions), Sinch AB (Inteliquent), Synergem Technologies, SS8, TomTom N.V., Versaterm Public Safety Inc., WestTel and Zetron.
We believe that competition in all our markets is based primarily on technology innovation, product performance, reputation, delivery times, customer support and price. Due to our proprietary know-how, we believe we can develop, produce and deliver products and services on a cost-effective basis faster than many of our competitors.
Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability
We recognize the need for driving corporate responsibility within our organization, throughout our supplier network and in our communities. To drive this responsibility, we will continue to target effective corporate governance, ethical behavior in the workplace and social responsibility, while also updating and enhancing this focus with initiatives, such as: refreshing the roles and responsibilities of the committees of our Board of Directors to ensure oversight of compliance, risks, and best practices; and enhancing our company-wide People Strategy to continue to foster and promote workplace talent and employee engagement.
Human Capital
Our employees and our culture are regarded as keys to our success to retain top talent, boost productivity and align with our company’s mission. Our comprehensive people strategy continues to focus on developing a meaningful plan to enhance our employees’ experience and promote people-centric policies. We are passionate about building impactful employee engagement through a variety of programs, initiatives, and other opportunities. As part of this strategy, we are providing a foundation for a workplace where employees feel they belong, their views are valued, and they are empowered to pursue opportunities that drive their professional passion. Our People Strategy is also focused on meeting our strategic recruitment initiatives, developing and promoting talent, supporting competitive benefits and wellness programs, and emphasizing the importance of our employees’ health, safety and wellness.
Fostering Engagement
We believe that a positive, welcoming environment leads to greater involvement and connection to the organization which foster a sense of proactive belonging, a key component for achieving a sustainable impact. At the heart of our approach is the intentional act of bringing people together across social, cultural and experiential gaps. By creating opportunities for provocative thinking and meaningful experiences, we are able to challenge assumptions that disrupt our innate habits of thinking and behaving. We strive for an environment where all employees feel that they belong, are accepted, included, respected and supported as individuals.
We expect our employees and contractors to foster authentic connections and cultivate hospitable spaces. Our policy promotes equal employment opportunities without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, disability, or any other status protected by law. Our senior leadership team drives these efforts across the enterprise to cultivate a strong culture of inclusivity.
At least once per month we organize an event or engagement where employees are encouraged to participate to celebrate our workforce and our communities. Events include National Pet Day, Men’s Health Awareness, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and Autism Awareness Month, among others. In fiscal 2025, we also commemorated "Honor Week” by spotlighting our veteran employees and recognizing their accomplishments.
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Our recent progress coupled with leadership style changes has inspired a reinvigorated corporate culture that emphasizes transparency, empowerment and accountability, in which employees are increasingly taking pride in contributing to our collective success, which has enhanced morale, employee retention and performance. We are working to build stronger employee connections through several new initiatives. Strong communication is the key to providing the foundation for an engaged workforce. Company news, employee opportunities, company initiatives and events are communicated through our company-wide intranet and monthly segment town hall meetings. We also implemented company-wide town hall meetings, at least quarterly, which are led by our Chief Executive Officer and senior leadership team. These meetings have been well-received by employees, reinforcing transparent communication and a feeling of inclusion and a forum to "have a voice." We continued our "Meet the Team" series, profiling one employee each month in a monthly article released on our intranet and we also launched the “MORE” program (which stands for "Moments of Recognition Every Day") to showcase our appreciation for our employees' contributions and successes. Specifically, MORE provides an opportunity to publicly recognize Employee and Manager of the Month winners (winners are personally notified by our CEO each month), service awards and other segment success celebrations.
Developing and Retaining Talent
To meet and execute our strategic business goals, we are committed to ensuring that our employees find their careers at Comtech filled with purpose, growth and fulfillment. We are focused on sourcing, attracting and retaining top talent, including those with engineering, science and technical backgrounds. We continuously review the skillsets required to meet our customers’ needs and reflect this review in our recruitment efforts. To promote this initiative, we use a variety of recruiting platforms aimed at attracting talent of various backgrounds and cultures and professional connections,. We aim to create personalized development plans during our talent, promotion and succession planning.
We value employee development at all career stages and performance levels. We continuously invest in programs, benefits and resources to foster the personal and professional growth of our colleagues. We provide ongoing training and career development opportunities by offering courses through Comtech University, our online learning management system, and offer job-specific training to promote and develop advancement within the organization and to enhance skills. In fiscal 2025, we added several required trainings to provide awareness of and foster compliance with key Company policies.
We value exceptional employees who make a difference to the communities where we operate. In addition to spotlighting employee achievements through our communication channels, we recognize employees who go the extra mile with our annual “Above and Beyond” award showcasing volunteerism in local communities.
At July 31, 2025, we had 1,385 employees (including temporary employees and contractors), 820 of whom were engaged in production and production support, 323 in research and development and other engineering support and 242 in marketing and administrative functions, including sales, accounting and finance, tax and information technology. None of our U.S. employees are represented by a labor union. Of our total employees, 281 are based outside of the U.S., including 159 in Canada and 93 in India. We believe our employee relations are good.
Safety and Wellness
We strive to maintain a robust health, safety and wellness program to ensure a healthy work environment, promote workforce resiliency and enhance business value. We encourage employee participation to identify opportunities for improvement and review and monitor our performance with safety committees at our local sites. Local safety committees identify safety programs and ensure completion of all training and target learning objectives.
All employees and their households have access to an employee assistance program, as well as a health advocate program to help with all aspects of benefits, family life, financial concerns legal issues and transition to retirement. Assistance is available 365 days per year, 24 hours per day. This year employees had an opportunity to participate in several wellness events as a company-wide challenge.
We rigorously review our benefit and compensation plans to maintain competitive packages that reflect the wellness needs of our workforce and the marketplace as part of our financial wellness initiatives. These programs include a 401(k) plan, comprehensive health packages and welfare benefits, among many others. We support pay equity for all employees within the same geographic area, experience level and performance standards. To support this initiative, at the start of fiscal 2025, we rolled out our job architecture program to provide simplicity and clarity on roles (levels, titles, scope), mobility (visibility into potential career paths), alignment (of roles with organizational goals and objectives) and equity (a framework designed to support fair compensation practices).
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Environment
We are committed to reducing our environmental impact across our value chain, including in the design of our products, operation of our facilities and procurement of materials. We are also committed to maintaining compliance with the various global environmental regulations that are applicable to our business segments, including with the respect to the waste and emissions generated at our facilities. Our Board of Directors is responsible for the oversight of our environmental efforts, and the management of climate-related issues is overseen by our Chief Legal Officer.
We seek to increase efficient usage of building space and we offer our employees incentives to promote greener commuting options through rideshare programs.
We are committed to providing a workplace which values the health, safety, and well-being of our employees, contractors and visitors to our facilities, complying with Environment, Health and Safety ("EHS") legal requirements, and minimizing EHS risk. In fiscal 2025, we continued to support our EHS goals of engaging employees at all levels of the organization in the prevention of work-related injuries and illnesses, reducing environmental impacts and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
U.S. Government Contracts and Security Clearances
The U.S. government operates on an October-to-September fiscal year. Generally, in February of each year, the President of the United States presents to the U.S. Congress ("Congress") the proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year and from February through September of each year, the appropriations and authorization committees of Congress review the President’s budget proposals and establish the funding levels for the upcoming fiscal year. Once these levels are enacted into law, the Executive Office of the President administers the funds to the agencies. Thereafter, we can receive orders pursuant to sole-source or competitively awarded contracts, which we describe below.
The U.S. government may be unable to complete its budget process before the end of any given government fiscal year and when the fiscal budget is not approved in a timely manner, the U.S. government is required either to shut down or be funded pursuant to a "continuing resolution" that authorizes agencies of the U.S. government to continue operations but does not authorize new spending initiatives, either of which could result in reduced or delayed orders or payments for products and services we provide.
Sole-source contracts are generally awarded to a single contractor without a formal competition when a single contractor is deemed to have an expertise or technology superior to that of competing contractors or when there is an urgent need by the U.S. government that cannot wait for a full competitive process. Potential suppliers compete informally through research and development and marketing efforts. Competitively-bid contracts are awarded based on a formal proposal evaluation established by the procuring agency and interested contractors prepare bids. Competitively-bid contracts are awarded after a formal bid and proposal competition among suppliers.
The U.S. government has a stated policy direction to reduce the number of sole-source contract awards across all procuring agencies. In addition, the U.S. government is increasing the use of multiple-award IDIQ contracts to increase its procurement options. IDIQ contracts allow the U.S. government to select a group of eligible contractors for the same program. When the government awards IDIQ contracts to multiple bidders under the same program, a company that has already competed to be selected as a participant in the program must subsequently compete for individual delivery orders. As a result of this U.S. government shift toward multiple award IDIQ contracts, we expect to face greater competition for future U.S. government contracts and, at the same time, greater opportunities for us to participate in program areas that we do not currently participate in.
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As a U.S. government contractor and subcontractor, we are subject to a variety of rules and regulations, such as the Federal Acquisition Regulation ("FAR"). Individual agencies can also have acquisition regulations. For example, the DoD implements the FAR through the U.S. Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (commonly known as "DFARS"). For certain Federal government entities, the FAR regulates the phases of any product or service acquisition, including: acquisition planning, competition requirements, contractor qualifications, protection of source selection and vendor information, and acquisition procedures. In addition, the FAR addresses the allowability of supplier costs, while Cost Accounting Standards address how those costs can be allocated to contracts. The FAR also subjects suppliers to audits and other government reviews. These reviews cover issues such as cost, performance and accounting practices relating to our contracts. The government may challenge a supplier's costs and fees or require corrective actions which can delay programs and increase our costs. Suppliers are also required to comply with the National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual for the handling of classified materials and programs and is administered by the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (“DCSA”). Suppliers who do not comply with these various regulations may lose and/or become ineligible for facility security clearances and/or participation in classified and non-classified programs.
Under firm fixed-price contracts, we perform for an agreed-upon price and we can derive benefits from cost savings, but bear the risk of cost overruns. Our cost-reimbursable type contracts typically provide for reimbursement of allowable costs incurred plus a negotiated fee. Cost-plus-incentive-fee orders typically provide for sharing with the U.S. government savings accrued from orders performed for less than the target costs and costs incurred in excess of targets up to a negotiated ceiling price (which is higher than the target cost), and for the supplier to carry the entire burden of costs exceeding the negotiated ceiling price.
In fiscal 2025, $151.3 million or 30.3% of our consolidated net sales were to the U.S. government (including sales to prime contractors to the U.S. government). Of this amount, firm fixed-price and cost-reimbursable type contracts (including fixed-fee, incentive-fee and time and material type contracts) accounted for $96.7 million and $54.6 million, respectively.
Regulatory Matters
In addition to the rules and regulations that pertain to us as a U.S. government contractor and subcontractor, we are also subject to a variety of local, state and federal governmental regulations.
Our products that are incorporated into wireless communications systems must comply with various government regulations, including those of the FCC. Our manufacturing facilities, which may store, handle, emit, generate and dispose of hazardous substances that are used in the manufacture of our products, are subject to a variety of local, state and federal regulations, including those issued by the Environmental Protection Agency. Our products are also subject to European Union directives related to the recycling of electrical and electronic equipment.
Our international sales are subject to U.S. and foreign regulations such as the Arms Export Control Act, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act ("IEEPA"), the International Traffic in Arms Regulations ("ITAR"), the Export Administration Regulations ("EAR") and the trade sanctions laws and regulations administered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control ("OFAC"), the Department of Commerce ("DoC") , the Department of State and their foreign counterparts as well as other applicable laws relating to trade, export controls and foreign corrupt practices, the violation of which could adversely affect our operations. We must comply with all applicable export control laws and regulations of the U.S. and other countries. Certain of our products and systems may require licenses from U.S. government agencies for export from the U.S. or other countries, and some of our products are not permitted to be exported. We cannot be certain that we will be able to obtain necessary export licenses, and such failure would materially adversely affect our operations. If we are unable to receive appropriate export authorizations in the future, we may be prohibited from selling our products and services internationally, which may limit our sales and have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. In addition, in certain cases, U.S. and foreign export controls also severely limit unlicensed technical discussions, such as discussions with any persons who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents. As a result, in cases where we may need an export license, our ability to compete against a non-U.S. domiciled foreign company that may not be subject to the same U.S. laws may be materially adversely affected. In addition, we are subject to the FCPA and other local laws that generally bar bribes or unreasonable gifts to foreign governments or officials. Violations of these laws or regulations could result in significant sanctions, including disgorgement of profits, fines and criminal sanctions against us, our officers, our directors or our employees, more onerous compliance requirements, more extensive debarments from export privileges or loss of authorizations needed to conduct aspects of our international business. A violation of any of the regulations enumerated above could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Additionally, changes in regulatory requirements could further restrict our ability to deliver services to our international customers or negatively impact our business, including the addition of a country to the list of sanctioned countries under the IEEPA or similar legislation.
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In the past, we have self-reported violations of export control laws or regulations to the U.S. Department of State, Directorate of Defense Trade Controls ("DDTC"), DoC, OFAC and their foreign counterparts. In addition, we have made various commitments to U.S. government agencies that oversee trade and export matters that we will maintain certain policies and procedures including maintaining a company-wide Office of Trade Compliance and conducting ongoing internal assessments and reporting any future violations to those agencies.
Our financial reporting, corporate governance, public disclosure and compliance practices are governed by laws such as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, Dodd-Frank Act of 2010, and rules and regulations issued by the SEC. The SEC has adopted rules which require, among other things, public companies to conduct certain inquiries to determine whether or not Conflict Minerals (as that term is defined in the SEC rules) that are necessary to the functionality of their manufactured products or their product's production processes originated in a Covered Country (as that term is defined in the SEC rules) and ultimately file a report with the SEC. Conflict Minerals are widely used in many industries, including the telecommunications industry and almost all of our products include component parts purchased from third-party suppliers and we must rely heavily on information received from suppliers to determine the origin of those materials. We have implemented a due diligence program consistent with the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development guidelines to collect information concerning the country of origin of Conflict Minerals and in that regard, have adopted a policy that requires our suppliers (both public and private) to commit to a code of conduct relating to the responsible sourcing of minerals and to establish a policy to reasonably assure that the products they manufacture do not contain Conflict Minerals that originated in a Covered Country. Efforts to comply with this SEC rule have resulted in additional costs to us and, we believe, to our suppliers. As such, the availability of raw materials used in our operations could be negatively impacted and/or raw material prices could increase. Further, if we are unable to certify that our products are conflict free, we may face challenges with our customers, which could place us at a competitive disadvantage and could harm our reputation.
Laws and regulations have been enacted that affect companies conducting business on the Internet, including the European General Data Protection Regulation ("GDPR"). The GDPR imposes certain privacy related requirements on companies that receive or process personal data of residents of the European Union that are currently different than those in the U.S. and include significant penalties for non-compliance. Similarly, there are several legislative proposals in the U.S., at both the federal and state level, that could impose new obligations in areas affecting our business, such as liability for personal data protection. In addition, some countries are considering or have passed legislation implementing data protection requirements or requiring local storage and processing of data or similar requirements that could increase the cost and complexity of delivering our services. Our costs to comply with the GDPR as well any other similar laws and regulations that emerge may negatively impact our business.