PARIS --- Alcatel, Europe's largest satellite manufacturer, announced today that it will acquire Loral Space Communications, Ltd.'s 47% share of the Europe*Star satellite system as part of a transaction that successfully terminates Alcatel's joint ventures with Loral and resolves Alcatel's litigation against Loral and its subsidiary, Space Systems/Loral, Inc.
Acquiring Loral's share in Europe*Star will increase Alcatel's stake to 95%. The Europe*Star transfer is subject to German antitrust review, which Alcatel expects to complete this summer. Loral also agreed to pay Alcatel $13 million in cash, $5 million now and $8 million no later than one year from now.
In addition, Loral has transferred its interest in the SkyBridge satellite project to Alcatel, while Alcatel has given up its interest in Loral's Cyberstar partnership. As part of these arrangements, Alcatel plans to terminate its arbitration and lawsuits against Loral.
At the same time, Alcatel, Intelsat and Loral have agreed that Intelsat will pay Alcatel directly, rather than through Loral, for Alcatel's share of orbital incentives on the Intelsat IX and VII satellite programs. Alcatel expects these direct payments to reach in the range of $60 million over the next few years.
Pascale Sourisse, Chairman and CEO of Alcatel Space, stated: We are pleased to resolve our disputes with Loral in this fashion. Now owning 95% share in Europe*Star, plus present and future cash payments, provides substantial value. Equally important, we have clarified our relationship with Loral. Lastly, Alcatel will receive directly from Intelsat Alcatel's Intelsat IX and VII orbital incentives payments.
Alcatel's litigation against Loral began in the spring of 2001, when Alcatel obtained a federal court order in New York prohibiting Loral and SS/L from violating joint venture arrangements dating back to 1991. Alcatel then initiated an ICC arbitration in Switzerland against Loral for breach of contract. Alcatel won partial awards in that arbitration upholding substantially all of Alcatel's claims and rejecting all of Loral's counterclaims. Earlier this year Alcatel brought another lawsuit in New York to block SS/L from transactions that would have substantially endangered Alcatel's future orbital incentive payments on the Intelsat IX and VII programs.
Alcatel provides end-to-end communications solutions, enabling carriers, service providers and enterprises to deliver contents to any type of user, anywhere in the world. Leveraging its long-term leadership in telecommunications networks equipment as well as its expertise in innovative applications and network services, Alcatel enables its customers to focus on optimizing their service offerings and revenue streams. With sales of EURO 16.5 billion in 2002, Alcatel operates in more than 130 countries.
Alcatel Space, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Alcatel, is the world's third largest satellite manufacturer and Number 1 in Europe. Deploying extensive dual expertise in civil and military applications, Alcatel Space develops satellite solutions for telecommunications, navigation, radar and optical observation, meteorology and science. The company is also the leading European prime contractor for earth observation, meteorology and navigation ground segments, and for space system operation.
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Alcatel Successfully Resolves Litigation Against Loral
