Intelsat and PanAmSat to Merge, Creating World-Class
Communications Solutions Provider
- Enhanced global reach and reliability
- Expanded delivery of HDTV, broadband
and IPTV
- Combined technical and service
capabilities to lead industry
Pembroke, Bermuda, and Wilton, Connecticut,
29 August 2005 – Intelsat, Ltd.
and PanAmSat Holding Corporation (NYSE: PA)
today announced that the two companies have
signed a definitive merger agreement under which
Intelsat will acquire PanAmSat for $25 per share
in cash, or $3.2 billion. The transaction will
create a premier satellite company that will
be a leader in the digital delivery of video
content, the transmission of corporate data
and the provisioning of government communications
solutions.
The new company will offer its customers expanded
coverage with additional back up satellites,
supporting fiber networks and enhanced operational
capabilities for the provision of an unparalleled
level of services. With an increased focus on
developing advanced communications technologies,
the company will meet the needs of cable TV
programmers, broadcasters, businesses, governments
and consumers worldwide.
Using a combined fleet of 53 satellites, the
company will serve customers in more than 220
countries and territories. Driven by the core
strengths of the two companies and their employees’
commitment to quality in operations and customer
service, Intelsat will have a portfolio of customers
not only in the developed world, but also in
emerging nations and remote areas where satellites
are critical to providing communications infrastructure
for economic development.
“The combination of Intelsat and PanAmSat
creates an industry leader with the ability
to provide competitive communications and video
services to consumers and businesses,”
said David McGlade, Chief Executive Officer
of Intelsat. “The two companies are complementary
in customer, geographic and product focus. Together,
we will continue providing the highest level
of service to existing customers while growing
new business in rapidly expanding communications
markets.”
Mr. McGlade will continue to serve as Chief
Executive Officer and a Director of the company
upon closing. Joseph Wright, currently Chief
Executive Officer of PanAmSat, is expected to
become Chairman of the Board upon completion
of the transaction.
“Today, PanAmSat offers its video, data
and government customers a highly reliable level
of service that only a technically advanced
and financially strong satellite operator can
provide,” said Mr. Wright. “Now,
we will combine the best from both companies
and bring a professional business approach to
the new enterprise to benefit our customers,
employees and shareholders. This is a ‘win
win’ for both companies, and a terrific
outcome for all of PanAmSat’s shareholders,
who will receive $25 per share in cash –
a significant premium over the recent stock
price and nearly a 40% premium over the IPO
price of about six months ago. In addition,
our shareholders will continue to receive dividends,
at the current annual rate or higher, until
we close the transaction.”
PanAmSat brings a strong, video-centric customer
base, including leading providers of cable TV
programming, while Intelsat’s historical
strength has been in providing core telephony
and advanced data services to developing and
underserved regions around the world. Over the
long term, the company will consolidate best
practices from the two respective organizations.
“We will leverage our combined intellectual,
material and people assets to continue the high-quality
service Intelsat and PanAmSat customers have
come to expect,” said David McGlade.
Following the transaction, the company will
have enhanced financial strength and revenue
and free cash flow growth opportunities. The
company is expected to have pro forma annual
revenues of more than $1.9 billion and to maintain
significant free cash flow from operations,
providing significant resources for capital
expenditures and debt service.
Under the agreement, which was approved unanimously
by the Boards of Directors of both companies,
Intelsat will acquire all outstanding common
shares of PanAmSat, and additionally Intelsat
will either refinance or assume approximately
$3.2 billion in debt of PanAmSat Holding Corporation
and its subsidiaries. Shareholders owning approximately
58% of PanAmSat’s shares have agreed to
vote in favor of the combination.
Intelsat has received financing commitments
for the full amount of the purchase price from
a group of financial institutions led by Deutsche
Bank Securities Inc., Citigroup Global Markets
Inc., Credit Suisse First Boston LLC and Lehman
Brothers Inc. A substantial portion of the financing
for the transaction is expected to be raised
at Intelsat (Bermuda), Ltd., with additional
financing expected to be raised at PanAmSat
Holding Corporation, PanAmSat Corporation, and
Intelsat Subsidiary Holding Company, Ltd. Prior
to this financing and the closing of the transaction,
Intelsat (Bermuda), Ltd. is expected to transfer
substantially all of its assets and liabilities
(including its 9- 1/4% Senior Discount Notes
due 2015) to a newly formed wholly-owned subsidiary.
Upon completion of the transaction, both PanAmSat
Holding Corporation and Intelsat Subsidiary
Holding Company, Ltd will be direct or indirect
wholly-owned subsidiaries of Intelsat (Bermuda),
Ltd., and PanAmSat Holding Corporation and its
subsidiaries will continue as separate corporate
entities. The transaction is expected to result
in a Change of Control, as defined in the indenture
governing PanAmSat Holding Corporation’s
outstanding bonds and certain of the indentures
governing PanAmSat Corporation’s outstanding
bonds.
The transaction is conditioned upon PanAmSat
Holding Corporation shareholder approval, customary
closing conditions and clearances from relevant
regulatory agencies, including the appropriate
U.S. government antitrust authorities and the
Federal Communications Commission. The companies
anticipate that the transaction could close
in approximately six to 12 months.
Credit Suisse First Boston LLC is serving as
Intelsat’s financial advisor, and Wachtell,
Lipton, Rosen & Katz, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind,
Wharton & Garrison LLP, and Milbank, Tweed,
Hadley & McCloy LLP are serving as Intelsat’s
legal advisors. Morgan Stanley is serving as
PanAmSat’s financial advisor, and Simpson
Thacher & Bartlett LLP is serving as PanAmSat’s
legal advisor.
Conference Call
Intelsat and PanAmSat will host a conference
call and live web cast for the media on Monday,
August 29, 2005 at 11:00 a.m. EDT to discuss
the transaction. The dial-in from the U.S. is
800- 616-9004. International callers should
dial +1-719 457-2620. The pass code for the
conference call is 8461543. The web cast will
be available at www.intelsat.com
and www.panamsat.com.
Following the conclusion of the call, a replay
of the web cast will be available within 24
hours on both companies’ websites. Alternatively,
a replay of the call will be available within
two hours after the call, and can be accessed
until September 9, 2005 at midnight (EDT), by
calling 888-203-1112 from the U.S. and +1-719-457
0820 from international locations and entering
the access code 8461542.
About Intelsat
Intelsat is a global communications provider
offering flexible and secure services to customers
in over 220 countries and territories. Intelsat
has maintained a leadership position for over
40 years by distributing video, voice, and data
for television and content providers, government
and military entities, major corporations, telecommunications
carriers, and Internet service providers. Intelsat's
reach, power and expanding solutions portfolio
deliver information reliably and quickly to
every corner of the globe.
About PanAmSat
Through its owned and operated fleet of 25 satellites,
PanAmSat (NYSE: PA) is a leading global provider
of video, broadcasting and network distribution
and delivery services. It transmits 1,991 television
channels worldwide and, as such, is the leading
carrier of standard and high-definition signals.
In total, the Company's in-orbit fleet is capable
of reaching over 98 percent of the world's population
through cable television systems, broadcast
affiliates, direct-to-home operators, Internet
service providers and telecommunications companies.
In addition, PanAmSat supports satellitebased
business networks in the U.S., as well as specialized
communications services in remote areas throughout
the world. For more information, visit the company's
web site at www.panamsat.com.
CONTACTS:
Tony Trujillo
Senior Vice President, Corporate Services and
Government Relations
Intelsat Global Service Corporation
+1-202-944-7835
Kathryn Lancioni
Vice President, Corporate Communications
PanAmSat
+1-203-210-8000
Ellen Gonda
Director
Brunswick Group
+1-212-333-3810
Safe Harbor under
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995
This document contains forward-looking
statements within the meaning of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words
like “estimate,” “plan,”
“project,” “anticipate,”
“expect,” “intend,”
“outlook,” “believe”
and other similar expressions are intended to
identify forwardlooking statements and information.
Such statements include, but are not limited
to, statements about Intelsat’s and PanAmSat’s
future financial results, plans, expectations
and intentions and other statements that are
not historical facts. Such statements are based
upon the current beliefs and expectations of
management and are subject to significant risks
and uncertainties. Actual results may materially
differ from those set forth in these forward-looking
statements.
The companies may not be
able to consummate the proposed transaction
on the terms on which the parties have agreed,
or at all, due to a number of factors, including,
but not limited to, the failure to obtain the
requisite governmental approvals or the financing
to pay the consideration or the failure to satisfy
any of the other conditions to consummation
of the transaction. Other factors that could
cause Intelsat’s or PanAmSat’s results
to differ materially from those described in
the forward-looking statements can be found
in Intelsat’s annual report on Form 20-F
or quarterly reports on Form 1-Q filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission or on
PanAmSat’s registration statement on Form
S-1 (File No. 33-121463) filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission, as such registration
statement became effective on March 16, 2005.
About the Proposed
Transaction
Stockholders are
urged to read the definitive proxy statement
regarding the proposed transaction when it becomes
available, because it will contain important
information. Stockholders will be able
to obtain a free copy of the definitive proxy
statement, as well as other filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) containing
information about Intelsat or PanAmSat, without
charge at the SEC’s website (http://www.sec.gov),
or by directing a request to Investor Relations,
c/o Intelsat Global Service Corporation, 3400
International Drive, NW, Washington, DC 20008,
with respect to Intelsat, or to Investor Relations,
PanAmSat Holding Corporation, 20 Westport Road,
Wilton, Connecticut 06897, with respect to PanAmSat.
PanAmSat, its directors
and executive officers and other persons may
be deemed to be participants in the solicitation
of proxies in respect of the proposed transaction.
Some information regarding some of these participants
is set forth in PanAmSat’s registration
statement on Form S-1 (File No. 33-121463) filed
with the SEC, as such registration statement
became effective on March 16, 2005. Other information
regarding the participants in the proxy solicitation,
including a description of their direct and
indirect interests, by security holdings or
otherwise, will be contained in the definitive
proxy statement and other relevant materials
to be filed with the SEC when they become available.
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