Global Markets - Latest Developments


Moscow, Russia,  March 1, 2013

Jean Loïc Galle, President and CEO of Thales Alenia Space,  and Nikolay Testoedov, General Designer and General Director of ISS – Reshetnev  Company, signed an agreement on February 28 for the creation of a Joint Venture between their two companies.

The signing of the agreement  took place in Moscow, in a ceremony attended by leading authorities from  France and Russia, including presidents François Hollande and Vladimir Putin, Vladimir  Popovkin, head of the Federal space agency (Roskosmos), and Jean de Gliniasty., French  ambassador to Russia.

Washington, D.C., February 28, 2013

Intelsat S.A. reported it suffered a net loss of $146.6 million on revenue of $2,610.2 million in 2012. The company reported EBITDA of $1,940.6 million, and Adjusted EBITDA of $2,016.5 million, or 77 percent of revenue, for 2012. 

Intelsat posted revenue of $672.4 million and a net loss of $3.7 million in the last quarter of 2012.  The company EBITDA, or earnings before net interest, loss on early extinguishment of debt, taxes and depreciation and amortization, was $520 million, while its Adjusted EBITDA was $516.5 million, or 77 percent of revenue, in the last quarter. 

Bonn, Germany, Feb 28, 2013

Deutsche Telekom, the German telecoms group, declared on Thursday it was able to achieve its financial targets for 2012. However, the company downplayed a year-end net loss of €5.3 billion (US$6.93 billion), which it attributed to an impairment loss of €7.4 billion (US$9.67 billion) in the third quarter over the planned merger of T-Mobile USA and MetroPCS.

Richmond, BC, Canada, February 27, 2013

MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (MDA) reported financial results for the full year and fourth quarter ended December 31, 2012.  Consolidated revenues for the full year 2012 increased to $880 million compared to $761 million for the year ended  December 31, 2011.

Hong Kong, February 26, 2013

As India hurtles towards inevitable digitisation, the intricacies of broadcasting are becoming ever more apparent. The CASBAA India Forum 2013, on March 7 in New Delhi, brings into focus the disparate voices of various television industry stakeholders, who each have an interest in a thriving India.

Luxembourg, February 25, 2013 

RTL Group reported on Monday revenue rose 4 percent reaching a record €6 billion (US$7.84 billion) in 2012 but profits of €690 million (US$901.58 million) were down 13.2 percent from €795 million (US$1.038 billion) last year.

Luxembourg, Feb. 22, 2013

Satellite operator SES reported today its revenue increased by 5.5% to EUR 1.828 billion (US$2.41 billion) in 2012 compared to EUR 1.73 billion (US$2.28 billion) in 2011 raising profit by 5% to EUR 648.8 million (US$855 million).

SES also reported a 5.6% increase in EBITDA to EUR 1.346.6 billion (US$1.775 billion) compared to EBITDA in 2011 of EUR 1.274.6 billion (US$1.68 billion).

Romain Bausch, President and CEO, said 2012 was a highly successful year even with the German analogue broadcasting switched off, taking EUR 108 million (US$142.37 million) out of SES revenue.

Madrid, Spain, February 22, 2013

Hispasat, increased its revenue in 2012 to 200.3  million euros, (US$264.1) increasing by 6.85% over the previous year largely because of increase in volume of business in Latin America.

Hispasat, the Spanish satellite communications operator, said consolidated EBITDA stood at 161.1 million euros (US$212.29), 4.15% more than in 2011, and the EBITDA margin continued to remain above 80%. The company also recorded new investment of 168.2 million euros (US$221.8) in 2012, increasing the company´s net equity by 6.23% from 2011.

Singapore, February 21, 2013

For the first time, delegates from both the CommunicAsia2013 Summit and BroadcastAsia2013 International Conference will be participating in a two-part visionary address on 19 June 2013. The first is the Governmental Visionary Address by the Minister for Technology, State Government of Victoria, Australia, The Hon. Gordon Rich-Phillips. This is followed by the Industry Visionary Address by Mr. Karim Temsamani, Head of Asia Pacific, Google.

Ottawa,Canada,  Feb. 21, 2013

Telesat Holdings Inc. reported on Thursday a US$ 206 million (Ca$ 210) decrease in profitability, which the company blamed on a large one-time insurance claim it received last year.