The group of infrastructures Abertis, across his branch of telecommunications Abertis Telecom, has closed the buy of 32 % of the European operator of satellites Eutelsat for 1.070 million euros, as announced the proper company.

This deal, closed after obtaining the approval of all the authorities of the competition, bridge has been financed across a credit with "The Caixa", Santander, Citibank, Barclays, RBS and HVB.

The operation will allow to Abertis to be located like the first shareholder of Eutelsat, who is provided with a market share of 30 % in Europe and of 13 % on a global scale, as well as with a fleet of 23 satellites in geostationary orbit.

Abertis Telecom will contribute four of ten members of the council of administration of Eutelsat, the same number with those that there were counting the previous proprietors of 32 % sold, that are Nebozzo - Texas Pacífic and Spectrum - Cinven and Goldman Sachs.


Expansion of the branch

For Abertis, his entry in Eutelsat supposes a qualitative jump in the strategy of expansion of the branch Abertis Telecom. "The first operation of Abertis Telecom is a decisive movement in internationalization terms to the being out of Spain and on having reinforced the bet and the presence of the business of the group Abertis in France", makes sure the company.

In his last fiscal exercise, closed on June 30, 2006, Eutelsat registered a few income for 791 million euros, an Ebitda for 617 million euros and a net profit, without extraordinary, of 102 million euros.

With this acquisition, the branch of telecommunications of Abertis turns into the second source of income of the group, since it will contribute 9 % of the invoicing, behind the freeways, which it will generate 84 %. Later there will be located the management of airports (4 %), that of parkings (2 %) and that of logistic centers (1 %).

Eutelsat gives satellite coverage to 90 % of the world population (2.100 television channels and 970 radio stations). Abertis makes sure that Eutelsat presents important synergies with the current business of Abertis Telecom, which 100 % of coverage will allow him to reach in the sign of terrestrial digital television (TDT).


(EP, 23/01/07)