February 2012 A monthly round-up of space industry developments for the information of our clients and friends.

Abertis Acquires Telefonica Hispasat Stake February Satellite Orders On February 21, telecommunications operator February 8 - Australian satellite operator NBN Telefonica announced the sale to Abertis Co Limited (NBN) announced an agreement Telecom of its 13.23% equity interest in valued at approximately $668m for the Spanish satellite operator Hispasat. The manufacture of 2 high-throughput Ka-band transaction, which is contingent upon Spanish satellites by SS/L. The satellites, NBN Co 1A government approval, is valued at $161m and and NBN Co 1B, will be based on the SS/L will increase Abertis’ stake in Hispasat to 1300 platform and provide broadband 46.6%. Hispasat’s remaining equity is held by services to remote areas in Australia. Eutelsat SA (Eutelsat), with 27.7%, and a Expected to be launched in 2015, the 2 group of Spanish government institutions, with satellites will offer wholesale customers initial 25.7%. Last month, Abertis sold roughly half of peak speeds of 12 megabits/second its 31.4% equity interest in Eutelsat in a transaction valued at approximately $1.3b. download and 1 megabit/second upload for the same monthly price as is paid by fiber Avanti Raises $120m to Fund New Satellite customers. Pursuant to their agreement, On February 6, Avanti Communications SS/L will also provide NBN with 5 years of Group plc announced its placement of 26.8m tracking, telemetry and control support and 15 shares with new and existing institutional years of in-orbit service support. investors to raise $120m for the design, February 23 – ESA signed a $1.8b contract manufacture and launch of its third satellite, with Thales Alenia Space for the Meteosat HYLAS 3. HYLAS 3 will fly as a hosted Third Generation (MTG) program, which payload on a new European Space Agency (ESA) satellite pursuant to ESA’s recent involves the manufacture of 6 weather selection of Avanti as a partner for the satellite. satellites and the provision of meteorological Expected to be delivered in orbit in 2015, services for 20 years beginning in 2018. The HYLAS 3 will have up to 4GHz of Ka-band MTG program is a continuation of earlier capacity configured across 8 beams within 1 generation ESA programs but will feature, for steerable antenna with a visible earth view the first time, three-axis-stabilized satellites. covering Africa and the Middle East. All 6 satellites, 4 of which will be imaging satellites and 2 of which will be sounding Space Business Review February Launches February 13 – The European Space Agency satellites, will be based on the Small-Geo inaugurated its new Vega launcher by multifunction platform being developed for successfully placing 2 scientific satellites and ESA by OHG AG. Using Ka-band, the MTG 7 picosatellites into orbit. Designed to launch satellites will provide 100 times the data payloads of up to 1500 kg to an altitude of volume of their predecessor second- 700 km, the Vega launcher represents generation satellites. Europe’s new launch vehicle for scientific and February Launch Services Orders institutional missions. Following this On February 8, Space Exploration successful initial launch, Arianespace will be Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) and Asia responsible for the commercialization and Satellite Telecommunications Company operation of the Vega launch vehicle. Limited (AsiaSat) announced an agreement February 15 - ILS International Launch for the launch of 2 AsiaSat satellites, each in Services (ILS) successfully launched the the first half of 2014, on a Falcon 9 launcher SES-4 satellite from the Baikonur from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Cosmodrome on a Proton Breeze M The satellites, AsiaSat 6 and AsiaSat 8, are launcher. Built by Space Systems/Loral both currently under manufacture by SS/L (SS/L), SES-4 carries 52 C-band and 72 Ku- and will be based on the SS/L 1300 platform, band transponders, as well as 4 regional Ku- with AsiaSat 6 carrying 28 high-powered C- band spot beams, and is the largest satellite band transponders and AsiaSat 8 carrying 24 in the 50-satellite fleet of Luxembourg-based Ku-band transponders and a Ka-band beam. satellite operator SES. From its 22ºW orbital AsiaSat 6 and AsiaSat 8 will increase location, SES-4 will replace existing SES AsiaSat’s fleet from 4 to 6 satellites and BEIJING capacity over the Atlantic Ocean and provide provide comprehensive, state-of-the-art FRANKFURT additional coverage of North and South HONG KONG satellite services to customers in Asia, LONDON America, Europe and Africa. Australia and the Middle East. LOS ANGELES MUNICH To learn about Milbank’s Space Business Practice, or view previous issues of the Space Business Review, please visit www.milbank.com. NEW YORK The information contained herein is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject matter. Recipients of this publication should not take or refrain from taking any action based upon content included herein. If you do not wish SÃO PAULO to receive this newsletter, please send an e-mail to [email protected] with the word “unsubscribe” in the subject line. 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