Eutelsat and Arianespace Sign New Multi-year Multiple Launch Services Agreement

PARIS, February 8, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --



Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL) and Arianespace today announced the signature of a long-term multiple launch services agreement which guarantees launch capacity and flexibility to Eutelsat for its industry-leading expansion programme. The agreement covers up to four launches in the 2016 and 2017 timeframe, with the assignment of each satellite to a launch vehicle to be made at a later stage.

The new contract is in addition to the contract signed in July 2012 between Eutelsat and Arianespace for the 2014 and 2015 timeframe, covering one launch and an option for a further launch.

Michel de Rosen, Eutelsat CEO, said: "This latest contract seals a 30-year relationship between Eutelsat and Arianespace during which over 60% of our satellites have been launched by an Ariane rocket. It paves the road for the future by giving us flexibility and schedule assurance to secure our deployment plan for the five years to come. We are delighted to pursue our longstanding collaboration and are confident that we can count on Arianespace's total commitment to performance and precision."

Jean-Yves Le Gall, Chairman and CEO of Arianespace added: "We are proud to announce this new contract with Eutelsat which comes immediately after our 54^th consecutive successful Ariane 5 launch and once again illustrates the confidence shown in our services by this major operator. We are all the more pleased with the long term scope of the agreement between our two companies that gives Eutelsat the guarantee of reliable access to space over the coming years. For Arianespace, this new contract is further endorsement of a strategy based on quality, reliability and total respect of our commitments."

About Arianespace

Arianespace is the world's leading satellite launch company, providing innovation to its customers since 1980. Backed by 21 shareholders and the European Space Agency, the company offers an international workforce renowned for a culture of commitment and excellence. As of 8 February 2013, 212 Ariane launches, 30 Soyuz launches (four at the Guiana Space Centre and 26 at Baikonur with Starsem) and the first launch of Vega have been performed. The company has a backlog of 19 Ariane 5, 11 Soyuz and three Vega launches, equaling three years of business. http://www.arianespace.com

About Eutelsat Communications (http://www.eutelsat.com)

Eutelsat Communications is the holding company of Eutelsat S.A. With capacity commercialised on 30 satellites delivering reach of Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, significant parts of the Americas and the Asia-Pacific, Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL, ISIN code: FR0010221234) is one of the world's leading satellite operators. As of 31 December 2012 Eutelsat's satellites were broadcasting almost 4,500 television channels to over 200 million cable and satellite homes in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The Group's satellites also provide a wide range of services for TV contribution, corporate networks and fixed and mobile broadband markets. Headquartered in Paris, Eutelsat and its subsidiaries employ over 780 commercial, technical and operational professionals from 30 countries.

SOURCE Eutelsat Communications and Arianespace