(Farnborough, 15 July 2008). As part of Astrium, Infoterra & Spot Image will work together within the Earth Observation Division of Astrium Services. This purchase reaffirms Astrium’s commitment to strengthening its presence in the entire Earth observation value chain – satellites, spaceborne & airborne data, ground segment, application solutions and information management & distribution.
With the Earth observation industry undergoing significant change, Astrium Services’ growth strategy, consistent with EADS’ objectives to strengthen its services portfolio, will offer real opportunities for Spot Image and Infoterra. Earth observation services, combined with other components of Astrium Services (secure telecommunications and navigation), will help create integrated capabilities to address new markets and deliver additional value across the business.
“Taking the majority stake in Spot Image is in line with Astrium’s strategic initiatives to build a strong European group acting internationally,” said Eric Beranger, CEO of Astrium Services. “Broadly, our objective by bringing together application and service activities, is to significantly develop this business area by demonstrating the benefits that geo-information can bring for monitoring and managing the Earth’s assets. In short, a full range of Earth observation solutions enables leaders to make better decisions about our world.”
Spot Image has achieved commercial success for more than 20 years, delivering satellite-based geographic information and services. This is the longest track record of all satellite operators in the Earth observation industry. As a world leader, Spot Image has continually adapted its products and services to deliver solutions to meet the needs of customers – both public and private – on all continents. Today, users benefit from a wide range of satellite data, receiving & processing infrastructures, and value-added solutions.
“The Earth observation market has shifted in the past years from an industry dominated by a small number of experts to a truly commercial, competitive market serving operational applications,” said Hervé Buchwalter, CEO of Spot Image. “The change to Spot Image’s shareholding will reinforce the company’s ability to launch new programmes underpinned by a PPP logic driven by private investors. So continuing our commitment to support the development of space services and deliver additional benefits to our customers.”
As the exclusive operator of the SPOT optical satellite constellation and strategic partner for other satellites, (the Korean 1 metre KOMPSAT-2, the Taiwanese 2 metre FORMOSAT-2 and others), Spot Image, and its 5 subsidiaries, offer the most comprehensive range of satellite data and services in the market. Spot Image is preparing for the planned launch of the Pleiades constellation (2 agile, 50 cm resolution optical satellites) in 2010 and the development of a high resolution sensor to ensure SPOT 5 service continuity beyond 2012.
Already, Spot Image and Infoterra Group enjoy a privileged relationship through the development of joint products and services in many sectors such as, mapping, security, agriculture and telecommunications. This collaboration has recently been reinforced with the start of Infoterra’s commercial business operations for the TerraSAR-X radar satellite, which paves the way for developing and marketing new combined optical-radar offerings.
Spot Image will remain an independent French company with its individual brand and unique long-standing relationships with direct receiving stations, value-added resellers and distributors worldwide.
About Astrium
Astrium, a wholly owned subsidiary of EADS, is dedicated to providing civil and defence space systems and services. In 2007, Astrium had a turnover of 3.5 billion and 12,000 employees in France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain and the Netherlands. Its three main areas of activity are Astrium Space Transportation for launchers and orbital infrastructure, and Astrium Satellites for spacecraft and ground segment, and its wholly owned subsidiary Astrium Services for the development and delivery of satellite services.
About Astrium Services, a wholly owned subsidiary of Astrium, offers a unique ‘one-stop-shop’ in the satellite services market, with unrivalled capability and expertise in secure communications, Earth observation services and navigation services. The European provider of milsatcom services, including the pioneering Skynet 5 service, and a world-leading supplier of geo-information products and services, Astrium Services meets its customers’ requirements with innovative and highly competitive end-to-end solutions.
About Infoterra Group
Part of Astrium, the Infoterra Group is a leading provider of geo-information products and services for managing the development, environment and security of our changing world. With companies in France, Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom and Hungary, its global customers include international companies, national, regional and local governments and authorities throughout Europe, and organisations such as the European Commission (EC) and the European Space Agency (ESA). Infoterra holds the exclusive commercial exploitation rights for the German radar satellite TerraSAR-X, and plays a leading role in geo-information services within the European GMES initiative of the EC and ESA.
About Spot Image
Spot Image (81% owned by Astrium) is a world leader in the provision of satellite imagery and geo-information value-added services. Spot Image has established subsidiaries in the USA, China, Singapore, Japan and Australia, with a sixth planned for summer 2008 in Brazil. As the commercial operator of the SPOT satellites and provider of imagery from other optical and radar satellites, Spot Image has successfully harnessed a range of space- and ground-based systems to meet customers’ needs. The Spot Image group leverages a global network of ground receiving stations, partners and distributors to bring geographic information, products and services to public- and private- sector decision makers worldwide.
About EADS
EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2007, EADS generated revenues of 39.1 billion and employed a workforce of about 116,000. The Group includes the aircraft manufacturer Airbus, the world’s largest helicopter supplier Eurocopter and Astrium, the European leader in space programmes from Ariane to Galileo. Its Defence & Security Division is a provider of comprehensive systems solutions and makes EADS the major partner in the Eurofighter consortium as well as a stakeholder in the missile systems provider MBDA. EADS also develops the A400M through its Military Transport Aircraft Division.
Press Contacts
For Astrium:
Matthieu Duvelleroy FR – Tel: +33 (0)1 77 75 80 32
Jeremy Close UK – Tel: +44 (0)1 438 77 3872
Robert Klarner GER – Tel: +49 89 607 29821
Francisco Lechón SP – Tel: +34 91 586 37 41
For Infoterra Group:
Sarah Haslam UK – Tel: +44 (0)116 273 23 79
Nathalie Pisot FR – Tel: +33 (0)4 97 23 23 46
Mareike Doepke GER – Tel: +49 (0)7545 8 3924
For Spot Image:
Jennifer Newlands FR – Tel: + 33 (0)5 62 19 40 09