Eutelsat Communications S.A.

Description

Eutelsat Communications S.A. (Euronext: ETL.PA) is Europe's largest satellite operator and one of the world's three leading satellite operators, providing geostationary fixed satellite services ("FSS"). Eutelsat provides transponder capacity for video broadcasters, European Direct-to-Home (DTH) operators, European governments, and the US government, as well as for corporate data networks and other voice and data providers. Spectrum acquired a significant minority equity position in Eutelsat, then a private company, through a tender process to a disparate group of shareholders. The management of Eutelsat was seeking an industry knowledgeable investor to help consolidate the holdings of disparate group of uninvolved shareholders. Spectrum negotiated the purchase of shares in multiple transactions over a twelve month period. In conjunction with the share purchase Spectrum took a board seat and subsequently assisted management in a debt recapitalization and subsequent IPO listing on the Paris Bourse. The Spectrum position was sold to a strategic investor (Abertis Telecom, a Spanish infrastructure company) in a transaction that provided a long term reference shareholder for the company and a continuation of the senior management team and their business agenda.

CEO Biography

Giuliano Berretta has been the chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Eutelsat Communications since 2001. Mr. Barretta joined Eutelsat as Commercial Director in September 1990 and subsequently became General Director from 1999 to 2001. Before joining Eutelsat, Mr. Barretta was with the European Space Agency (ESA), where in 1987, he was head of the Mission and Co-ordination Office. Before ESA, Mr. Barretta spent seven years in the Italian communications industry (Telettra, Selenia) in the field of military and civilian radio links and television broadcasting. Mr. Barretta is also a Board member of the Spanish satellite operator, Hispasat S.A. Mr. Barretta was elected ‘Satellite Executive of the Year 2000' by editors and analysts of PBI Media, a leading publishing group in the satellite sector. In June 2002 he was one of 50 European businessmen recognized as a "Leader at the Forefront of Change" by Business Week Europe. He is on the Board of the International Council of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Mr. Barretta holds a degree in Electronic Engineering from the University of Padua (Italy) an Honorary Doctorate in Management Engineering from the University of Bologna (Italy) and an honorary Professorship from the University Ricardo Palma of Lima (Peru). Mr. Barretta is a Chevalier of the Legion d'Honneur of the French Republic. In 2006 he was nominated Cavaliere del Lavoro by the Italian Republic.

Headquarters: Paris, France
Web Site: www.eutelsat.com