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EADS and BAE SYSTEMS to strengthen efficiency of their space activities

16 Jan 2002

Amsterdam, London -- EADS European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company and BAE Systems are to strengthen the efficiency of their space activities in order to substantially improve profitability in a difficult market environment.

As a consequence EADS and BAE Systems, as shareholders of Europe's largest space company, ASTRIUM, have decided to implement an improvement plan for satellite activities. In addition, a strengthened co-operation between the launcher and orbital infrastructure activities of EADS Launch Vehicles and ASTRIUM has been agreed.

New ASTRIUM CEO Antoine Bouvier to propose reorganisation plan on satellite activities

Antoine Bouvier was appointed new CEO of ASTRIUM N.V. as of January 15, 2002, replacing Armand Carlier who has left the company to pursue new professional projects. Antoine Bouvier has been tasked to prepare a reorganisation plan for ASTRIUM satellite activities to be proposed to its shareholders in March 2002 resulting in :

* an improved focus on customer satisfaction by better utilising and co-ordinating the human and technical resources available in France, Germany, Spain and UK,
* cost reductions by a deeper industrial integration,
* streamlining of functions in order to improve management efficiency.

This plan will allow ASTRIUM satellite activities, particularly in the field of telecommunications, to reach the financial targets set by the shareholders after a particularly difficult year in 2001.

Co-operation agreement between ASTRIUM and EADS Launch Vehicles on launcher and orbital infrastructure activities

EADS and BAE Systems also announced a co-operation agreement between ASTRIUM and EADS Launch Vehicles (EADS-LV) on launchers and orbital infrastructure activities. They will be co-ordinated under the responsibility of Josef Kind (Head of ASTRIUM Space Infrastructures Division) and Philippe Couillard (Chairman and CEO of EADS-LV).

Such an agreement will help ASTRIUM and EADS-LV to reach the targets of cost reduction of the Ariane 5 launcher committed towards Arianespace and will allow EADS-LV, following the guidelines of the November 15-16, 2001 ESA Ministerial conference, to be ready to take responsibility for prime contracting of Ariane development and production. This agreement is consistent with the prospect of the integration of EADS launcher and orbital infrastructure activities.