EADS and BAE SYSTEMS to strengthen efficiency of their space activities
Amsterdam/London, 16 January 2002
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 cooperation 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 within three months resulting in :
* an improved focus on customer satisfaction by better utilising and coordinating the human and technical resources available in France, Germany, UK and Spain,
* 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.
Cooperation agreement between ASTRIUM and EADS Launch Vehicles on launcher and orbital infrastructure activities
EADS and BAE SYSTEMS also announced a cooperation agreement between ASTRIUM and EADS Launch Vehicles (EADS-LV) on launchers and orbital infrastructure activities. They will be coordinated 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 further integration of launcher and orbital infrastructure activities of EADS-LV and ASTRIUM.
Notes to the editors
Antoine BOUVIER, 42, joined Aerospatiale in 1990 and, after seconding the head of the Civil Aircraft Division for two years, acquired a strong industrial experience through his appointments as Industrial Director, General Secretary and finally CEO of ATR, the French-Italian turboprop joint venture. In 2001, he was appointed Executive Vice President Commercial Helicopters Division of Eurocopter. Antoine BOUVIER graduated from Ecole Polytechnique and Ecole Nationale d'Administration.
ASTRIUM, Europe's leading space company, is a joint venture owned 75% by EADS and 25% by BAE SYSTEMS. In 2000, ASTRIUM had combined revenues of 2,030 million Euros, covering science and earth observation, military observation and communications, telecommunications, navigation and ground systems, launchers and orbital infrastructures. It has 8,000 employees.
EADS-Launch Vehicles (EADS-LV) is a 100% subsidiary of EADS. European industrial leader for Space Transportation, EADS-LV designs and develops Ariane launchers, orbital infrastructures, the ATV Cargo Carrier for the International Space Station, launchers for France's nuclear deterrent forces and a range of space equipments. EADS-LV has 3,200 employees in France and had total revenues of 1,045 million Euros in 2000.
Press Contacts:
EADS
Roland Sanguinetti
+ 33 1 42 24 24 26
Martine Galland
+ 33 1 42 24 22 54
BAE SYSTEMS
Richard Coltart
+44 1252 384 875
Phil Soucy
+44 1252 384 797
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