Planned changes in Arianespace shareholding structure signal a major step forward in the refoundation of European launcher industry governance
June 16, 2015
Airbus Safran Launchers (ASL) has reached an agreement with the French State and CNES, the French space agency, to transfer CNES's stake in Arianespace. After the completion of all regulatory consultation and approval procedures, Airbus Safran Launchers in consequence plans to hold 74% of Arianespace's share capital.
Based
on
this
agreement,
Airbus
Safran
Launchers,
which
already
has
a
39%
stake,
is
expected
to
hold
74%
of
Arianespace's
share
capital.
The
remaining
26%
shareholding
remains
unchanged.
These
shares
are
in
the
hands
of
the
main
manufacturers
from
ten
European
countries
who
contribute
to
the
Ariane
and
Vega
launch
vehicles.
The
transaction
should
be
finalized
in
the
coming
months,
after
the
completion
of
the
regulatory
consultation
and
approval
procedures.
Because
of
the
agreement
concerning
launcher
operation
that
ties
it
to
ESA,
Arianespace
is
required
to
inform
ESA
of
this
planned
change
in
its
shareholding
structure.
Independent on subject change in shareholding, Arianespace will retain its status as an independent company, with its head office in Evry (near Paris), facilities in French Guiana, and offices in Washington, D.C., Singapore and Tokyo. Arianespace will seek for operational synergies with Airbus Safran Launchers. The competitiveness improvement efforts undertaken by Arianespace and its partners to encounter the intensified competition, even before the start of Ariane 6, will be continued. These changes will allow Arianespace to meet its customers' expectations even more effectively, in the framework of a re-affirmed partnership with all satellites’ manufacturers.
Following this agreement, Arianespace Chairman and CEO Stéphane Israël said: "The agreement between Airbus Safran Lauchers, the French State and the CNES reflects the logic behind the remodeling of the launcher industry that was decided in Luxembourg last December at the ESA ministerial-level conference. It marks a major step forward on the road that should lead to Ariane 6.
The planned increase in Airbus Safran Launchers' stake in Arianespace reinforces our confidence in the future. I would like to reaffirm our commitment to all industry shareholders, as well as ESA and the national space agencies, especially CNES, DLR and ASI. And I would like to pay tribute to CNES, which will continue to be a key partner for Arianespace. Given this new context, Arianespace, building on its family of launchers and the unrivaled skills of its people, has all the assets needed to carry out our primary mission, namely to guarantee independent access to space for Europe, while continuing to lead the way in the commercial launch market."
