[Satellite TODAY Insider 12-20-11] European space company Astrium received the necessary regulatory approvals to complete its acquisition of global satellite communications services provider Vizada. The companies confirmed Dec. 16 that the transaction would merge Vizada with Astrium Services to form a new satellite value-added services provider and contribute to EADS Astrium’s 2020 strategic business plan.
   EADS initially announced the Vizada purchase from private-equity fund Apax France in August 2011. The diminishing strength of the Euro since then has chipped off a considerable dollar value amount from the original 673 million euro to $969 million conversion rate. The dollar value of the transaction now hovers around $877 million.
   “Together, we now provide our customers and partners with the broadest range of product and service choices — from fixed to mobile services, and from government to civil and private customers,” Astrium Services CEO Eric Béranger said in a statement. “In sharing our best practices and building on both teams’ expertise, we will create new growth by continuing to develop innovative products to meet our evolving customer needs worldwide.”
   EADS Corporate Spokesman Marwan Lahoud said the close of the Vizada transaction was the top year-end goal for the company. “In 2011, we have significantly strengthened our services portfolio, which is a key focus of our acquisition strategy.”
   Astrium will inherit all divisions of Vizada, which includes Vizada Americas, Vizada Networks, Vizada EMEA & Asia Pacific and Marlink. Vizada employs more than 700 employees serving 200,000 end-customers across sectors such as maritime, aero, land, media, nongovernmental organizations and government/defense. 
   Following the merge, Astrium Services will comprise of more than 3,200 employees and be divided into four business units: Telecom Commercial; Telecom Governmental; Secure Satcom Systems and GEO-Information Services.
   “With significant synergies in addressed markets, customer types, technologies and geographies, the integration of Vizada vastly broadens the range of solutions offered by Astrium Services. It enhances both its commercial satcoms capabilities and its global presence. Furthermore, it ensures that Vizada’s customers and partners will benefit from long-term guaranteed service availability as well as access to best of breed technologies and customer support capability,” said Béranger.
   According to analysts, the takeover represents one of the most significant satellite service provider shifts of the year and creates a powerful merge of multi-vertical opportunities. “[The deal] could help diversify Astrium’s customer base to include fixed, handheld and mobile products across secure commercial and military satellite-communications networks. Vizada will help Astrium meet growing demand for maritime satellite-communications services and aeronautical services for the U.S. government,” Cheuvreux Analyst Antoine Boivin-Champeaux wrote in a report.