Abertis bolsters stake in Hispasat with the acquisition of 5% from EADS/CASA

Press room Abertis bolsters stake in Hispasat with the acquisition of 5% from EADS/CASA The move strengthens abertis position as the Spanish satellite system s largest shareholder, with a 32.4% stake

Barcelona, October 22nd, 2008 Barcelona, 21 October 2008.- abertis, through its telecommunications subsidiary abertis telecom, has reached an agreement with EADS/CASA to acquire a 5% stake in the Spanish satellite operator Hispasat for 35 Mn. This raises abertis stake in Hispasat to 32.4% and strengthens its position as the Spanish satellite system s largest shareholder. The agreement is subject to the authorisation of the Spanish cabinet.

The increase in abertis telecom s stake in Hispasat responds to its strategic positioning in the satellites business. This strategy rounds off abertis telecom s position in the terrestrial signal transmission network with a satellite transmission network and broadens the geographical scope of abertis telecommunications business.

In July, abertis acquired 28.4% of Hispasat for 199 Mn from Ensafeca Holding Empresarial (previously Auna) and BBVA, private shareholders in Hispasat, following clearance from the European anti-trust authorities and the Spanish government, which had already agreed to authorise the acquisition in February.

Hispasat s current fleet consists of 3 satellites (Hispasat 1C and 1D and Amazonas 1), which give coverage over Europe, North Africa and America. These satellites provide audiovisual and business services, broadband solutions and advanced communications systems. Through Hisdesat, two other satellites are managed (Spainsat and Xtar-Eur), which give services to government.

With over 1,000 TV and radio channels broadcast, Hispasat is the leading operator in communications in Spanish and Portuguese and the main communications bridge by satellite between Europe and America. In the coming years, Hispasat plans to launch three new satellites, which will double its space orbiting capacity. In 2007, Hispasat recorded income of 128 million euros, an Ebitda de 101 million euros and a net profit of 36 million euros.

LINK:	http://www.abertistelecom.com/en/sala-de-prensa.php?id=2305...
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