Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

EUTELSAT COMMUNICATIONS: NEW STRATEGIC PRIORITIES AND FINANCIAL OBJECTIVES

27/06/2016

Review of strategic priorities and financial objectives in the context of evolving market dynamics

Maximizing cash-flow of our core businesses

Return to broad top-line stability in FY 2017-18[1]

Maintain EBITDA margin above 75%

Capital expenditure reduced by 80m on average to 420m pa

Reduced cost of debt

Discretionary free cash flow[2] CAGR>10% from FY 2015-16 to FY 2018-19

Stable to progressive dividend

Returning to growth by building on our core Video business and capturing longer term potential in Connectivity

Paris, 27 June 2016 - In a context of slowing industry-wide momentum, Eutelsat Communications (ISIN: FR0010221234 - Euronext Paris: ETL) is announcing a review of its strategic priorities and financial objectives.

Rodolphe Belmer, Chief Executive Officer commented: It has become clear in recent months that the traditional businesses within the Fixed Satellite Services sector are facing a context of slowing industry-wide momentum. To face this lower growth environment, we are implementing an adaptation of our strategic priorities and financial objectives. Our immediate priority will be to maximize the free-cash-flow generation of our core businesses. We are confident in our ability to generate a level of discretionary free cash flow in the next three years, which will enable us to serve a stable to progressive dividend and reduce leverage, in line with our commitment to our investment grade rating. We will continue to invest selectively to prepare for a return to growth by building on our core Video business and capturing the longer term opportunities in Connectivity. Our objective is to return to broad top line stability as early as FY 2017-18.

ADAPTING STRATEGY TO EVOLVING MARKET DYNAMICS

In recent months it has become clear that the traditional businesses within the Fixed Satellite Services sector are facing slowing industry-wide momentum, reflecting broadly stable demand in developed markets (Europe), and economic headwinds in economies such as Russia and Latin America, only partly offset by more robust demand in Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle-East and North Africa and Asia. Competition continues to intensify in the Data Services segment, where we anticipate ongoing downward pricing pressure.

Against this backdrop, Eutelsat has undertaken a review of its strategic priorities and financial objectives, leading to the adoption of a two-step strategy, based around the following priorities:

Step one: Immediately implement measures to maximize free-cash-flow generation of our core businesses (Video, Data and Government Services);

Step two: At the same time prepare for a return to growth by building on our core Video business and capturing the longer-term potential in Connectivity.

STEP ONE: maximize free-cash-flow generation of our core businesses

Eutelsat's focus in the immediate term will be to maximize the free cash flow generation of its existing businesses in order to secure ongoing deleveraging in line with its commitment to its Investment Grade rating, deliver stable to progressive dividend to shareholders and finance targeted investments to pave the way for a return to growth.

CAPEX Reduction

Capex savings will be achieved without impacting the current deployment plan and attendant future revenues. Savings will be driven by the implementation of a design to cost' approach, a focus on hosted payload and partnership or condosats opportunities when appropriate, as well as capitalization on industry-wide efficiency improvements. Ground capex will be placed under strict control.

In consequence, estimated average annual cash capex for the period July 2016 to June 2019 will be reduced to 420 million (versus an average of 500 million previously for the period July 2015 to June 2018).

Cost of debt optimization

The 500 million bond issue at a 1.125% coupon in June 2016 to refinance, along with cash in the balance sheet, the 850 million March 2017 bond, will lead to savings of c. 30 million per annum. Elsewhere, a swap-lock has been negotiated in anticipation of the January 2019 800 million bond maturity, while the Eutelsat Communications term loan has been extended for 12 months to 2021. Cumulated annual savings from January 2019 are anticipated in the region of 50million.

OPEX containment

Operating cost containment measures are under consideration, notably procurement and SG&A expenses, with a view to underpinning our EBITDA margin above a level of 75%.

Optimize asset portfolio

Eutelsat will continue to consider opportunities to streamline its portfolio of assets, following on from the divestment of Alterna'TV in April 2016. At the same time it will seek partnerships for some of its broadband projects, such as ViaSat in Europe and Inframed in Africa.

Streamlining the organization

Eutelsat's organization is being realigned along the following five business lines: Core businesses (Video, Data and Government services) and Connectivity (Fixed Broadband and Mobile Connectivity). Measures will be implemented to further strengthen the quality of the salesforce, while the metrics on which key personnel are measured will be aligned to our cash flow generation targets.

Within this framework, Eutelsat is adapting the strategies within its three core businesses (Video, Data and Government services) in order to optimize revenues based on its assumptions for their current and future operating contexts.

Video

Demand in the Video segment should rise modestly over the next five years. It should see continued growth in emerging markets, in particular MENA and Sub-Saharan Africa where Eutelsat has a strong footprint, notably driven by increasing channel count. The trend in Europe is expected to be broadly stable with HD and Ultra HD ramp-up broadly offsetting improving encoding and compression techniques.

Against this backdrop, E
LINK: http://news.eutelsat.com/pressreleases/eutelsat-communications-new-str...
See more stories from eutelsat

Most recent headlines

09/11/2025

Dalet Unveils Agentic AI Media Workflows at IBC2025

Dalet today announced a transformative leap forward for media operations: Agentic Artificial Intelligence (AI) that unifies the Dalet ecosystem under one natura...

13/10/2025

Spectrum Brings Selected L.A. Lakers Games to Apple Vision Pro With New Immersive Presentation

Spectrum Brings Selected L.A. Lakers Games to Apple Vision Pro With New Immersiv...

13/10/2025

Media Climate Accord Aims to Offer United Approach to M&E Industry Sustainability Efforts

Media Climate Accord aims to offer united approach to M&E industry sustainabilit...

13/10/2025

Riot Games Streamlines Production of Valorant Champions Paris with ST 2110 Flypack

Riot Games streamlines production of Valorant Champions Paris with ST 2110 flypa...

13/10/2025

Feeling the NRG: Riot Games Puts on a Show for Valorant Champions Paris Final

Feeling the NRG: Riot Games puts on a show for Valorant Champions Paris final By Jo Ruddock Monday, October 13, 2025 - 09:17 Print This Story After more t...

13/10/2025

FOX Sports MLB Postseason Audio Aims To Make Officials' Calls More Accurate

FOX Sports MLB Postseason Audio Aims To Make Officials' Calls More AccurateA1 Joe Carpenter hopes to bring some baseball CSI' to the ABS ump-cam system...

13/10/2025

New SBS and NITV Original RECKLESS a Deadly Funny Thriller Straight Out of Freo - Premieres Wednesday November 12 at 8:30pm

New SBS and NITV Original RECKLESS a Deadly Funny Thriller Straight Out of Fre...

13/10/2025

Mid-Atlantic Sports Network strikes all-IP video distribu...

Regional sports network moves from satellite to IP to cut distribution costs by more than half and streamline broadcast and direct-to-consumer delivery Mid-Atl...

13/10/2025

Delta Live invests in the future of live sound for presti...

Delta Live, the award-winning audio supplier, has underlined its position at the forefront of live sound with significant investments in cutting edge audio syst...

13/10/2025

Space42 Expands Access to Geospatial Intelligence with Launch of GIQ on Microsoft Azure

Abu Dhabi, UAE October 13, 2025: Space42 (ADX: SPACE42), the UAE-based AI-powe...

13/10/2025

Nick Blood and Saffron Hocking lead casting for Hit Point

Nick Blood and Saffron Hocking lead casting for Hit Point, brand new original drama series for U and U&Dave Developed & Produced by Urban Myth Films (a STUDIOC...

13/10/2025

Sky exclusively picks up Crystal Lake, the highly anticipated prequel to the Friday the 13th franchise

The series from A24 will land in the UK & Ireland in 2026Monday 13 October 2025 ...

13/10/2025

Grand Galaxy Hotel' Open for Business: Netflix Confirms Production and Cast

Back to All News Grand Galaxy Hotel' Open for Business: Netflix Confirms Production and Cast Entertainment 13 October 2025 GlobalSouth Korea Link copi...

13/10/2025

Netflix Partners with GOBELINS Paris and Guillermo del Toro to Ignite the Future of Stop-Motion Animation

Back to All News Netflix Partners with GOBELINS Paris and Guillermo del Toro to...

13/10/2025

Stories Set to Thrill, Move, and Entertain: Netflix Announces Six Tamil and Telugu Originals

Back to All News Stories Set to Thrill, Move, and Entertain: Netflix Announces ...

13/10/2025

Fox Corporation Executives to Discuss First Quarter Fiscal 2026 Financial Results Via Webcast

Fox Corporation Executives to Discuss First Quarter Fiscal 2026 Financial Result...

13/10/2025

NVIDIA, Partners Drive Next-Gen Efficient Gigawatt AI Factories in Buildup for Vera Rubin

At the OCP Global Summit, NVIDIA is offering a glimpse into the future of gigawa...

13/10/2025

Dark crime comedy drama Obituary returns to RT for a second season

Season 2 brings murder and West of Ireland humour - and rain - to our screens, with M ir ad Tyers joining the cast Watch trailer here. A small-town obituary w...

13/10/2025

RT to air live in-depth interviews with Presidential candidates

The Katie Hannon Interview Live airs tonight & Wednesday night at 7pm As part of RT 's comprehensive election campaign coverage, journalist Katie Hannon w...

11/10/2025

SVG New Sponsor Spotlight: TAB M Solutions' Joe Wire, Kevin Tucker on Guiding Clients in Control Room Builds

SVG New Sponsor Spotlight: TAB M Solutions' Joe Wire, Kevin Tucker on Guidin...

11/10/2025

Give Me the Backstory: Get to Know Bill Condon, the Writer-Director Behind Kiss of the Spider Woman

By Jessica Herndon One of the most exciting things about the Sundance Film Fest...

11/10/2025

Charter Launches Spectrum App Store, Inks Apple Vision Pro Deal

STAMFORD, Conn. In a move that highlights the growing importance of streaming apps on pay TV platforms, Charter Communications' Spectrum operating brand has...

11/10/2025

Netflix Launches Party Games for TVs

Netflix is expanding its video game offerings from mobile into TV by launching party games that its subscribers can play on smart TVs....

11/10/2025

Spectrum News Expands Distribution to Comcast's Xfinity TV Customers

STAMFORD, Conn. Charter Communications' Spectrum News has reached an deal with Comcast to expand distribution of its local news channels to Xfinity TV cust...

11/10/2025

Brightline Lighting AV 720 Low Voltage Control and Flex-T...

Professional podcasts are booming. They're an effective way to establish company executives as industry leaders, humanize a large organization, drill down o...

11/10/2025

Award-Winning PlayBox Neo Suite Makes US Debut at the NA...

PlayBox Neo, a leading provider of media playout and channel branding solutions, will present its PlayBox Neo Suite media platform for the first time in the U.S...

11/10/2025

FOR-A America to Show Commitment to US Broadcast Market a...

As a testament to its commitment to the broadcast market, FOR-A America will bring several popular and future-facing technologies to the NAB Show New York, runn...

11/10/2025

Profuz Digital remains at the forefront of Broadcast Inno...

European technology developer Profuz Digital reflects on another successful IBC Show in Amsterdam from 12 15 September after showcasing the latest version of ...

11/10/2025

Catch COBALT ARIA at NAB NY - Audio Monitoring Minus the...

Cobalt Digital, the leading designer and manufacturer of award-winning signal processing products, and a founding partner in the openGear initiative, is headin...

11/10/2025

Lightware UBEX powers AV-over-IP across education immersi...

Lightware, an industry leader in signal management, is at the center of a growing range of high-profile integrations with its UBEX platform. Built to deliver un...

11/10/2025

CAPER 2025 Next Stop for FOR-A Latin America and the Cari...

FOR-A Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) will bring its industry-leading signal processing, frame rate conversion and graphics playout software to CAPER 2025...

11/10/2025

Clear-Com and BNE Productions Amplify Dreamstate and Apoc...

Clear-Com is happy to announce its latest collaboration with BNE Productions, a premier production company known for delivering world-class audio for live even...

11/10/2025

Dean's List: Tommy Neblett Shares His YouTube Top Five

Dean's List: Tommy Neblett Shares His YouTube Top Five Boston Conservatory's dean of dance reveals his favorite student dance videos. By Sarah Godcher...

10/10/2025

SVG New Sponsor Spotlight: TAB M Solutions' Joe Wire, Jeff Tucker on Guiding Clients in Control Room Builds

SVG New Sponsor Spotlight: TAB M Solutions' Joe Wire, Jeff Tucker on Guiding...

10/10/2025

SVG Students To Watch: Vincent Macri, Monmouth University

SVG Students To Watch: Vincent Macri, Monmouth University The Jersey local runs Camera 1 on Hawks games and is expanding into technical directing By Brandon Co...

10/10/2025

Bundesliga Spotlight: Inside the DFL's New Customizable Camera Concepts for Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 Rights Holders

Flexible budgets: Inside the DFL's new customisable camera concepts for Bund...

10/10/2025

Bundesliga Spotlight: TVN Talks Remote Production and Bells and Whistles

Facing the future: TVN on its technical services for the new Bundesliga season with remote production and all the bells and whistles By Heather McLean Monday...

10/10/2025

Frauen-Bundesliga Spotlight: Developing Broadcast Expertise and Pushing the Women's Game at the Deutscher Fuball-Bund

Evolving in-house: Developing broadcast expertise and pushing the women's ga...

10/10/2025

Frauen-Bundesliga Spotlight: The Deutscher Fuball-Bund on Pushing Production Innovation for the Rapidly Growing Women's Bundesliga

Growing the game: The Deutscher Fu ball-Bund on pushing production innovation fo...

10/10/2025

Bundesliga Spotlight: DFL Boosts Broadcaster Content Access Through Tent Pole' Match Concept

Proximity and authenticity: DFL kicks off the new football season with more broa...

10/10/2025

Spectrum Brings Select L.A. Lakers Games to Apple Vision Pro With New Immersive Presentation

Spectrum Brings Select L.A. Lakers Games to Apple Vision Pro With New Immersive ...

10/10/2025

Fairyland Delves Deeply Into the Tragedy of the AIDS Crisis

From left, Scoot McNairy, Andrew Durham, Nessa Dougherty, and Emilia Jones attend the premiere of Fairyland at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. Photo by Jemal...

10/10/2025

Recognizing the Innovations Re-shaping Film & TV Right Now

By Chuck Parker, CEO of Sohonet If you work in film and television, you can feel it: anxiety is high. Budgets are tight, schedules are tighter, and AI is a c...

10/10/2025

L3Harris Supports American Rheinmetall's Next-Gen Combat Vehicle

L3Harris' WESCAM MX-Series EO/IR sensor systems have a long history of supporting complex missions in harsh environments, as seen here on a Kaplan-20 Next G...

10/10/2025

Catch COBALT ARIA at NAB NY Audio Monitoring Minus the Anxiety

Cobalt Digital Booth # 607 // Journalists: Click to visit Cobalt NAB NY 2025 Audio monitors join Cobalt's platform, including its latest routers, multiview...

10/10/2025

Nielsen unveils blueprint to achieve confident ROI

NEW YORK - October 9, 2025 - Nielsen, the global leader in audience measurement, data and analytics, today announced the release of The Marketing ROI Blueprint:...

10/10/2025

Cobalt Digital to Showcase Aria Audio Solutions at NAB Show New York

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. Cobalt Digital will feature its Aria series of audio solutions designed to simplify monitoring, embedding and routing at NAB Show New York, set ...

10/10/2025

Prime Video to Stream PGA Tour's The Skins Game on Black Friday

LOS ANGELES and PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida Amazon's Prime Video has announced a new deal that will allow it to exclusively stream a revival of the PGA Tour&...

10/10/2025

Allen Media Group's Local Now Free Streaming Platform Adds Fox Channels

ATLANTA Local Now, Allen Media Group's free streaming service, will add five channels from Fox to its growing lineup. The new offerings are Fox Sports, Fox ...

10/10/2025

NAB Applauds FCC Draft Notice on NextGen TV Rules

WASHINGTON The National Association of Broadcasters is applauding a draft notice from the Federal Communications Commission that would potentially speed up the ...