Newsroom
Acquisition of Stratos by CIP Canada Completed
BETHESDA, MD (December 11, 2007) - Stratos Global Corporation (TSX: SGB) ("Stratos") today announced that CIP Canada Investment, Inc. ("CIP Canada") has acquired beneficial ownership of all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Stratos through a Plan of Arrangement under the Canada Business Corporations Act for a cash purchase price of C$7.00 per share. The total transaction value, including the assumption of debt, is US$636 million.
"We are extremely pleased with the completion of the acquisition," said Charles Bissegger, Stratos' Chairman of the Board of Directors. "We believe the acquisition of Stratos by CIP Canada is in the best interest of our shareholders, customers, partners, and employees."
"This transaction will allow Stratos to remain as an independent company continuing to execute its strategy through April 2009, and will promote stability of our business in the post-April 2009 period," added James Parm, Stratos' President and Chief Executive Officer. "We look forward to this next phase in Stratos' history, where we will remain focused on delivering advanced communications solutions to our customer and partner base."
CIP Canada is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Communications Investment Partners Limited ("CIP"), a professional investment company with a focus on satellite services. The transaction was indirectly financed by Inmarsat Finance III Limited ("Inmarsat Finance III"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Inmarsat plc. Additional funds remain available from Inmarsat Finance III to support CIP Canada's funding of a tender offer for Stratos' outstanding bonds that is required as a result of the acquisition. Inmarsat Finance III will have a call option exercisable beginning on or, in certain circumstances, before April 2009, and expiring in December 2010, to acquire 100 percent of CIP Canada. Until the call option becomes exercisable, Robert M. Franklin, an independent Canadian resident trustee, will hold legal title to the Stratos shares and exercise sole voting control over Stratos.
Hans Lipman, president of CIP said: "We are excited about this investment in Stratos. This transaction demonstrates our ability to play an important role in the satellite services industry."
For shareholders who held their Stratos shares through a broker, the payment of the purchase price will be processed after the broker tenders the Stratos shares to Computershare Investor Services, Inc. ("Computershare"), the Depositary for the Plan of Arrangement, in accordance with the instructions in the Letter of Transmittal previously sent. For shareholders who held their Stratos shares in registered form, the payment of the purchase price will be processed after they deposit their share certificates with Computershare in accordance with the Letter of Transmittal previously sent. Any questions regarding payment of the purchase price, including any request for another copy of the Letter of Transmittal, should be directed to Computershare via telephone at 1.800.564.6253 (toll free in North America) or via email at corporateactions@computershare.com.
With the completion of the Plan of Arrangement, Stratos' common shares will cease to be listed for trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Stratos will continue to have a Board of Directors comprised of a majority of independent, non-executive directors and key management is expected to remain with Stratos. In conjunction with the completion of the Arrangement and the de-listing of Stratos shares, the Board of Directors has been reduced in size to six directors comprising: Charles Bissegger (Chair), Michael Bayer, Janice Obuchowski, David Oliver, James Parm, and Ted Reevey.
About Stratos
Stratos is the world's trusted leader for vital communications. Stratos offers the most powerful and extensive portfolio of remote communications solutions including mobile and fixed satellite and microwave services. More than 20,000 customers use Stratos products and industry-leading value-added services to optimize communications performance. Stratos serves U.S. and international government, military, first responder, NGO, oil and gas, industrial, maritime, aeronautical, enterprise, and media users on seven continents and across the world's oceans. Stratos is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Inmarsat plc. For more information, visit www.stratosglobal.com.
About CIP Canada Investment Inc. (CIP)
Communications Investment Partners Limited ("CIP") is a professional investment company incorporated in 2006. The directors of CIP collectively have more than 50 years of experience as directors of and advisors to satellite services companies in both the mobile satellite and fixed satellite services sectors.
For additional information :
Hans Lipman
CIP Investor Contact
+442079932932
hansl@ciplimited.com