SES Astra Completes Acquisition Of DPC Digital Playout Center GmbH

BETZDORF, Luxembourg & UNTERFOEHRING, Germany, Jan. 5/Satnews Daily/ — SES Astra, an SES Global company (EURONEXT:SESG)(LuxX:SESG), said Tuesday it has completed the acquisition of 100% of DPC Digital Playout Center GmbH from German Pay-TV operator Premiere on December 31, 2004, following regulatory approval from the German Bundeskartellamt.

The transaction, initially announced last June 28 last year for a consideration of $54.63 million (EUR 41.2 million) and a 75% stake, was adapted following a requirement by the Bundeskartellamt to give SES Astra sole ownership for a total consideration of $72.93 million (EUR 55 million).

DPC operates a broadcasting center in Unterfoehring and offers services comprising play-out, multiplexing, encryption and satellite uplinks to private as well as public broadcasters. Under SES Astra 's helmsmanship, DPC will diversify its service offering by launching Germany's first "open" Pay-TV platform.

The company will however retain its corporate identity, name, Unterfoehring premises and headquarters, as well as the existing management and staff under CEO Wilfried Urner, according to SES Astra. SES Astra acquires the company debt-free and its results, which generated a turnover of $41.77 million (EUR 31.5 million) in 2003, will be fully consolidated into the accounts of SES Astra 's parent company SES Global.

Ferdinand Kayser, president and CEO of SES Astra said his company is looking forward to add value to our broadcasting customers businesses in Germany and other European markets. “Our ownership of DPC is a logical and strategic fit with SES Astra 's current positioning in the digital broadcasting value chain," he said.

DPC operates one of the most modern European broadcasting centers in Unterfoehring near Munich. From there, the company currently transmits more than 100 analog and digital television and radio programs as well as data services per uplink to the satellite. In addition, DPC also offers a comprehensive range of services concerning all aspects of broadcasting.

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