Andy Nativi/GENOA
Italy's Alenia Spazio is pursuing a partnership with Alcatel as a possible alternative to its planned merger with Astrium, the French company's biggest European rival. A highly-placed source at the Finmeccanica subsidiary says a US deal is also being contemplated, although a merger with Astrium remains most likely.
The source says Finmeccanica is unhappy with Astrium's proposal for the future distribution of powers, roles and technical/industrial responsibility. This is the first indication that Alenia Spazio's long-standing plans to join the new European space house, formed from Matra-Marconi Space and the space arm of Daimler-Chrysler Aerospace, are in trouble.
Finmeccanica is understood to want a greater say in an enlarged Astrium than founders EADS (with 75%) and BAE Systems (25%) wish to grant. The resulting stalemate has brought Alcatel Space back in the running as a possible partner, with the Toulouse-based operation reportedly prepared to offer "much more in order not to be isolated in Europe".
Astrium, now the world's third-largest space player, has already rejected any possibility of a deal with Alcatel. The source says talks are also ongoing between Alenia Spazio and US companies, including Loral, ranked five in the world and a specialist in satellite manufacturing.
Astrium has indicated it might pursue transatlantic alliances, with Lockheed Martin a potential partner, following Boeing's takeover of Hughes Satellite Systems.
Though Alenia Spazio's new stance may be aimed at securing a better bargaining position with Astrium, areas of genuine conflict have emerged. The source says the key clash is over voting rights, with Finmeccanica demanding a 33% vote - more than its likely shareholding in Astrium would dictate.
Alenia is also demanding special status in areas such as space infrastructure, plus protection from closure for its core technologies. Regulatory approval may also present an obstacle, since Brussels could view an enlarged Astrium as an unequal match for Alcatel.
Alenia Aerospazio's other division, Alenia Aeronautica, is meanwhile set to become a fully incorporated company, rather than a business area of Finmeccanica, as it prepares to form the 50:50 European Military Aircraft Company venture with EADS.
Alenia's Giorgio Zappa - already head of Alenia Spazio - is to be chief executive of the new venture, controlling Italian, German and Spanish operating branches.
n Space environment test facilities provider Intespace, part-owned by Astrium and Alcatel Space, has effectively become a private company, with Snecma-owned (and therefore government-controlled) holding company Sopemea disposing of its 35% holding. Remaining shareholders are increasing their stakes, with Astrium's rising from 8.7% to 38.2% and Alcatel's from 11.7% to 12.9%.
French space agency CNES becomes the biggest shareholder, its stake rising from 35.3% to 38.8%, while the workforce now controls 10%. The privatisation reflects a shift in Intespace's market, away from state business and into commercial telecoms.
The Toulouse-based operation, formed in 1983 and employing 150 people, is also allying with German counterpart IABG to form Netherlands-based European Test Services.
Source: Flight International
