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ORBCOMM Acquires Significant Stake in ORBCOMM Japan
Business Wire, April 1, 2008
- Plans to Acquire Additional Shares to Increase Ownership to 51% -
FORT LEE, N.J. -- ORBCOMM Inc. (Nasdaq: ORBC), a global satellite data communications company focused on providing two way Machine-to-Machine (M2M) solutions communications, today announced that it has completed the acquisition of a 37% stake in ORBCOMM Japan Ltd., ORBCOMM's representative in Japan and the owner of a gateway earth station (GES) in Japan, through its wholly owned subsidiary, ORBCOMM LLC. ORBCOMM LLC plans to acquire additional shares, increasing its ownership in ORBCOMM Japan to 51%.
"We are pleased to have concluded this transaction, which gives ORBCOMM greater control over the operations in the very important Japanese market and we look forward to growing our presence in the region," said Marc Eisenberg, ORBCOMM's Chief Executive Officer. "This is a valuable opportunity for us to seamlessly provide ORBCOMM's services to new and existing customers in Japan, and International Value Added Resellers that operate in Japan."
Upon acquiring the additional shares required to increase ownership to 51%, ORBCOMM LLC will control the GES in Japan. The Japan GES is the terrestrial link to ORBCOMM's network of low-earth orbit satellites and impacts the quality of service in that region. ORBCOMM provides low-cost, near real-time, two-way machine-to-machine (M2M) satellite communications in Japan and surrounding countries. Through its acquisition of ORBCOMM Japan, ORBCOMM is better able to ensure the best possible level of service in Japan and surrounding countries serviced by the GES.
ORBCOMM'S initial 37% stake in ORBCOMM Japan was acquired through the conversion of a portion of the debt owed to it by ORBCOMM Japan, in accordance with the voluntary rehabilitation plan agreed to between ORBCOMM Japan and its creditors, as approved by the Tokyo District Court on December 25, 2007. ORBCOMM expects to increase its stake in ORBCOMM Japan to 51% when it executes a Country Representative Agreement for Japan, which will replace the existing service license agreement ORBCOMM Japan presently has with ORBCOMM, which is due to expire in June 2008.
In addition, ORBCOMM anticipates that the terms of the new Country Representative Agreement with ORBCOMM Japan will enable ORBCOMM to market in Japan its services directly to its International Value Added Resellers, which was not the case under the existing license agreement.
About ORBCOMM Inc.
ORBCOMM is a leading global satellite data communications company, focused on Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communications. Its customers include General Electric, Caterpillar Inc., Volvo Group and Komatsu Ltd. among other industry leaders. By means of a global network of 29 low-earth orbit (LEO) satellites and accompanying ground infrastructure, ORBCOMM's low-cost and reliable two-way data communications products and services track, monitor and control mobile and fixed assets in four core markets: commercial transportation; heavy equipment; industrial fixed assets; and marine/homeland security. The company's products are installed on trucks, containers, marine vessels, locomotives, backhoes, pipelines, oil wells, utility meters, storage tanks and other assets. ORBCOMM is headquartered in Fort Lee, New Jersey and has a Network Control Center in Dulles, Virginia. For more information, visit www.orbcomm.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements discussed in this press release constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements generally relate to our plans, objectives and expectations for future operations and are based upon management's current estimates and projections of future results or trends. Although we believe that our plans and objectives reflected in or suggested by these forward-looking statements are reasonable, we may not achieve these plans or objectives. Our actual results may differ materially from those projected as a result of certain risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the substantial losses we have incurred and expect to continue to incur; demand for and market acceptance of our products and services and the applications developed by our resellers; loss or decline in business from the Asset Intelligence division of General Electric Company ("GE"), value-added resellers, or VARs, and international value-added resellers, or IVARs; technological changes; pricing pressures and other competitive factors; the inability of our international resellers to develop markets outside the United States; satellite launch failures, satellite launch and construction delays and cost overruns and in-orbit satellite failures or reduced performance; the failure to launch the Coast Guard demonstration satellite within the cure period or any extension thereof; the failure of our system or reductions in levels of service due to technological malfunctions or deficiencies or other events; our inability to renew or expand our satellite constellation; financial market conditions and the results of financing efforts; political, legal regulatory, governmental, administrative and economic conditions and developments in the United States and other countries and territories in which we operate; changes in our business strategy; and the other risks described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Unless required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
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