Brussels / Toronto, December 15, 2004 — Following the announcement on November 10 reporting advanced negotiations, EADS and Aastra Technologies Limited today have executed a definitive agreement to transfer the EADS Enterprise Telephony Business to Aastra Technologies Limited.
The EADS Enterprise Telephony Business supplies communications systems and networks based on leading-edge technologies such as telephony-over-IP (Internet Protocol), multimedia applications and call centres. It currently employs approximately 730 employees, of which approximately 55% are located in Western Europe (primarily France) and the remainder are located in the United States, where each business is focussed on their respective geographic and product markets.
As previously reported, the net cash consideration will be approximately €72.5 million (subject to customary closing adjustments). The parties anticipate closing this transaction in the first calendar quarter of 2005.
EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2003 EADS, generated revenues of € 30.1 billion and employed a workforce of about 109,000. The EADS Group includes the aircraft manufacturer Airbus, the world's largest helicopter supplier Eurocopter and the joint venture MBDA, the second largest missile producer in the global market. EADS is the major partner in the Eurofighter consortium, is the prime contractor for the Ariane launcher, develops the A400M military transport aircraft and is the largest industrial partner for the European satellite navigation system Galileo. For more information EADS, visit our Web site at www.eads.com or www.eads-telecom.com
Aastra Technologies Limited (TSX: “AAH”), headquartered in Concord, Ontario, Canada, develops and markets products and systems for accessing communication networks. Aastra’s products include a full range of residential and business telephone terminals, Enterprise Private Branch Exchanges (PBX), network access servers and high quality digital video gateways. Aastra serves the majority of telephone companies and certain cable operators and broadcasters in North America and Europe, with a growing presence in South America and Asia. For more information on Aastra, visit our Web site at http://www.aastra.com
This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements include statements of plans, objectives, strategies and expectations. The words ”intend”, “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate” and “expect” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The results or events predicted in these statements may differ materially from actual results or events. Factors which could cause results or events to differ from current expectations are included in the reports filed by Aastra with securities regulatory authorities in Canada. Aastra disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
The Toronto Stock Exchange has not approved nor disapproved of the information contained in this statement..
For further information contact:
Allan Brett, CFO
+ 1 905-760-4160
Aastra abrett@aastra.com
Sandrine Quinton
+33 (0)1.34.60.79.01 / +33 (0)6.85.74.44.82
EADS DCS sandrine.quinton@eads.com
Michael Meissner
+49 (0)89 607 34 850 / +49 (0)173 92 37 827
EADS DCS michael.meissner@eads.com
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