16. Related Party Transactions

MHR Fund Management LLC

Mark H. Rachesky, President of MHR Fund Management LLC (“MHR”), and Hal Goldstein, a former managing principal of MHR, are members of Loral’s board of directors.

Various funds affiliated with MHR and Dr. Rachesky held, as of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, approximately 38.0% of the outstanding voting common stock and as of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 had a combined ownership of outstanding voting and non-voting common stock of Loral of 57.1%.

Transactions with Affiliates

Telesat

As described in Note 6, we own 62.8% of Telesat and account for our ownership interest under the equity method of accounting.

In connection with the acquisition of our ownership interest in Telesat (which we refer to as the Telesat transaction), Loral and certain of its subsidiaries, our Canadian co-owner, Public Sector Pension Investment Board (“PSP”) and one of its subsidiaries, Telesat Holdco and certain of its subsidiaries, including Telesat, and MHR entered into a Shareholders Agreement (the “Shareholders Agreement”). The Shareholders Agreement provides for, among other things, the manner in which the affairs of Telesat Holdco and its subsidiaries will be conducted and the relationships among the parties thereto and future shareholders of Telesat Holdco. The Shareholders Agreement also contains an agreement by Loral not to engage in a competing satellite communications business and agreements by the parties to the Shareholders Agreement not to solicit employees of Telesat Holdco or any of its subsidiaries. Additionally, the Shareholders Agreement details the matters requiring the approval of the shareholders of Telesat Holdco (including veto rights for Loral over certain extraordinary actions) and provides for preemptive rights for certain shareholders upon the issuance of certain capital shares of Telesat Holdco. The Shareholders Agreement also (i) restricts the ability of holders of certain shares of Telesat Holdco to transfer such shares unless certain conditions are met or approval of the transfer is granted by the directors of Telesat Holdco, (ii) provides for a right of first offer to certain Telesat Holdco shareholders if a holder of equity shares of Telesat Holdco wishes to sell any such shares to a third party and (iii) provides for, in certain circumstances, tag-along rights in favor of shareholders that are not affiliated with Loral if Loral sells equity shares and drag-along rights in favor of Loral in case Loral or its affiliate enters into an agreement to sell all of its Telesat Holdco equity securities. In addition, the Shareholders Agreement provides for either PSP or Loral to initiate the process of conducting an initial public offering of the equity shares of Telesat Holdco. There can be no assurance as to whether, when or on what terms an initial public offering of Telesat Holdco equity may occur.

Under the Shareholders Agreement, in the event that, except in certain limited circumstances, either (i) ownership or control, directly or indirectly, by Dr. Rachesky of Loral’s voting stock falls below certain levels other than in connection with certain specified circumstances, including an acquisition by a Strategic Competitor (as defined in the Shareholders Agreement) or (ii) there is a change in the composition of a majority of the members of the Loral Board of Directors over a consecutive two-year period without the approval of the incumbent directors, Loral will lose its veto rights relating to certain extraordinary actions by Telesat Holdco and its subsidiaries. In addition, after either of these events, PSP will have certain rights to enable it to exit from its investment in Telesat Holdco, including a right to cause Telesat Holdco to conduct an initial public offering in which PSP’s shares would be the first shares offered or, if no such offering has occurred within one year due to a lack of cooperation from Loral or Telesat Holdco, to cause the sale of Telesat Holdco and to drag along the other shareholders in such sale, subject to Loral’s right to call PSP’s shares at fair market value.

The Shareholders Agreement provides for a board of directors of each of Telesat Holdco and certain of its subsidiaries, including Telesat, consisting of 10 directors, three nominated by Loral, three nominated by PSP and four independent directors to be selected by a nominating committee comprised of one PSP nominee, one nominee of Loral and one of the independent directors then in office. Each party to the Shareholders Agreement is obligated to vote all of its Telesat Holdco shares for the election of the directors nominated by the nominating committee. Pursuant to action by the board of directors taken on October 31, 2007, Dr. Rachesky, who is non-executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of Loral, was appointed non-executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of Telesat Holdco and certain of its subsidiaries, including Telesat. In addition, Michael B. Targoff, Loral’s Vice Chairman, serves on the board of directors of Telesat Holdco and certain of its subsidiaries, including Telesat.

Information related to satellite construction contracts between SS/L and Telesat for the period when we owned SS/L is as follows (in thousands):


	Year Ended
	December 31, 2012
Revenues (included in income from discontinued operations) from Telesat satellite construction contracts	$	57,745
Milestone payments received from Telesat		54,153

On October 31, 2007, Loral and Telesat entered into a consulting services agreement (the “Consulting Agreement”). Pursuant to the terms of the Consulting Agreement, Loral provides to Telesat certain non-exclusive consulting services in relation to the business of Loral Skynet which was transferred to Telesat as part of the Telesat transaction as well as with respect to certain aspects of the satellite communications business of Telesat. The Consulting Agreement has a term of seven-years with an automatic renewal for an additional seven-year term if Loral is not then in material default under the Shareholders Agreement. Upon expiration of the initial term on October 31, 2014, the Consulting Agreement was automatically renewed for the additional seven-year term. In exchange for Loral’s services under the Consulting Agreement, Telesat pays Loral an annual fee of $5.0 million, payable quarterly in arrears on the last day of March, June, September and December of each year during the term of the Consulting Agreement. If the terms of Telesat’s bank or bridge facilities or certain other debt obligations prevent Telesat from paying such fees in cash, Telesat may issue junior subordinated promissory notes to Loral in the amount of such payment, with interest on such promissory notes payable at the rate of 7% per annum, compounded quarterly, from the date of issue of such promissory note to the date of payment thereof. Our general and administrative expenses for each of the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, are net of income of $5.0 million related to the Consulting Agreement. For the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, Loral received payments in cash from Telesat, net of withholding taxes, of $4.8 million, $3.5 million and $1.6 million, respectively, for consulting fees and interest and payments in promissory notes of nil, $1.3 million and $4.5 million, respectively, for consulting fees and interest. The cash payments received by Loral from Telesat for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 included redemption of notes receivable from Telesat of $2.6 million and $24.1 million, respectively. Telesat was not permitted to pay these amounts in cash previously because Telesat did not meet the leverage ratio required for cash payment under the indenture for its 12.5% senior subordinated notes due November 1, 2017. These notes were redeemed in May 2013. We had no notes receivable from Telesat as of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 related to the Consulting Agreement.

The Telesat Indemnification (as defined in Note 6 above) includes certain tax disputes currently under review in various jurisdictions including Brazil. The Brazilian tax authorities challenged Loral Skynet’s historical characterization of its revenue generated in Brazil for the years 2003 to 2006. Telesat received and challenged, on Loral Skynet’s behalf, tax assessments from Brazil totaling approximately $7 million. The Company believes that Loral Skynet’s filing position will ultimately be sustained requiring no payment under the Telesat Indemnification. In addition, the tax authority in Hong Kong had previously challenged Loral Skynet’s and Telesat’s offshore claim for exempt income for the years 1999 to 2009, issuing assessments which required Loral Skynet to deposit approximately $6.5 million of taxes in 2006 and 2007 in order to retain its right to appeal. During the first quarter of 2014, Loral’s portion of this tax liability in Hong Kong and various other claims under the Telesat Indemnification were settled for approximately $1.1 million resulting in a cash recovery of $5.4 million which was received from Telesat in April 2014. As of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, we had recognized a net receivable from Telesat of nil and $0.5 million, respectively, representing our estimate of the probable outcome of all tax matters under the Telesat Indemnification. The receivable as of December 31, 2013 was included in the consolidated balance sheet as other assets of $2.6 million offset by long-term liabilities of $2.1 million. There can be no assurance that future claims under the Telesat Indemnification will be ultimately settled for the net amount recorded as of December 31, 2014.

Loral’s employees and retirees participate in certain welfare plans sponsored by Telesat. Loral pays Telesat an annual administrative fee of $0.1 million and reimburses Telesat for the plan costs attributable to Loral participants.

Loral, along with Telesat Holdco, Telesat, PSP and 4440480 Canada Inc., an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Loral (the “Special Purchaser”), entered into grant agreements (the “Grant Agreements”) with certain executives of Telesat (each, a “Participant” and collectively, the “Participants”). Each of the Participants was, at the time, an executive of Telesat.

The Grant Agreements confirm grants of Telesat Holdco stock options (including tandem SAR rights) to the Participants and provide for certain rights, obligations and restrictions related to such stock options, which include, among other things: (w) the possible obligation of the Special Purchaser to purchase the shares in the place of Telesat Holdco should Telesat Holdco be prohibited by applicable law or under the terms of any credit agreement applicable to Telesat Holdco from purchasing such shares, or otherwise default on such purchase obligation, pursuant to the terms of the Grant Agreements; and (x) the obligation of the Special Purchaser to purchase shares upon exercise by Telesat Holdco of its call right under Telesat Holdco's Management Stock Incentive Plan in the event of a Participant’s termination of employment; and, in the case of certain executives, (y) the right of each such Participant to require the Special Purchaser or Loral to purchase a portion of the shares in Telesat Holdco owned by him in the event of exercise after termination of employment to cover taxes that are greater than the minimum withholding amount; and (z) the right of each such Participant to require Telesat Holdco to cause the Special Purchaser or Loral to purchase a portion of the shares in Telesat Holdco owned by him, or that are issuable to him under Telesat Holdco's Management Stock Incentive Plan at the relevant time, in the event that more than 90% of Loral's common stock is acquired by an unaffiliated third party that does not also purchase all of PSP's and its affiliates' interest in Telesat Holdco.

The Grant Agreements further provide that, in the event the Special Purchaser is required to purchase shares, such shares, together with the obligation to pay for such shares, shall be transferred to a subsidiary of the Special Purchaser, which subsidiary shall be wound up into Telesat Holdco, with Telesat Holdco agreeing to the acquisition of such subsidiary by Telesat Holdco from the Special Purchaser for nominal consideration and with the purchase price for the shares being paid by Telesat Holdco within ten (10) business days after completion of the winding-up of such subsidiary into Telesat Holdco.

Loral received special cash distributions from Telesat of $376 million on March 28, 2012 and $44 million on July 5, 2012. The distributions were the result of a Telesat refinancing and recapitalization transaction (see Note 6).

ViaSat/Telesat

In connection with an agreement entered into between SS/L and ViaSat for the construction by SS/L for ViaSat of a high capacity broadband satellite called ViaSat-1, on January 11, 2008, we entered into certain agreements, pursuant to which we invested in the Canadian coverage portion of the ViaSat-1 satellite.

On April 11, 2011, Loral assigned to Telesat and Telesat assumed from Loral all of Loral’s rights and obligations with respect to the ViaSat-1 satellite payload providing coverage into Canada and all related agreements. Loral also assigned to Telesat and Telesat assumed Loral’s 15-year contract with Xplornet Communications, Inc. (formerly known as Barrett Xplore Inc.) for delivery of high throughput satellite Ka-band capacity and gateway services for broadband services in Canada. In connection with the assignments, Loral is entitled to receive one-half of any net revenue earned by Telesat in connection with the leasing of certain supplemental capacity on the payload to its customers during the first four years after the commencement of service using the supplemental capacity. Under this arrangement, we earned approximately $1.0 million, $1.3 million and $1.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. We had a receivable from Telesat of $0.3 million as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 related to this arrangement.

Until his resignation in February 2012, Michael B. Targoff served, and another Loral director currently serves, as a member of the ViaSat Board of Directors.

Other

Costs of satellite manufacturing for sales to related parties included in income from discontinued operations were $30.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2012.

In connection with an agreement reached in 1999 and an overall settlement reached in February 2005 with ChinaSat relating to the delayed delivery of ChinaSat 8, SS/L has provided ChinaSat with usage rights to two Ku-band transponders on Telesat’s Telstar 10 for the life of such transponders (subject to certain restoration rights) and to one Ku-band transponder on Telesat’s Telstar 18 for the life of the Telstar 10 satellite plus two years, or the life of such transponder (subject to certain restoration rights), whichever is shorter. Pursuant to an amendment to the agreement executed in June 2009, in lieu of rights to one of the Ku-band transponders on Telstar 10, ChinaSat has rights to an equivalent amount of Ku-band capacity on Telstar 18 (the “Alternative Capacity”). The Alternative Capacity may be utilized by ChinaSat until April 30, 2019 subject to certain conditions. Under the agreement, SS/L makes monthly payments to Telesat for the transponders allocated to ChinaSat. Effective with the termination of Telesat’s leasehold interest in Telstar 10 in July 2009, SS/L makes monthly payments with respect to capacity used by ChinaSat on Telstar 10 directly to APT, the owner of the satellite. Interest expense on this liability included in income from discontinued operations was $0.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2012. For the year ended December 31, 2012, SS/L made payments of $2.2 million to Telesat pursuant to the agreement. The liability for the future use of these transponders was retained by SS/L in connection with the Sale.

As described in Note 6, we own 56% of XTAR, a joint venture between Loral and Hisdesat and account for our investment in XTAR under the equity method of accounting. SS/L constructed XTAR’s satellite, which was successfully launched in February 2005. XTAR and Loral have entered into a management agreement whereby Loral provides general and specific services of a technical, financial and administrative nature to XTAR. For the services provided by Loral, XTAR, until December 31, 2013, was charged a quarterly management fee equal to 3.7% of XTAR’s quarterly gross revenues. Amounts due to Loral primarily due to the management agreement as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 were $6.8 million and $6.9 million, respectively. Beginning in 2008, Loral and XTAR agreed to defer amounts owed to Loral under this agreement, and XTAR has agreed that its excess cash balance (as defined), will be applied at least quarterly towards repayment of receivables owed to Loral, as well as to Hisdesat and Telesat. No cash was received under this agreement for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, and we had a full allowance against these receivables as of December 31, 2014 and 2013. Loral and Hisdesat have agreed to waive future management fees for an indefinite period starting January 1, 2014.

Consulting Agreement

On December 14, 2012, Loral entered into a consulting agreement with Michael B. Targoff, Vice Chairman of the Company and former Chief Executive Officer and President. Pursuant to this agreement, Mr. Targoff is engaged as a part-time consultant to the Board to assist the Board with respect to the oversight of strategic matters relating to Telesat and XTAR and the ViaSat Suit. Under the agreement, Mr. Targoff receives consulting fees of $120,000 per month. During 2014, 2013 and 2012, he also reimbursed the Company for certain expenses totaling $17,000 per month commencing December 15, 2012. For each of the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, Mr. Targoff earned $1,440,000 (before his expense reimbursement to Loral of $204,000) and for the year ended December 31, 2012 Mr. Targoff earned $60,000 (before his expense reimbursement to Loral of $8,500). Effective January 1, 2015, Mr. Targoff reimburses the Company for net expenses of $5,250 per month.