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Related Party Transactions
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2015
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]  
Related Party Transactions

15. Related Party Transactions

 

MHR Fund Management LLC

 

Mark H. Rachesky, President of MHR Fund Management LLC (“MHR”), and Janet T. Yeung, a principal and the General Counsel of MHR, are members of Loral’s board of directors. Hal Goldstein, a former managing principal of MHR, was a member of the Loral Board until May 2015.

 

Various funds affiliated with MHR and Dr. Rachesky held, as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, approximately 38.0% of the outstanding voting common stock and 57.1% of the combined outstanding voting and non-voting common stock of Loral. 

 

Transactions with Affiliates

 

Telesat

 

As described in Note 5, 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 (a “Telesat IPO”). In connection with our exploration of strategic initiatives to alter the status quo in our ownership of Telesat Holdco, in July 2015, we exercised our rights under the Shareholders Agreement to require Telesat Holdco to conduct a Telesat IPO. Specifically, we requested that Telesat Holdco issue not more than 25 million newly issued shares of Telesat Holdco voting common stock. We also requested the termination of the Shareholders Agreement and the elimination of certain provisions in Telesat Holdco’s Articles of Incorporation, both of which we believe are necessary to accommodate a successful public offering. If those provisions are eliminated, an impediment to the conversion of our non-voting Telesat Holdco shares to voting shares would be eliminated. Termination or modification of the Shareholders Agreement and conversion of our non-voting shares to voting shares would enable us, after the Telesat IPO and subject to the receipt of any necessary regulatory approvals, to obtain majority voting control of Telesat Holdco. Telesat Holdco is working to implement the Telesat IPO, and we are in discussions with PSP to attempt to agree on our requests regarding the Shareholders Agreement and Telesat Holdco’s Articles of Incorporation. If we are unable to reach agreement with PSP on these matters, the advice of the lead underwriter selected for the Telesat IPO will be sought to assist resolution. There can be no assurance as to whether, when or on what terms the Telesat IPO, termination or modification of the Shareholders Agreement or any requested changes to Telesat Holdco’s Articles of Incorporation may occur. If the Telesat IPO proceeds in a manner contrary to our requests we will consider options for enforcing our rights, and if the price or other terms of a Telesat IPO are not acceptable to us we may withdraw our demand for a Telesat IPO. There can be no assurance that any strategic initiatives or transaction involving Telesat, Telesat Holdco or Loral may occur, or that any particular economic, tax, structural or other objectives or benefits with respect to any initiative or transaction involving Telesat, Telesat Holdco or Loral’s interest therein will be achieved.

 

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.

 

   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 are net of income related to the Consulting Agreement of $1.25 million for each of the three month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 and $3.8 million for each of the nine month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014. For each of the nine month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, Loral received payments in cash from Telesat, net of withholding taxes, of $3.6 million for consulting fees. We had no notes receivable from Telesat as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 related to the Consulting Agreement.

 

The Telesat Indemnification (as defined in Note 5 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. There can be no assurance that there will be no future claims under the Telesat Indemnification related to tax disputes.

 

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.

 

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. 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.

 

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. (“Xplornet”) (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 $0.2 million and $0.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and $0.6 million and $0.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively. We had a receivable from Telesat of $0.2 million and $0.3 million as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively, related to this arrangement. 

 

Other

 

As described in Note 5, 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. The amount due to Loral primarily due to the management agreement as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 was  $6.8 million. 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 nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, and we had a full allowance against these receivables as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014. 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 and reimburses the Company for certain expenses. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, Mr. Targoff earned $360,000 and $1,080,000, respectively, and reimbursed Loral net expenses of $15,750 and $47,250, respectively, and during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, he earned $360,000 and $1,080,000, respectively, and reimbursed Loral net expenses of $51,000 and $153,000, respectively.