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Related Party Transactions
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2020
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]  
Related Party Transactions

14. 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.

Various funds affiliated with MHR and Dr. Rachesky held, as of December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, approximately 39.9% of the outstanding voting common stock and 58.4% of the combined outstanding voting and non-voting common stock of Loral.

Transactions with Affiliates

Telesat

Recent Developments

Transaction Agreement. On November 23, 2020, Loral entered into the Transaction Agreement with Telesat, Telesat Partnership, Telesat Corporation, Telesat CanHoldco, Merger Sub, PSP and Red Isle, under which Merger Sub will merge with and into Loral, with Loral surviving the Merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of Telesat Partnership, and Loral stockholders receiving common shares of Telesat Corporation and/or units of Telesat Partnership that will be exchangeable for common shares of Telesat Corporation following the expiration of a six-month lock-up period.

Upon satisfaction of the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Transaction Agreement, the Transaction will result in the current stockholders of Loral, PSP and the other shareholders in Telesat (principally current or former management of Telesat) owning approximately the same percentage of equity in Telesat indirectly through Telesat Corporation and/or Telesat Partnership as they currently hold (indirectly in the case of Loral stockholders and PSP) in Telesat, Telesat Corporation becoming the publicly traded general partner of Telesat Partnership and Telesat Partnership indirectly owning all of the economic interests in Telesat, except to the extent that the other shareholders in Telesat elect to retain their direct interest in Telesat.

The Transaction Agreement provides for certain economic adjustments and contractual protections with respect to Loral’s assets and liabilities other than its indirect interest in Telesat. These include among others:

One Time Payment.  To induce PSP and Red Isle to enter into the Transaction, Loral will pay Red Isle $7 million at Closing.  

Absolute Indemnities.  Loral, Telesat Corporation and Telesat CanHoldco will indemnify PSP for PSP’ pro rata share of costs relating to: (a) certain losses and litigation proceedings related to the Transaction, (b) certain out-of-pocket expenses of Loral after the Closing and (c) certain tax matters.  This indemnification will be (i) independent of the accuracy of the underlying representations and warranties, (ii) in the case of the tax indemnification, subject to a cap of $50 million and (iii) subject to additional, customary limitations.

The Transaction Agreement also provides certain termination rights for both Loral and PSP and further provides that, in certain circumstances, Loral may be required to pay to Red Isle a termination fee of $6,550,000 or $22,910,000, or to pay to PSP a “breach” fee of $40,000,000, in each case as provided in the Transaction Agreement.

In connection with the Transaction, Loral entered into the following agreements with related parties or their subsidiaries:

Subscription Agreement for Series B Preferred Stock.  In connection with the Transaction, Loral issued to Telesat Partnership five shares of Series B Preferred Stock pursuant to the terms of a subscription agreement entered into between Loral and Telesat Partnership. Such shares of Series B Preferred Stock will remain outstanding following the Merger and will give Telesat Partnership the right to vote such shares once there is no Loral common stock outstanding.

Full and Final Release and Amendment of Tolling Agreement.  Loral has asserted certain claims against PSP arising out of PSP’ actions in certain previous transaction processes relating to Telesat. PSP has asserted various counterclaims and Loral, PSP and Telesat have entered into a series of tolling agreements preventing those claims from being terminated due to the passing of the statute of limitations while negotiating the Transaction Agreement. In connection with the signing of the Transaction Agreement, the parties entered into a mutual release that will release those claims on the first to occur of the closing of the Transaction or the termination of the Transaction Agreement due to Loral’s material breach.

Standstill Agreement.  Loral and MHR have entered into a standstill agreement (the “MHR Standstill Agreement”) prohibiting MHR and its affiliates from, subject to the terms thereof, acquiring more than an additional 6% of the outstanding Voting Common Stock prior to the conclusion of the Loral stockholder meeting to be held to approve the Transaction. The MHR Standstill Agreement will terminate immediately upon the first to occur of the conclusion of the Loral stockholder meeting and termination of the Transaction Agreement.

Ownership Interest.As described in Note 5, we own a 62.6% economic interest and a 32.6% voting interest in Telesat and account for our ownership interest under the equity method of accounting.

Shareholders Agreement.  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, PSP and one of its subsidiaries, 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 and its subsidiaries will be conducted and the relationships among the parties thereto and future shareholders of Telesat. 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 or any of its subsidiaries. Additionally, the Shareholders Agreement details the matters requiring the approval of the shareholders of Telesat (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. The Shareholders Agreement also (i) restricts the ability of holders of certain shares of Telesat to transfer such shares unless certain conditions are met or approval of the transfer is granted by the directors of Telesat, (ii) provides for a right of first offer to certain Telesat shareholders if a holder of equity shares of Telesat 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 equity securities.

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 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, including a right to cause Telesat 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, to cause the sale of Telesat 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 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 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. In addition, Michael B. Targoff, Loral’s Vice Chairman, serves on the board of directors of Telesat.

Consulting Services Agreement.  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 which expires on October 31, 2021. 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. Our general and administrative expenses for each of the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, are net of income of $5.0 million related to the Consulting Agreement. Loral received payments in cash from Telesat, net of withholding taxes, of $4.8 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019.

Tax Indemnification.  In connection with the acquisition of our ownership interest in Telesat in 2007, Loral retained the benefit of tax recoveries related to the transferred assets and indemnified Telesat (“Telesat Indemnification”) for certain liabilities, including Loral Skynet’s tax liabilities arising prior to January 1, 2007. The Telesat Indemnification 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 $0.7 million. The Company believes that Loral Skynet’s filing position will ultimately be sustained requiring no payment under the Telesat Indemnification. There can be no assurance that there will be no future claims under the Telesat Indemnification related to tax disputes.

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

Grant Agreements.  Loral, along with Telesat, PSP and 4440480 Canada Inc., an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Loral (the “Special Purchaser”), entered into stock option grant agreements (the “Stock Option Grant Agreements”) and a restricted stock unit grant agreement (the “RSU Grant Agreement,” and, together with the Stock Option Grant Agreements, the “Grant Agreements”) with respect to shares in Telesat with certain executives of Telesat (each, a “Participant” and collectively, the “Participants”). Each of the Participants is or was, at the time, an executive of Telesat.

The Stock Option Grant Agreements document grants to the Participants of Telesat stock options (including tandem SAR rights) 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 should Telesat be prohibited by applicable law or under the terms of any credit agreement applicable to Telesat from purchasing such shares, or otherwise default on such purchase obligation, pursuant to the terms of the Stock Option Grant Agreements; and (x) the obligation of the Special Purchaser to purchase shares upon exercise by Telesat of its call right under Telesat’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 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 to cause the Special Purchaser or Loral to purchase a portion of the shares in Telesat owned by him, or that are issuable to him under Telesat’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.

The RSU Grant Agreement documents a grant to the Participant of restricted stock units with respect to shares in Telesat and provides for certain rights, obligations and restrictions related to such restricted stock units, which include, among other things:  (x) the possible obligation of the Special Purchaser to purchase the shares in the place of Telesat should Telesat be prohibited by applicable law or under the terms of any credit agreement applicable to Telesat from purchasing such shares, or otherwise default on such purchase obligation, pursuant to the terms of the RSU Grant Agreement; and (y) the obligation of the Special Purchaser to purchase shares upon exercise by Telesat of its call right under Telesat's Management Stock Incentive Plan in the event of the termination of the Participant’s employment.

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, with Telesat agreeing to the acquisition of such subsidiary by Telesat from the Special Purchaser for nominal consideration and with the purchase price for the shares being paid by Telesat within ten (10) business days after completion of the winding-up of such subsidiary into Telesat.

Other

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. On July 1, 2020, Loral, XTAR and Hisdesat restructured their relationship (see Note 5). As part of the restructuring, XTAR and Loral terminated the Loral Management Agreement pursuant to which Loral provided 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. As of December 31, 2019, amounts due to Loral, primarily due to the Loral Management Agreement, were $6.7 million, and we had an allowance of $6.6 million against these receivables. On July 2, 2020, Loral received from XTAR $5.9 million in full and final settlement of the past due receivable outstanding of $6.6 million under the Loral Management Agreement. As of December 31, 2020, Loral had a $0.1 million receivable from XTAR.

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. Under the agreement, Mr. Targoff receives consulting fees of $120,000 per month and reimburses the Company for certain expenses. For each of the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, Mr. Targoff earned $1,440,000 in consulting fees and reimbursed Loral net expenses of $45,000.