Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : Loral Space & Communications -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Valueman who wrote (5208)	1/28/1999 11:45:00 AM
From: djane	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 10852

briefing.com. Loral Space & Communications (LOR) 21 1/16 -1/8: satellite manufacturer and satellite-based services provider is delaying for 30 days or less the launch of Loral Skynet's Telstar 6 satellite scheduled for January 30 due to a problem with the digital computer on the fourth stage of the Proton launch vehicle; see press release..... 09:30 -- 10:00 ET (Updated throughout the hour)******

To: Valueman who wrote (5208)	1/28/1999 6:10:00 PM
From: Valueman	Respond to of 10852

Things to look for in the near future: ---like a slacker teenager, we would like to see Orion fulfill its potential. The $20-21 million per quarter is just not cutting it. The outlook brightens at $25 million+. Much has changed at Orion, much more needs to change--let's see if it is hitting the bottom line. ---BS promised a certain EBITDA number for the fourth quarter that was, in my view, based on optimistic assumptions. Let's see if he comes through. Creative accounting anyone? SS/L will need a bangup fourth quarter to get him there. Don't know what effect PAS-8 will have on revenues. It looks like SPOT will file for a full $213 million insurance claim(total loss). ---Skynet needs to remain the star in the pack of divisions. Since we have hit essentially fully booked, the only thing we can hope for is a rise in rates. Compare Q3 to Q4--spot rates have risen, but that may not get down to Skynet's bottom line unless new contracts were signed. We can also get higher revenues from the more efficient management and sale of transponder time--a few MHz here, a few there at higher rates adds to the bottom line. Cut them up into pieces and sell 'em and revenues per transponder rise. So look for a sequential gain in revs and EBITDA from Skynet--10% is just fine. ---I am afraid C* will not be much help in the $ department, other than as a vacuum. I'd like to hear what is happening there, and what the future(or lack thereof) holds. Surprise me with significant revenues and I'd be happy. ---SatMex--would like to see SatMex continue those juicy 85% EBITDA margins. Would be nice to get things booked up quickly there. They are chasing some large contracts along with SPOT and Nahuelsat--let's hope they land a few. ---Telstar 6--How fast and at what rate this sat fills will be a good measure of US demand, which is thought to be quite high with resultant decent lease rates. A high power bird with an excellent orbital slot and virgin lease contracts should get the max revenue per transponder. If they could average $1.8 million per transponder by end 99, life would be good. Any sooner and life is very good. There are contracts out there that could conceivably book them up straight away--keep your eyes open! ---SS/L--what more can they do? I think they are pretty booked up. Don't want to see sats sitting out in the yard like an old boat. Floor is full now, but it wouldn't hurt to see a few wins for the 2000 and beyond timeframe. Skybridge contract kicks in soon. Plenty of companies out there looking for bids on sat contracts. Win a few and SS/L remains an asset for years to come. ---ACQUISITIONS--it is time. There is ripe fruit to be had out there. The Loral coffers slosh with $900 million in ammo. The TSA is done. No time like the present boys. Asia is in shambles--APT can be had for less than the cost of Apstar IIR, plus you get two Hughes tin cans thrown in to boot. Optus is on the sale block, as is interest in Shinewatra(Thaicom). Actually, I think a guy can pick up the leftovers of a Thaicom bird that was cancelled from one of the European manufacturers(hmmm....Valueman*Star...I like the sound of that). They have a foot in the door at Mabuhay via ownership of 16 Ku-band transponders on Agila II. Palapa is Indonesian owned--what more can I say? One of their Hughes-built birds is set to perish with the next eclipse. Sad state there. Some of the other small constellations around the world need not be independent and fighting against the "big boys"--Nahuelsat, Hispasat, New Skies. Consolidate away Mr. Schwartz--there is no better time than the present.