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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ORBCOMM FILES FOR VOLUNTARY CHAPTER 11
PROTECTION AS PART OF BUSINESS RESTRUCTURING
Satellite Network to Remain in Full Operation
Dulles, VA, September 15, 2000 - ORBCOMM Global, L.P. (ORBCOMM) announced today
that it and seven of its subsidiaries have filed a voluntary petition for
Chapter 11 relief in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of
Delaware as part of its efforts to restructure and reorganize its business.
ORBCOMM is committed to maintaining and operating its network of low-Earth orbit
(LEO) satellites and related ground facilities while it restructures its
operations. It is expected that the ORBCOMM network will remain in full
operation for customers and business partners around the world during this
process.
ORBCOMM has retained Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation (DLJ)
to advise the company on various recapitalization alternatives and assist in
discussions with its bondholders. The company has been in discussions with an
informal bondholders committee, representing in excess of 60 percent of the
outstanding principal amount of ORBCOMM's senior notes. ORBCOMM expects to
continue discussions with representatives of the bondholders while ORBCOMM is in
Chapter 11. In addition, Orbital Sciences Corporation (Orbital) has retained
Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. to explore financing alternatives for ORBCOMM.
"Filing for Chapter 11 is a necessary step in our plan to restructure ORBCOMM,
allowing us time to secure the financial resources needed to continue to
effectively serve our global network of customers," said Scott L. Webster,
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ORBCOMM. "I am encouraged by the
continued support and commitment of our key international licensees, value-
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added resellers and subscriber communicator manufacturers who are aware of our
situation and plans."
As major elements of ORBCOMM's restructuring, an affiliate of Teleglobe Inc.
(Teleglobe) has agreed to extend to ORBCOMM a total of $17 million in interim
debt financing as previously announced, $8 million of which has already been
provided through a secured loan. The balance of this financing will provide the
company with short-term liquidity for the next few months and is expected to be
provided as debtor-in-possession financing. ORBCOMM has also implemented a new
business plan that involves reduced operating and capital expenditures and a
simplified distribution strategy that focuses on its top-tier customers in key
vertical markets and the distribution of its services through indirect sales
channels, including its value-added resellers and international licensees.
Finally, ORBCOMM's partners, Teleglobe and Orbital, have indicated that they are
prepared to convert their outstanding debt into equity in ORBCOMM in connection
with the completion of new equity investment.
ORBCOMM expects that this restructuring, coupled with the financial stability it
hopes to achieve during the Chapter 11 process, will enable the company to
address the challenges at hand and emerge from Chapter 11 as quickly as
possible. ORBCOMM believes these measures will put the company in a position to
continue to capitalize on the fast-growing international market for
satellite-based global data communications.
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This release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding
ORBCOMM's expected commercial operations. These forward-looking statements are
based on a number of assumptions and ORBCOMM's actual results and operations may
be materially different from those expressed or implied by such statements. For
a description of factors that may cause ORBCOMM's results to differ materially
from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, please
consult the Securities and Exchange Act filings of ORBCOMM Global, L.P.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
ORBCOMM STANTON CRENSHAW
Michelle Ferris Lisa Greiner
(703) 433-6991 (212) 780-1900, ext. 566
[email protected] [email protected]
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ORBCOMM SERVICES, PLEASE CALL 1-800-ORBCOMM, OR VISIT
THE ORBCOMM WEB SITE AT www.orbcomm.com.
