As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 7, 2003
FORM 6-K
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Report of Foreign Private Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of
The Securities Exchange Act of 1934
New Skies Satellites N.V.
Rooseveltplantsoen 4
2517 KR The Hague
The Netherlands
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports
under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F
Form 20-F...X... Form 40-F......
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Yes...... No...X...
If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in
connection with Rule 12g3-2(b):
..............................N/A................................................
[NEW SKIES SATELLITES LOGO]
New Skies Successfully Completes Share Buy Back Program
THE HAGUE, Netherlands, September 3, 2003 - New Skies Satellites N.V. (AEX,
NYSE: NSK), the global satellite communications company, announced today that it
successfully completed its share repurchase program, acquiring a total of
13,057,024 ordinary shares at a total cost of approximately $54.0 million,
reflecting an average price of $4.14. New Skies will cancel the repurchased
shares currently held as treasury stock.
Approximately 93 percent of the repurchased shares came from New Skies' original
shareholder base, including the stakes of Deutsche Telekom, KDDI Corporation,
SingTel Optus, Singapore Telecom and Teleglobe.
Dan Goldberg, chief executive officer of New Skies, said: "I am very pleased
with the execution and completion of the share repurchase program, an initiative
that underscores our confidence in the strength of our business and our
prospects going forward. In our view, the share buy back benefited shareholders
by accreting value to those who did not elect to sell and, at the same time
providing an exit path to those who did. In addition, I believe we have made
meaningful progress towards addressing concerns that may have existed regarding
share overhang."
Goldman Sachs International and ABN AMRO Rothschild are acting as advisors to
the company, and Goldman Sachs International is acting as the company's agent
for the share repurchase program.
About New Skies Satellites
New Skies Satellites (AEX, NYSE: NSK) is one of only four fixed satellite
communications companies with truly global satellite coverage, offering video,
voice, data and Internet communications services to a range of
telecommunications carriers, broadcasters, large corporations, Internet service
providers and government organizations around the world. New Skies has five
satellites in orbit, ground facilities around the world and one additional
spacecraft under construction. The company also has secured certain rights to
make use of additional orbital positions for future growth. New Skies is
headquartered in The Hague, The Netherlands, and has offices in Beijing, Hong
Kong, Johannesburg, New Delhi, Sao Paulo, Singapore, Sydney and Washington, D.C.
Additional information is available at www.newskies.com.
For more information, please contact:
Boris Djordjevic,
Investor Relations, New Skies Satellites +31 70 306 4183
bdjordjevic@newskies.com
Jeffrey Bothwell,
Corporate Communications, New Skies Satellites +31 70 306 4239
jbothwell@newskies.com
Frank De Maria, Brunswick (New York) +1 212 333 3810
fdemaria@brunswickgroup.com
Pamela Small, Brunswick (London) +44 20 7404 5959
psmall@brunswickgroup.com
Safe Harbor
Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the U.S.
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 provide a "safe harbor" for forward-looking
statements made by an issuer of publicly traded securities and persons acting on
its behalf. New Skies Satellites N.V. has made certain forward-looking
statements in this document in reliance on those safe harbors. A forward-looking
statement concerns the company's or management's intentions or expectations, or
are predictions of future performance. These statements are identified by words
such as "intends", "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "estimates", "may",
"will", "should" and similar expressions. By their nature, forward-looking
statements are not a matter of historical fact and involve risks and
uncertainties that could cause New Skies' actual results to differ materially
from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements for a number
of reasons. Factors which may affect the future performance of New Skies
include: delays or problems in the construction or launch of future satellites;
technical performance of in-orbit satellites and earth-based infrastructure;
increased competition and changes in technology; growth of and access to the
company's target markets; legal and regulatory developments affecting the
company's business; and worldwide business and economic conditions, among other
things. These risks and other risks affecting New Skies' business are described
in the company's periodic filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission, including but not limited to New Skies' Annual Report on Form 20-F
for the year ended December 31, 2001. Copies of these filings may be obtained by
contacting the SEC. New Skies disclaims any obligation to update the
forward-looking statements contained in this document.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
New Skies Satellites N.V.
By: /s/ Andrew Browne
-----------------
Name: Andrew Browne
Title: Chief Financial Officer and Management Board Member
Date: October 7, 2003