The French telecommunications group ALCATEL is to take over full control of ALCATEL SPACE by buying, for the sum of EUR 795 million, the 48.8% of the capital hitherto held by THALES. The group will pay EUR 795 million to THALES, half in cash and half in shares. Formed in 1998 when the space activities of AEROSPATIALE, ALCATEL and THALES were grouped, ALCATEL SPACE made a turnover of EUR 1.3 billion in 2000.