Intelsat Acquisition by SES Gets EU Green Light

Deal News | Jun 11, 2025 | EIN

The European Commission has given unconditional approval to SES's acquisition of Intelsat, affirming no competition concerns arise from this merger within the European Economic Area (EEA). Both companies, headquartered in Luxembourg, are prominent satellite network operators with global geostationary Earth orbit (GEO) satellites. The merger investigation concluded that sufficient competition and pressure from existing market players and terrestrial alternatives would persist post-acquisition, thus not hindering market competition. The deal is expected to enhance satellite service coverage and competitiveness against emerging low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite operators. With this authorization, the transaction proceeds unimpeded, marking a significant development in the satellite communication sector.

Sectors

Satellite Communications
Telecommunications

Geography

European Economic Area (EEA) – The merger was assessed under the EU Merger Regulation, focusing on the market impact within the EEA where both SES and Intelsat are active.
Luxembourg – Both SES and Intelsat have their headquarters in Luxembourg, making it a significant geographic location for this transaction.
United States – Intelsat has its administrative headquarters in the United States, indicating its significant market presence and operational base.

Industry

Satellite Communications – Both SES and Intelsat operate in the satellite communications sector, providing satellite capacity and services essential for broadcasting, aviation, maritime, and governmental communications.
Telecommunications – The sector encompasses SES and Intelsat's operations, including providing satellite services that supplement terrestrial telecommunications infrastructure, such as fiber optics.

Financials

Not specified – The financial terms of the proposed acquisition were not disclosed in the article.

Participants

Name	Role	Type	Description
SES S.A.	Bidding Company	Company	A Luxembourg-based global satellite network operator with GEO and MEO satellites.
Intelsat Holdings S. r.l.	Target Company	Company	A Luxembourg-headquartered company focusing on GEO satellite operations, with major activities in the United States.
European Commission	Regulatory Authority	Government	The regulatory body responsible for assessing and approving mergers under the EU Merger Regulation.