SES Secures Acquisition of Intelsat in $2.8bn Deal

Deal News | Jun 12, 2025 | EIN

SES Secures Acquisition of Intelsat in $2.8bn Deal

SES S.A. is set to acquire full ownership of Intelsat Holdings S. r.l. in a transaction valued at 2.8 billion euros, following unconditional approval by the European Commission under the EU Merger Regulation. Both SES and Intelsat, headquartered in Luxembourg, are significant players in the global satellite communications sector, providing geostationary Earth orbit (GEO) satellite networks. The Commission found the acquisition to pose no competition concerns within the European Economic Area (EEA) after thorough assessment of market impacts on one-way and two-way satellite capacity. Despite fears of reduced competition due to the merger, the Commission's approval underscores that viable competition remains from other GEO satellite providers and emerging low Earth orbit operators. SES's acquisition aims to boost service coverage and network resilience in the increasingly competitive satellite market.

Sectors

  • Satellite Communications
  • Telecommunications

Geography

  • European Economic Area – The European Commission's investigation determined the merger poses no competition threat within the EEA.
  • Luxembourg – Both SES and Intelsat are headquartered in Luxembourg, indicating significant business operations in this region.
  • United States – Intelsat's primary operations are based in the United States, influencing the merger's strategic focus.

Industry

  • Satellite Communications – The article discusses the acquisition of Intelsat Holding by SES, both major players in the satellite communications sector, focusing on geostationary satellite operations.
  • Telecommunications – The companies are involved in delivering satellite capacity for various telecommunications needs, including media, aviation, maritime, and governmental sectors.

Financials

  • 2.8 billion euros – The total value of SES's acquisition of Intelsat Holdings S. r.l.

Participants

NameRoleTypeDescription
SES S.A.Acquiring CompanyCompanySES S.A. is a prominent Luxembourg-based company operating in the satellite communications sector.
Intelsat Holdings S. r.l.Target CompanyCompanyIntelsat Holdings S. r.l. is a major player in satellite communications with significant operations out of the United States.
European CommissionRegulatory BodyGovernmentThe European Commission provided unconditional approval for the SES-Intelsat merger, ensuring compliance with EU competition laws.