Space Business Review April 2016

A monthly round-up of space industry developments for the information of our clients and friends.

SES TO TAKE CONTROL OF O3b

On April 29, SES S.A. (SES) announced that it agreed to increase its ownership interest in O3b Networks, Ltd. (O3b) from 49.1% to 50.5% at a cost of $20m. The transaction will give SES a controlling stake in O3b and bring to $323m its aggregate equity investment in the company. With 12 HTS satellites providing low latency connectivity services from Medium Earth Orbit (MEO), O3b is expected to generate revenue of more than $100m in 2016. O3b has procured an additional 8 satellites to meet increasing demand, with the first 4 expected to be launched in 2018 and the other 4 expected to follow in 2019. In connection with the transaction, O3b's board agreed to evaluate an IPO process for the remaining 49.5% of O3b shares not held or acquired by SES; unless O3b launches an IPO before, commencing April 29, SES has a call option to acquire all such