Americas Markets - Latest Developments


Englewood, Colo., January 6, 2014

EchoStar Corp. announced today that it has acquired 100% ownership of Solaris Mobile Ltd, a next-generation mobile satellite services (MSS) operator based in Dublin, Ireland and one of the European Union licensees of mobile satellite service with a complementary ground component (S band). 

Englewood, Colo., January 3, 2014

Liberty Media Corporation  announced today that it has made a proposal to Sirius XM Holdings Inc. that outlines the terms by which Sirius public shareholders would become shareholders of Liberty in a tax-free transaction in which each share of Sirius common stock would be converted into 0.0760 of a new share of Liberty Series C common stock, and, immediately prior to such conversion, Liberty intends to distribute, on a 2:1 basis, shares of Liberty's Series C common stock to all holders of record of Liberty's Series A and B common stock to create a liquid trading market for Liberty's Series

London, UK, January 3, 2014

Inmarsat today confirmed that it had completed regulatory and other approvals in relation to its US$ 45 million purchase of Globe Wireless, the Florida-basedprovider of value-added maritime communications services to the shipping market.  As a consequence, Inmarsat has now completed its acquisition of Globe Wireless.

Inmarsat’s acquisition includes the business and substantially all of the assets of Globe Wireless. In the twelve months ended June 30, 2103, Globe Wireless generated revenues of US$91 million and currently has an installed customer base of over 6,000 ships.

Paris, France, January 2, 2014

Eutelsat Communications today announced the closure of the transaction to acquire 100% of the share capital of Satélites Mexicanos, S.A. de C.V. (Satmex) having obtained all required government and regulatory approvals. As previously oreported, the transaction amounts to US$ 831 million.

The financing requirements in connection with the acquisition are covered following the issuance on December 13, 2013 of 6-year senior unsecured bonds for a total of €930 million which were secured at attractive terms.

London, UK, Dec. 24, 2013

Reportbuyer.com just published a new market research report entitled "Online TV & Video Forecasts" which predicts global online TV and video revenues (over fixed broadband networks) will reach US in 2018, a massive increase from the US$ 3.98 billion recorded in 2010 and the $15.94 billion expected in 2013, according to the Online TV and Video Forecasts report from Digital TV Research.

By 2018, 520 million homes in 40 countries will watch online television and video (both paid-for and ad-supported), up from 182 million in 2010.

Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Dec. 23, 2013

Rockwell Collins, Inc. today announced it has successfully completed the acquisition of ARINC Incorporated from The Carlyle Group for US$1.4 billion.

"With this move we take a major leap forward to realizing our vision of providing a richer set of seamless information management solutions that encompass the aircraft and ground-based systems," said Kelly Ortberg, CEO and president of Rockwell Collins. "The acquisition represents an exciting new growth platform for Rockwell Collins and shifts the balance of the company toward the expanding commercial aviation sector."

Campbell, Calif. , December 20, 2013

Market research firm Infonetics Research released excerpts from its Broadcast and Streaming Video Equipment and Pay TV Subscribers report, which tracks pay-TV subscribers and video equipment sold to telco IPTV, cable, and satellite TV providers.

McLean, VA, December 20, 2013

Aireon LLC, the developer of the world's first satellite-based global air traffic surveillance system, has entered into binding agreements with three new investors and major Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs): ENAV (Italy), the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA), and Naviair (Denmark) for US$120 million in new equity into Aireon.

London, UK, December 19, 2013

Astrium and Inmarsat have reached a strategic distribution partnership agreement which will see Global Xpress services made available to Astrium Services’s large partner and customer base. Astrium Services will deliver Global Xpress high-speed broadband services through its worldwide distribution channels. The strategic agreement will cover key vertical markets, including the maritime as well as the government and defence sector, initially in Europe.

London, UK, December 18, 2013

Inmarsat today announces the acquisition of the business and substantially all of the assets of Globe Wireless LLC  Headquartered in Palm Bay, Florida, Globe Wireless is a  provider of value-added maritime communications services to the shipping market.