News Analysis

Baikonur, Kazakhstan, February 15, 2014 – International Launch Services (ILS) successfully launched the TURKSAT-4A satellite into orbit today on an ILS Proton vehicle. The satellite was built by Mitsubishi Electric Corporation for TURKSAT Satellite Communication, Cable TV and Operation Inc. Co. (TURKSAT A.S.). This was the first ILS Proton launch for both the satellite operator and the manufacturer; it was also the first Proton launch of the year.

Paris, France, February 14, 2014--Eutelsat anounced financial results for half year ending December 31, 2013, reporting revenue growth of 2.2%, and 3.1% at constant currency and excluding non-recurring revenues in line with full-year objectives. EBITDA was  €501 million (approximately US$ 676.83 million). The EBITDA margin was 77.4%.

Dulles, VA, February 13, 2014— Orbital Sciences Corporation  today reported its fourth quarter and full year 2013 financial results.  Fourth quarter 2013 revenues were US$ 375.4 million, a new quarterly record for the company, compared to US$ 354.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2012.  Fourth quarter 2013 operating income was US$ 30.5 million, or 8.1% operating margin, compared to US$ 31.3 million, or 8.8% operating margin, in the fourth quarter of 2012.

Carlsbad, Calif., February 12, 2014-- ViaSat Inc.announced financial results for the third quarter of fiscal year 2014. Revenues increased 16% to US$ 332.6 million compared to the same period last year, and Adjusted EBITDA hit record levels, growing 17% year-over-year to US$ 56.7 million for the third quarter of fiscal year 2014.

Ottawa, Canada, Feb. 7, 2014--Canadian Industry Minister James Moore unveiled a new plan to develop the country's space industry, in a bid to safeguard Canada's "sovereignty, security and prosperity." Moore said Canada's Space Policy Framework will serve as a guideline for the country's strategic space activities, and ensure the commercial competitiveness of the Canadian space industry in the future.

St. Louis, MO, February 6, 2014-- Belden has submitted a binding offer to purchase privately held Grass Valley, a leader within the broadcast market, for US$ 220 million. The binding offer is subject to consultation with Grass Valley’s foreign labor works council. Grass Valley provides innovative technologies including production switchers, cameras, servers, and editing solutions within the mission critical applications of broadcast customers.

Stockholm, Sweden, February 6, 2014--Ericsson today announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire Massachusetts-based Azuki Systems, Inc., a provider of TV Anywhere delivery platforms for service providers, content owners and broadcasters.

Atlanta, GA, February 5, 2014--Wegener today announced that it will be acquired by Novra Technologies in an all stock transaction. This transaction is subject to Novra's due diligence, the approval of Wegener Corporation shareholders, and other terms and conditions. Wegener Corporation previously announced that the Board of Directors had unanimously approved a Term Sheet for the acquisition. Novra Technologies, Inc. will also acquire privately held Westport Research Associates, Inc. of Raytown, MO.

London, UK, February 4, 2014--Inmarsat today announced that Inmarsat-5 F1, the first in its fleet of three Global Xpress (GX) satellites, has successfully completed its orbital deployment stages on schedule.  Inmarsat and Boeing engineers, working from Inmarsat’s GX teleport in Nemea, Greece, are now beginning a month of comprehensive payload testing, in preparation for commencing live end-to-end testing of the high-speed, mobile broadband GX connectivity services, scheduled to start in March.

Houston, Tex., February 3, 2014--RigNet has completed a strategic transaction with Inmarsat involving the sale of substantially all of Inmarsat's Energy Broadband business to RigNet and the appointment of RigNet as a Value Added Reseller of Inmarsat's Global Xpress (GX) service and as a Distribution Partner for Inmarsat's L-band services to the energy sector worldwide.RigNet has acquired Inmarsat's Energy Broadband business for US$25 million in cash.