News Analysis

by Martin Jarrold

London, UK, Masy 1, 2020--In starting to draft this column it was impossible not to be affected by the news that the official global figure for Covid-19 fatalities was approaching 250,000. The zoonotic – interspecies – jump to humans and subsequent pandemic spread of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has badly impacted many of the world’s most advanced and richest countries, but the epidemiology tells us that the worst of the impact, on the less-developed world, is still to come.

New York City, NY, April 1, 2020-Millions of girls are missing. They are missing from school. They are missing from jobs. They are missing from the leadership of their communities and nations.

Tokyo, Japan, May 1, 2020- Infostellar has raised a total of US$ 3.5 million in convertible bonds with existing investors Airbus Ventures and Sony Innovation Fund, while welcoming new investors Daiwa Energy Infrastructure, Mitsubishi UFJ Capital, and Mitsubishi UFJ Lease & Finance. As a result, the cumulative amount of funds raised now reaches USD 11.5 million.

Long Beach, Calif., May 1, 2020 – Rocket Lab has closed the transaction to acquire Sinclair Interplanetary, a leading provider of high-quality, flight-proven satellite hardware. Rocket Lab initially announced the execution of the agreement to acquire Sinclair Interplanetary on March 16, 2020 pending customary closing conditions and satisfying The Investment Canada Act review process. Terms of the approved deal were not disclosed.

McLean, Va., April 28, 2020--Iridium Communications Inc. (Nasdaq: IRDM)  today reported financial results for the first quarter of 2020 and updated its full-year 2020 outlook. Net loss was $31.7 million, or $0.24 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2020, as compared to net loss of $18.0 million, or $0.18 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2019.

Sydney, Australia,  April 23, 2020-Speedcast International Limited  today announced that it has initiated a voluntary financial restructuring under chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. In conjunction with chapter 11 petitions filed on behalf of Speedcast International Limited and certain of its U.S. and international subsidiaries. Speedcast's chapter 11 case is being heard in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas. 

Tysons Corner, Va., April 15, 2020--Various meida report, among them Bloomberg news is reporting that satellite operator Intelsat SA is seeking backers for a bankruptcy loan that would keep the satellite service in business under Chapter 11 court protection while it’s waiting for billions of dollars in proceeds from a government spectrum auction. 

Westminister, Colo., April 8, 2020- Maxar Technologies today announced it has closed the sale of MDA, previously a wholly owned subsidiary of the company, to a consortium of investors led by Northern Private Capital for CAD$1 billion. Net proceeds, including customary adjustments, and after application of currency hedges related to the transaction is expected to be approximately US$729 million.

by Virgil Labrador

Los Angeles, Calif., April 3, 2020--The global COVID-19 pandemic that is making shockwaves through every industry in the world will have a significant impact on the satellite industry. Even the most optimistic projections indicate that the restrictions on movement, travel and public events will continue to be in place for at least the next two months in most of the world.  With more than half of the world and nearly 90 percent of the US and Europe in lockdown, the very strength and resilience of the industry will  be put to the ultimate test.

The April 2020 issue of  the Satellite Executive Briefing magazine sponsored by The Spaceconnection is now available.  Featuring:

The Satellite Industry in the Time of COVID-19 by Virgil Labrador

A Truncated Satellite 2020 Portends of Turbulent Times for the Satellite Industry by Elisabeth Tweedie

Prospects in the OTT via Satellite Market by Omkar Nikam

Trends in the Satellite Industry: A User's Perspective by Krasimir Terziev

Responding to the COVID-19 Pandemic  by Martin Jarrold

Better Satellite World Series: When Disaster Strikes

Will Connecting with LEO and MEO be a Viable Business?  by Robert Bell

PLUS Mergers and Acquisitions, Executive Moves, Market Briefs, Vital Statistics, Satellite Markets 20 Stock Index and many more. Click here to read or download the file