SES, Intelsat $3.1B Deal Nears Unconditional EU Approval

The European satellite company SES is poised to receive unconditional antitrust approval from the European Union for its $3.1 billion acquisition of rival Intelsat, following the UK's Competition and Markets Authority's clearance of the deal. This merger aims to create a significant European competitor to Elon Musk's Starlink and Amazon's Project Kuiper by combining SES and Intelsat's satellite fleets, which include over 100 geostationary and 26 medium Earth orbit satellites. The European Commission is expected to issue its decision by June 10, while the U.S. Federal Communications Commission and Department of Justice continue their reviews. SES has opted not to offer concessions during the EU regulatory process, leaving the Commission to decide whether to clear the deal or conduct a more in-depth investigation. The merger aligns with the EU's strategic goal of reducing dependence on U.S. satellite broadband services and enhancing European autonomy in space communications. If approved, the combined company will maintain headquarters in Luxembourg and a significant presence in Washington, D.C., with expectations to finalize the merger in the second half of 2025.