spacetoday.net: Eutelsat to acquire Satmex

Posted: Thu, Aug 1, 2013, 7:06 AM ET (1106 GMT)
One of the "big four" operators of commercial communications satellites announced Wednesday that it is acquiring a Mexican satellite operator in a deal valued at over $1.1 billion. Eutelsat said it would acquire 100 percent of Mexican operator Satmex for $831 million in cash, plus $311 million in Satmex debt. Eutelsat said the acquisition, coupled with the recent order of a new Eutelsat satellite, will allow the Paris-based operator to have a greater presence in Latin America. Satmex currently operates three satellites, including one, Satmex 8, launched earlier this year. It has two all-electric Boeing 702SP satellites on order that are scheduled to enter service in 2015 and 2016.