Beijing Xinwei buys Spacecom for $285m
August 24, 2016
By Chris Forrester
A Luxembourg-based offshoot of Beijing-based Xinwei Group has bought Spacecom of Israel (Space Communications), operators of the AMOS fleet of satellites of $285 million (€252.7m), an impressive premium of 41 percent on the stock market valuation.
In a somewhat complicated three-way transaction Spacecom will ‘merge’ with Luxembourg Space Telecommunications (itself a subsidiary of Beijing Xinwei Technology Group). Luxembourg Space Telecommunication shall acquire, by way of triangle reverse merger, the full share capital of the Company.
The transaction shall be performed through the Israeli company Big Bird Ltd. – fully owned by the Xinwei group – headed by Major General (Res.) Ami Shafran. Upon the completion of the merger, the Company shall become a private company fully owned by Beijing Xinwei Technology Group. The debentures issued by the Company shall continue to be traded at the Stock Exchange, therefore the Company shall continue to be regarded as a “Reporting Entity”.
A company statement said: “The completion of the merger is subject to conditions precedents set forth in the merger agreement, including, inter alia: the approval of the Merger by the Company’s shareholders general meeting; the receipt of all the required regulatory approvals; the avoidance of specific unfavorable material changes in the business of the Company; the launch of the satellite Amos 6 and the completion of its in-orbit tests.”
David Pollack, Spacecom’s CEO, said: “The global market of communication satellites is undergoing a consolidation process, enabling the merging companies to improve their competitiveness. Further to contacts with various entities, the negotiations with the Beijing Xinwei Group matured into this transaction, reflecting a substantial premium on the market price. Beijing Xinwei is a strategic partner, expert in the field of telecommunication, planning to expand its business in the communication satellites field. The merger will provide the Company with financial strength, and will enable further development and growth. The transaction is performed in accordance with Space Communication’s license terms, stipulating, inter alia, that the satellites will be operated from Israel, and that the Company shall remain an Israeli company, regardless of the identity of the shareholders of the Company.”