ITV

Tag: NYSE Euronext Paris

  • SES sees robust first half

    SES sees robust first half

    MUMBAI: SES S.A., a leading worldwide satellite operator (NYSE Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SESG), reports financial results for the six months ended 30 June 2014.

        
    • H1 Revenue of EUR 938.9 million (2013: EUR 910.5 million)

    – An increase of 6.3% over the prior year period at constant exchange rates (“constant FX”)1

     

    • H1 EBITDA of EUR 693.8 million (2013: EUR 662.0 million)

    – An increase of 7.4% at constant FX over the prior year

    – EBITDA margin of 73.9% (2013: 72.7% as reported)

     

    • Operating profit rose to EUR 437.5 million, an increase of 9.4% at constant FX

     

    • H1 Profit of the group increased 8.5% to EUR 290.9 million (2013: EUR 268.0 million)

     

    • Contract backlog of EUR 7.2 billion at end of June 2014

     

    • Closing Net Debt / EBITDA ratio of 2.85 (30 June 2013: 3.07) Karim Michel Sabbagh, President and CEO, commented:

     

    “SES’s continuing successful development  and execution of the 2014 plan has delivered robust first half results that validate our strategy to address target regions and market verticals. Video remains core to our business. Europe and the International segments posted strong growth, while the North American  segment  continued  to be affected  by the U.S. Government  budget  sequester.  The 2014 financial guidance is reiterated.

     

    Three satellites were brought into service in the period, further developing our capabilities in Europe, MENA and Asia-Pacific.  Four more satellites are under construction,  including the newly announced SES-12, a hybrid satellite for the Asia-Pacific region, which will benefit from the dual innovations of an HTS  payload  and  all-electric  propulsion.  These  programmes,  all components  of our  medium  term CapEx  plan,  will  enhance  our  differentiated  positioning  in  the  developing  markets  that  we  are targeting.

     

    On 10 July 2014, O3b Networks, the satellite company building ‘Fibre in the Sky’, in which SES has a significant  interest,  successfully  launched  its  second  group  of  four  satellites.    O3b’s  full  suite  of commercial services will be offered once in-orbit testing is completed.   We look forward to O3b’s successful commercialisation  of its product range with customers across the underserved markets of the world.”

     

    Click here to read the financial highlights

  • SES enables Chinese startimes to expand tv reach in Africa

    SES enables Chinese startimes to expand tv reach in Africa

    MUMBAI: SES (NYSE Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SESG) announced today that StarTimes Communication Network Technology, China’s most influential system integrator, technology provider and network operator, has signed a 10-year contract on SES-5 at 5 degrees East to expand its media footprint in Africa and deliver direct-to-home (DTH) broadcast services across the continent.

    StarTimes, which is the fastest-growing digital TV operator Africa and has over 2.6 million digital terrestrial television (DTT) subscribers, also acquired SES’ 20% shareholding in South African pay-TV operator Top TV.

    The contract will see StarTimes utilise four transponders as of October 2013 and a fifth transponder from February 2014 to grow their DTH subscribers in Africa. The Chinese broadcaster will continue to broadcast TopTV on SES-5 by using three of the newly-contracted SES transponders that were formerly leased by ODM. The other two out of the five SES transponders contracted by StarTimes will be used to complement their DTT offering in remote and non-urban areas and grow their pay-TV business.  

    “The recent success of StarTimes’s strategic investment in ODM will allow us to reach new audiences in South Africa. The partnership with SES enables StarTimes to have a DTH platform in addition to the existing DTT and mobile TV (CMMB) platforms in sub-Saharan Africa. In addition, the high-powered SES-5 at the prime orbital location of 5 degrees East is ideal in overcoming the challenges of terrestrial coverage to reach large audiences. This will allow us to extend our broadcast reach across the continent and ensure excellent service and picture quality for our viewers,” said StarTimes Group Chairman and President Pang Xinxing.

    “We are honoured that StarTimes has chosen to work with us to complement their DTT business across Africa and to deliver more exciting content to Africa’s dynamic markets,” said Ferdinand Kayser, Chief Commercial Officer of SES. “The new partnership with StarTimes will illustrate how the combination of DTH and DTT is a key enabler in Africa’s migration to digital TV and also help set pace in the continent’s digital migration race.”