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Eutelsat Secures €975 Million French-Backed ECA Loan for OneWeb Fleet Renewal

The state-guaranteed financing locks in resources for a three-year replacement program using new Airbus-built LEO satellites from Toulouse.

Overview

  • Eutelsat signed a €975 million export credit agency package guaranteed by Bpifrance Assurance Export to fund 440 replacement satellites for the OneWeb constellation.
  • Disbursement is conditional, including a required bond issuance by Eutelsat Communications, and the loan will rank equally with the company’s other debt.
  • Airbus Defence and Space will build the spacecraft in Toulouse, with deliveries scheduled to begin at the end of 2026.
  • Following roughly €1.5 billion raised from shareholders last year, the company says this package secures the estimated €2.2 billion needed to replenish OneWeb over the next three years.
  • Société Générale served as sole global coordinator and bookrunner, joined by Commerzbank, Crédit Agricole CIB (facility agent), ING, and Helaba, with Rothschild & Cie and Latham & Watkins advising.