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Debt Investors

We focus on maintaining a strong balance sheet, underpinned by a commitment to investment grade credit metrics. In addition to equity, our capital structure comprises senior debt, hybrid bonds, and other instruments.

Key balance sheet metrics

1.1 times Adjusted Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA ratio (1)
~3% Weighted average cost of debt
>6 years Weighted average senior debt maturity
BBB / Baa3 Investment grade credit rating from Fitch & Moody’s

All numbers are on 30 September 2024. 1) Including hybrid bonds (treated as 50% debt and 50% equity)

Credit ratings

SES’ policy is to maintain its investment grade credit rating. Long term and short term debt credit ratings together with last review date are shown below:

Rating Agency Long tern rating Long term outlook Short term rating Date of last review
Fitch BBB Stable F2 1 May 2024
Moody’s Baa3 Stable P-3 7 March 2023

 

Following the announcement of the agreement to acquire Intelsat (30 April 2024), both Fitch and Moody’s have subsequently reaffirmed their existing investment grade rating for SES. 

Senior debt maturity profile

SES senior debt maturity profile on 30 September 2024.

Debt_maturity_profile_September_2024

The above excludes €1,625m of Hybrid bonds (see Hybrid bonds section)

EMTN Programme & Eurobonds

SES has a Euro Medium Term Note Programme (EMTN) which allows for a total debt issuance up to EUR 5.5 billion  and supports SES's access to debt markets as and when required.

Access the EMTN Programme & Eurobonds

Hybrid bonds

In 2016 and 2021, SES has issued deeply subordinated fixed rate resettable securities (so-called “Hybrid bonds”) for a total amount of EUR 1.175 million. The securities rank pari passu amongst themselves. The securities issued by SES are unconditionally and irrevocably guaranteed by SES AMERICOM INC. In January 2024, the €550 million hybrid bond was called and repaid from existing cash resources.

In September 2024 SES has issued additional EUR 1 billion of Hybrid bonds, split in two tranches, under the current EMTN Programme (see EMTN Programme section). The Maturity Date of these Hybrid bonds is set to 30 years, however the first agreed upon First Call Dates are set for 2029 and 2032, respectively.

As per 30 September 2024, the following Hybrid bonds were outstanding:

ISIN Bloomberg Code Issue Date Amount in EUR Coupon Maturity First Call Date
XS2010028343 BP5739076 27 May 2021 625m 2.875% Perpetual May 2026
XS2898762864 YV5348631 12 September 2024 500m 5.50% 12 September 2054 September 2029
XS2899636935 YV5405498 12 September 2024 500m 6.00% 12 September 2054 June 2032

Documents:

Redemption notice

Partnership agreement

Deed of Covenant

Deed of Guarantee

Articles of Incorporation of SES

USD 144a Bonds

SES and SES AMERICOM INC. respectively have issued the following senior unsecured obligations which rank pari passu with all other unsecured senior indebtedness of SES. The notes issued by SES are unconditionally and irrevocably guaranteed by SES AMERICOM INC. and - vice versa - the notes issued by SES AMERICOM INC. are unconditionally and irrevocably guaranteed by SES.

As per 30 September 2024, the following USD Bonds were outstanding:

ISIN Security Code Bloomberg Code (SESGFP) Issue Date Amount in USD Coupon Maturity
USL8175MAC49 EJ6108934 04 Apr 2013 250m 5.300% 04 Apr 2043
US78413KAB89 EK1316604 25 Mar 2014 500m 5.300% 25 Mar 2044

The notes will not be and have not been registered under US Securities Act of 1993 and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements.

Schuldschein

In 2012 and 2018, SES placed in total three individual Schuldschein Loans in the German Bond ("Schuldschein") market for an aggregated amount of EUR 450 million comprising a EUR 150 million floating tranche and two fixed rate tranches with a coupon of 1.71% and 4.00% respectively. On 18 June 2024 EUR 150 million floating tranche has been repaid.

As per 30 September 2024, the following Schuldshein Bonds were outstanding:

  Currency Issue Date Amount in EUR Coupon Maturity
Schuldschein EUR 18 Dec 2018 250m 1.710% 18 Dec 2025
Schuldschein EUR 12 Nov 2012 50m 4.000% 12 Nov 2032
Syndicated Credit Facility

On 26 June 2019, SES renewed its syndicated credit facility of EUR 1.2 billion Revolving Credit Facility with a syndicate of 19 banks.

In 2024 the Company extended the Termination Date from 26 June 2026 to 26 June 2028.

  Currency Signing Date Amount in EUR Interest Rate Maturity
Syndicated Credit Facility EUR 26 June 2019 1,200m EURIBOR+45bps 26 June 2028
European Investment Bank (EIB) Financing Facility EUR 300 million (2029)

On 16 December 2022 SES signed the seven-year contract with EIB which will support the funding of SES’s three fully digital satellites serving Western Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

Commercial Paper Programmes

European Commercial Paper Programme

SES has a European commercial paper programme in place with a total programme size of EUR 1,000 million. This enables short term borrowings of up to 183 days. The borrowing facility is rated by Moody's Investors Service Ltd. and Fitch and is updated periodically.