Inmarsat Enters "Exclusive Talks" with UK Equity Group.

Inmarsat Ltd has announced that British private equity group Apax Partners Worldwide LLP, and Permira Advisers Ltd have been granted preferred bidder status, raising the possibility that the London, UK-based global mobile satellite communications provider may soon be sold.

Apax and Permira have tabled a bid of $14.25 per share, which values Inmarsat's equity at $1.42bn. In addition, the consortium intends to invest an extra $400m cash to compete Inmarsat's broadband satellite investment program. The two firms are expected to submit an offer by the end of a 15-day exclusivity period that starts this week. The two equity firms need at least 75% of Inmarsat's shareholders to accept their offer so they can raise debt to finance the deal.

If the offer succeeds, it will be a blow for a rival joint approach from Soros Private Equity Partners and Apollo Management. The Apollo/Soros consortium's bid is reported to have been $14.30 a share. This consortium is now thought to be considering improving their offer.

If a deal is agreed with Apax and Permira, it will allow Inmarsat's 86 shareholders to finally to exit their investment. The largest shareholders are Telenor with a 14.7% stake, and Lockheed Martin with a 14% stake. Other shareholders include BT, Deutsche Telekom, France Telecom, and Japan's KDDI. The shareholders are known to be keen for a sale to help pay off their own debt burdens.

About a year ago, Inmarsat started looking for a buyer after five attempts to float the company failed due to the torrid state of the investment market and analyst concerns regarding its long-term plans to invest in satellite broadband.

Inmarsat is profitable, and last year generated revenues of $463m. It was originally set up in in 1979 as a non-profit organization to provide satellite communication services to the maritime industry.

Its satellite network provides links for phone, fax and data communications with speeds of 64Kbps to 270,000 active terminals (ships, road vehicles, aircraft and other mobile terminals). In November last year, it launched the Regional Broadband Global Area Network (B-GAN) service that offers speed of 144Kbps.

At the moment, nine Inmarsat satellites are operational in an orbit of 36,000km. Inmarsat claims it has the world's entire surface covered, bar the two polar regions. The company controls its network from its Satellite Control Center (SCC) in London, which is supplied with data from its four tracking, telemetry and control (TT&C) stations in Italy, China, and Canada.

The company is now building its fourth generation of satellites to support the growing demand from corporate mobile satellite users for high-speed internet access and multimedia connectivity. Three new satellites are being built, the first of which should be launched towards the end of next year. The new satellites will support B-GAN, and will deliver video conferencing, fax, email services, with LAN speeds of up to 432Kbps.