SES Reports H1 2026 Results & Reiterates Full-Year Outlook

LUXEMBOURG--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SES S.A. announces financial results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2026.

• Networks revenue up +89.0% yoy⁽¹⁾ supported by growth in Mobility (+169.9% yoy⁽¹⁾; including positive impact from a contract restructuring in Aviation in Q1 26) and Government & Defense (+41.9% yoy⁽¹⁾); Media (+46.5% yoy⁽¹⁾) performance in-line with expectations
• €1.2 billion of new business and contract renewals signed in H1 2026, contributing to €6.4 billion backlog
• 2026 financial outlook⁽²⁾ reiterated: both Revenue and Adjusted EBITDA expected to be stable yoy⁽¹⁾ on a like-for-like and constant FX basis, unchanged CapEx of around €700 million
• O3b mPOWER satellites 11,12 and 13 expected to launch in Q3 2026, boosting mPOWER network capacity and resilience
• IRIS² Rendez-vous 1 negotiations are in their final stages
• SES is progressing well with its satellite manufacturing site, supporting meoSphere, its next generation MEO network targeted for operation by 2030 and designed to significantly boost the company’s next generation MEO network capacity
• FCC’s Upper C-band Report and Order, establishes a time frame to clear 160 MHz of Upper C-band spectrum by 2030/2031 in the contiguous United States while maintaining substantially the same service to our customers
• On June 17, 2026, shareholders at the EGM approved the cancelation of treasury shares resulting in a c.6% reduction of the total shares (economic) to 417 million shares
• SES will host a Capital Markets Day in Luxembourg, on December 9, 2026, with focus on the company’s strategic transformation and growth opportunities supporting mid-term guidance

Adel Al-Saleh, CEO of SES, commented: “SES delivered first half 2026 results according to our expectations. While Q2 performance was softer than expected due to slippage of some contracts, we are where we expected to be at the end of H1. We expect H2 performance to ramp up, and we remain confident in our unchanged financial outlook for 2026. At the same time, we continue to realize cost synergies across the business with a 9% reduction in total OpEx and 16% in Staff costs, while maintaining disciplined execution against our strategic priorities. During H1 2026 we already secured strategic agreements that underpin SES’s mid-term and long-term growth and financial performance.

Networks growth continues to be driven by solid commercial momentum in Mobility and Government & Defense, while Fixed Data is navigating headwinds as expected after decisive restructuring actions. In Aviation, we signed several important agreements and continued to build strong commercial momentum with 200 new aircraft wins in H1 26 and now over 600 tails flying with our multi-orbit Electronically Steered Antena (ESA) solution. We have added Viva México, Avianca and Latam Airlines to our aircraft portfolio, reinforcing our position as a leading inflight connectivity provider, delivering reliable, high-performance connectivity to millions of passengers around the world.

In Government & Defense, demand for secure, resilient and mission-critical communications remains strong. This was demonstrated by the selection of SES Space & Defense to prime mission execution for the U.S. Space Force's Protected Tactical SATCOM-Global (PTSG) program, as well as our award under the U.S. Space Force SSC five-year Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) for managed Ku-band satellite services. These awards underline the trusted role SES plays in supporting the evolving communications requirements of government and defense customers globally.

IRIS² is a strategically important program for SES and a cornerstone of Europe's future secure and sovereign space infrastructure. Rendez-vous 1 negotiations are in their final stages and we are working closely with the members of the SpaceRISE consortium and the European Commission to validate most of the key terms and conditions.

We are also encouraged by the continued progress of our satellite manufacturing development activities in Luxembourg tied to our next-gen MEO, meoSphere program. meoSphere is highly complementary to IRIS², further strengthening our industrial capabilities and positioning SES to play an even greater role across future secure sovereign space programs.

In Media, performance was aligned with our expectations. Satellite remains the most efficient and reliable platform for large-scale content distribution, as demonstrated by the over €400 million of contract renewals secured during H1.The next three O3b mPOWER satellites, 11, 12 and 13 are expected to launch in Q3 2026. These will further enhance network resilience, service quality and boost mPower constellation capacity for our customers in the Networks segments.

We are pleased with the outcome of the FCC’s Upper C-band Report and Order and commend the FCC for the speed, fairness, and diligence of the process. We remain fully committed to working cooperatively with the FCC and all stakeholders as the process progresses. Gross incentive payments to SES for compliance with the transition deadlines total approximately $5.6 billion. The incentive payment and cost reimbursement framework appropriately recognizes the critical role SES will play in repurposing 160 MHz of spectrum for next-generation wireless services, while ensuring that C-band customers continue to receive substantially the same service. Overall, this provides a clear path to future cash generation and de-leveraging, which will further strengthen our financial position and long-term value creation when reinforced by our commitment to disciplined financial allocation.

With enhanced operational and commercial momentum expected in the second half of 2026, continued delivery of synergies, and the strong long-term opportunities represented by IRIS² and Upper C-band programs, we reiterate our 2026 financial outlook and are committed to disciplined financial execution and long-term value creation.”

Financial Outlook

SES reiterates its 2026 financial outlook on a like-for-like (as if Intelsat was consolidated from January 1, 2024) and constant FX basis⁽¹⁾.

On this basis, SES’s 2026 financial outlook expects both Revenue and Adjusted EBITDA to be stable year-on-year.

Capital expenditures (net cash absorbed by investing activities excluding acquisitions and financial investments; including IRIS² and first phase of meoSphere capital expenditures) are expected to be around €700 million⁽²⁾.

SES plans to continue building on its MEO capabilities through meoSphere, the company’s next generation multi mission MEO network supported by New Space innovators, including the K2 Space partnership.

Key business and financial highlights

(Intelsat fully consolidated from 17 July 2025 – as reported; at constant FX unless explained otherwise)

SES regularly uses Alternative Performance Measures (APMs) to present the performance of the group and believes that these APMs are relevant to enhance understanding of the group’s financial performance and financial position.

Networks revenue of €1,018 million (64% of total revenue) increased +89.0% yoy driven by growth in Mobility (+169.9% yoy; including positive impact from a planned contract restructuring in Aviation of €81 million in Q1 2026, €15 million in Q2 2025 and periodic revenue of €19 million recognized in Maritime in Q1 2025), Government & Defense (+41.9% yoy), and Fixed Data (+89.3% yoy).

Media revenue of €571 million (36% of total revenue) was up +46.5% yoy, benefiting from fully consolidating Intelsat from 17 July 2025. Underlying performance reflects capacity optimization in mature markets as well as the impact from the Brazilian customer bankruptcy in Q1 2026.

Adjusted EBITDA of €725 million represented an Adjusted EBITDA margin of 45.2% (H1 2025: 53.3%) including the contribution from the acquisition of Intelsat from 17 July 2025 and a contract restructuring in Mobility in Q1 2026 as well as lower OpEx. These favorable impacts were partly offset by the mix impact of revenue declines from Fixed Data and Media, and the phasing of Government contracts, as well as adverse foreign exchange impacts.

Adjusted EBITDA excludes significant special items of €6 million net income (H1 2025: €10 million net income), comprising fair value movement on contingent value rights of €72 million (H1 2025: nil) and other income (non-recurring) of €22 million (H1 2025: €49 million), partly offset by restructuring charges of €10 million (H1 2025: €6 million), costs associated with the development and/or implementation of merger and acquisition activities (“M&A”) of €11 million (H1 2025: €32 million), non-cash loss from derecognition of assets of €33 million (H1 2025: nil), non-cash impairment losses on financial assets non-recurring of €31 million (H1 2025: nil) and other charges of non-recurring nature of €3 million (H1 2025: €2 million).

Adjusted Net Loss of €89 million (H1 2025: Profit of €77 million) mainly reflects €250 million year-on-year increased depreciation & amortisation driven by the Intelsat acquisition, higher net financing costs of €155 million (H1 2025: €12 million), as well as higher non-operating expenses and non-controlling interest. This is partly offset by higher Adjusted EBITDA and lower net income tax. Net financing costs includes interest expense on external borrowings of €115 million (H1 2025: €41 million) and other net interest expense of €77 million (H1 2025: €12 million), partly offset by interest income of €32 million (H1 2025: €52 million), as well as the impact of net foreign exchange gain of €5 million (H1 2025: loss of €11 million).

Adjusted Net Loss excludes the significant special items highlighted above, as well as non-cash net impairment expense of €106 million (H1 2025: €73 million), M&A-related net financing charges of nil (H1 2025: €23 million) and net tax benefit of €13 million (H1 2025: benefit of €23 million) associated with all the significant special items.

Adjusted Free Cash Flow (excluding significant special items) was an outflow of €130 million, representing a year-on-year decrease of €323 million. This primarily reflected higher capital expenditure and interest payments, as well as an adverse working capital movement driven by timing of collections. Adjusted Net Operating Cash Flow of €522 million excludes €186 million of payments in connection with IRIS² restricted cash and €30 million of payments in respect of other significant special items and represents an increase of €42 million compared to prior period. Payments in respect of other significant special items mainly relate to outflows associated with the development and/or implementation of merger and acquisition activities and restructuring.

At June 30, 2026, the Adjusted Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA ratio (treating 50% of €1.650 billion of hybrid bonds as debt and 50% as equity) was 4.4 times (31 December 2025: 3.9 times). Cash & cash equivalents of €703 million (excluding €215 million of restricted cash with respect to the SES-led consortium’s involvement in IRIS²).

In H1 2026, SES repaid debt maturities of approximately €1,186 million, including its €650 million senior bond and its outstanding €525 million Deeply Subordinated Fixed Rate Resettable Securities.

SES continues to engage with insurers on the insurance claim for O3b mPOWER satellites 1-4. In Q2 2026, the company has collected approximately $15 million (€13 million) through settlements, with additional payments expected as negotiations progress. To date the company has collected a total of $218 million.

On April 2, 2026, shareholders at the AGM approved all company-recommended resolutions. The final FY 2025 dividend of €104 million equal to €0.25 per A-share and €0.10 per B-share was paid to shareholders on 16 April 2026.

On June 17, 2026, shareholders at the EGM approved all company-recommended resolutions, including the cancelation of treasury shares resulting in a c.6% reduction of the total shares (economic) to 417 million shares.

SES restates its commitment to disciplined financial allocation, investment grade metrics and net leverage target of 3.0 times or below. Once the company meets its net leverage target it intends to increase the annual base dividend, and at least a majority of future exceptional cash flows will be prioritized for shareholder returns.

The SES-led SpaceRISE consortium is progressing well through Rendez‑Vous 1 of the IRIS² program. SES is working closely with the European Commission and the European Space Agency to validate most key terms and conditions, including project costs, supply chain arrangements, and technical requirements for the design, delivery, and operation of the innovative MEO-LEO network. SES remains fully committed to the European Union’s vision for a sovereign, secure, and competitive space‑based connectivity infrastructure. As the lead member of the SpaceRise consortium, SES collaborates with all partners to ensure successful delivery of IRIS².

On July 24, 2026, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) published the Upper C-band Report & Order that repurposes 160 MHz of Upper C-band spectrum in the contiguous United States for next-generation terrestrial wireless services. The spectrum will be auctioned by no later than July 2027, and satellite operators will be required to clear the spectrum by December 2030 (for the top 75 partial economic areas) and June 2031 (for the remaining areas). Gross incentive payments of approximately $5.6 billion will be paid to SES if the spectrum is cleared within the specified transition deadlines. The Report and Order also provides a framework for the reimbursement of reasonable and necessary costs associated with the transition of Upper C-band customers to other spectrum in order to provide them with substantially the same service. SES remains fully committed to working cooperatively with the FCC and all stakeholders to complete the Upper C-band transition in time. SES restates its commitment to disciplined financial allocation of future proceeds received under the FCC’s Report and Order.

Operational performance

(Intelsat consolidated from 17 July 2025)

REVENUE BY BUSINESS UNIT

Anticipated future satellite launches

CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT

(Intelsat fully consolidated from 17 July 2025 - as reported)

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

For further information please contact:
Christian Kern
Investor Relations
IR@ses.com

SES Communications
SES.Press@ses.com