This completed the two share buy-back and cancellation programmes authorised by shareholders at the EGM of 14 December 2006 and the annual general meeting (AGM) of 3 April 2008.

Within these share buyback programmes, the company acquired the 33,895,710 of its own shares for EUR 433,687,363.54. Following the share buyback programmes, the number of issued A-shares is 332,985,130 and the number of issued B-shares is 166,492,565.

In terms of economic shares, the cancellation represents 27,116,568 shares, (or 6.3 percent of the existing economic shares) bringing the new number of economic shares to 399,582,156.

Shareholders of SES also authorised a new share buy-back programme up to the legal maximum of 10% of the issued share capital. The resolution allows the programme to run until December 2009.

The company will implement the share buy-back programme within a price range of EUR 12.00 to EUR 22.00 per FDR or A-share, in compliance with the conditions set forth in the General Regulations (Règlement General) of the French financial market authority (Autorite des Marches Financiers).

Commented Rene Steichen, Chairman of the Board of Directors: "SES has now bought back and cancelled 32% of its issued shares since the share buyback programmes started in 2005, thereby creating considerable added value for its shareholders. While maintaining our focus on investing in future growth, this new share buyback programme will enable us to continue our policy of returning value to shareholders through share buybacks and our longstanding progressive dividend policy."

Related Links
the missing link The latest information about the Commercial Satellite Industry