Mourant Ozannes is advising both OneWeb and Softbank (on two sides of an ethical wall) on the proposed multijurisdictional merger between OneWeb and Intelsat, and the connected $1.7bn capital injection by Softbank into the combined group.
OneWeb is a US-based satellite company that will provide a global internet broadband service. Intelsat originated as an intergovernmental consortium owning and managing communications satellites, and is now based in Luxembourg with a listing on the New York Stock Exchange.
Softbank, the global technology group headquartered and traded in Tokyo, is an existing investor in OneWeb, and closely involved in the proposed transaction. Following the merger and its $1.7bn investment, Softbank will be a major stakeholder in the combined group.
OneWeb has a Jersey topco, WorldVu Satellites, and Mourant Ozannes has acted as Jersey counsel for OneWeb since its launch in 2014. Since then, the law firm has assisted the group with a number of transactions.
The Mourant Ozannes team acting for OneWeb is led by Partner Mark Chambers and Senior Associate Andrew Salisbury, working with US Counsel for OneWeb, Choate Hall & Stewart.
Mourant Ozannes is also providing Jersey law advice to Softbank and OneWeb on the deal. The team acting for Softbank is lead by Partner Gareth Rigby and Senior Associate Amy Demetriou, working with US Counsel Morrison & Foerster and Luxembourg Counsel Arendt & Medernach.