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30.01.2024
Eutelsat Bond Yield Surges on OneWeb Delay Impact
Eutelsat Bond Yield Surges on OneWeb Delay Impact
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Eutelsat's bond yield surged as the company revised its outlook due to OneWeb's network deployment delays, impacting revenue and prompting a 15% stock drop, leading to adjusted forecasts and a suspension of future predictions.

The ETLFP 2.000 02-OCT-2025 EUR bond (FR0013369493) has witnessed a substantial spike in its yield, climbing by 172 basis points to 6.7% over the week.

Yield curve illustration showing the performance of the ETLFP bond (FR0013369493), with a 2.000% coupon, due on October 2, 2025, in Euros.

The sudden increase in yield is closely tied to Eutelsat Group's downward revision of its annual outlook due to delays in the deployment of OneWeb's network, a venture formed by the merger of Eutelsat with Britain's OneWeb. Eutelsat cited setbacks in OneWeb's low earth orbit (LEO) activities, particularly concerning delays in the ground network deployment.

Eutelsat highlighted that the sluggish progress in OneWeb's network rollout directly impacts revenue streams, as a larger portion of sales is expected to derive from user terminals rather than initially anticipated. Despite progress in the ground network deployment, which stands at a commendable 90% completion rate as of February 2024, it falls short of meeting the group's immediate objectives.

Analysts pointed out that while the OneWeb network appears operationally sound, the issue lies in the delay in ramping up contracts, particularly in fulfilling mobility take or pay contracts, which heavily rely on the network's global coverage.

Eutelsat Group's shares plummeted approximately 15% following the announcement, marking their most substantial daily decline since November 2022. The company has adjusted its revenue forecast for the fiscal year ending June 30 to a range between 1.25 and 1.30 billion euros, down from the previous estimate of 1.35 to 1.42 billion euros. Similarly, adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) are now estimated between €650 million to €680 million, down from the initial range of €725 million to €825 million. Additionally, Eutelsat Group has suspended its forecast for the subsequent fiscal year, signaling ongoing uncertainty in the wake of OneWeb's delays.

The company's senior unsecured debt is rated 'BB' by Fitch, 'BB-' by S&P, and 'Ba2' by Moody's.

As of the conclusion of fiscal year 2023, Fitch's assessment indicates that Eutelsat's consolidated leverage has risen marginally above 4x subsequent to the merger, with anticipated stabilization below this threshold throughout the fiscal years 2024-2026.

About Eutelsat

Eutelsat Communications SA provides satellite-based telecommunication solutions to a wide range of clients, including content and media providers from both the private and public sectors, such as government agencies, data science firms, and markets for fixed and global mobile broadband. Established in 1977, the company is based in Issy-les-Moulineaux, France. Eutelsat has a market capitalization of €1.95 billion as of January 26, 2024.

This article does not constitute investment advice or personal recommendation. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Bondfish does not recommend using the data and information provided as the only basis for making any investment decision. You should not make any investment decisions without first conducting your own research and considering your own financial situation.