Satellite communications provider Maritime Telecommunications Networks‘(MTN) plans to expand its reach beyond its core cruise ship business into the oil and gas arena took a step forward this week when it gained a new minority stakeholder with strong ties in the oil and gas sector.

Natural Gas Partners (Irving, Texas), a provider of private equity capital for the oil and gas sector, acquired a stake in MTN from investment firm Falconhead Capital. Falconhead (New York City) led the $30 million acquisition of MTN in a deal that closed earlier this week.