SES Global completed its $1.2 billion acquisition of New Skies Satellites, SES announced March 30. With the addition of the New Skies fleet, SES and its affiliates will operate 43 spacecraft at 32 orbital locations.

“With the 100 percent acquisition of New Skies Satellites and its strategic assets, SES Global firmly establishes the group’s third satellite infrastructure pillar in markets where the group had limited or no presence, alongside SES Astra in Europe and SES Americom in North America,” Romain Bausch, president and CEO of SES Global, said in a statement. “The acquisition will be accretive to earnings in 2006 and we will now focus on delivering maximum shareholder value from this acquisition and its integration into the group.”

Holders of New Skies stock at the close of trading March 29 will receive $22.52 per share, and trading in New Skies shares on the New York Stock Exchange has ended.