[Satellite Today – 1-31-08] SES, through SES Astra, has increased its stake in SES Sirius, the operator said Jan. 31. SES announced under an agreement with Swedish Space Corp. (SSC), it has exercised an option to transfer to SES Astra an additional 15 percent equity stake in SES Sirius. The transaction increases SES’existing shareholding interest in SES Sirius from 75 to 90 percent.         SES did not disclose the financial terms of the deal.SES has been a shareholder in SES Sirius for more than seven years now.
    In addition to retaining a 10 percent interest in the SIRIUS satellites, SSC will continue to provide network operations, satellite control, telemetry, and tracking and control (TT&C) service to the SES Sirius satellites.
    The news of SES increasing its stake in SES Sirius comes one day after SES Sirius announced that its recently launched Sirius 4 satellite is now in operation and has taken over all transmissions from Sirius 2 and Sirius 3. The Sirius 4 satellite has now been installed at its final position, 4.8° East. The satellite has a lifetime of 15 years and was built by Lockheed Martin.