Globalstar (GSAT) Stock Pops 16% As Amazon Eyes $9B Satellite Takeover

TLDR

• Amazon is in advanced talks to acquire satellite operator Globalstar (GSAT) in a deal worth roughly $9 billion.
• A Bloomberg report says a transaction could be announced as early as Tuesday, April 15.
• Globalstar stock surged around 15.7% in premarket trading following the news.
• Apple holds a 20% stake in Globalstar — worth a $1.5 billion investment in 2024 — which adds complexity to any deal.
• Globalstar stock is up 273% over the past 12 months, fueled by ongoing takeover speculation.

Amazon is deep in talks to buy satellite operator Globalstar, according to Bloomberg, with a deal potentially worth around $9 billion. The report sent GSAT stock up roughly 15.7% in premarket trading on Monday.

A transaction could be announced as soon as Tuesday, Bloomberg said, citing people familiar with the matter.

The deal, if completed, would give Amazon a major shortcut in its push to build out a low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite internet network — and a direct rival to SpaceX’s Starlink.

Globalstar, Inc., GSAT

Amazon has been building its own satellite effort, branded Project Kuiper. But it currently has about 180 satellites in orbit, compared to the more than 10,000 operated by SpaceX. Buying Globalstar would dramatically accelerate that effort.

The Bloomberg report follows an earlier story from the Financial Times this month, which said Amazon was nearing a deal for Globalstar. The two reports together have given investors growing confidence that something is close.

Apple’s Stake Complicates the Picture

One major wrinkle: Apple holds a roughly 20% stake in Globalstar, the result of a $1.5 billion investment made in 2024. That stake was tied to Globalstar providing satellite connectivity for iPhone’s emergency SOS feature.

For any deal to close, Amazon would need to negotiate directly with Apple over that stake. That’s not a small conversation. Apple is both a massive customer of Globalstar’s services and a significant equity holder, which makes its position in any transaction pivotal.

There’s no word yet on how Apple would respond to a buyout by Amazon, a company it competes with across several product lines.

A Stock That’s Already Had a Big Run

GSAT hasn’t exactly been flying under the radar. The stock is up 273% over the past 12 months, largely on speculation that its LEO satellite infrastructure made it an attractive acquisition target.

The company currently carries a market cap of around $9.41 billion, with average daily trading volume of around 833,000 units.

With the deal potentially priced at around $9 billion, investors are watching closely to see whether Amazon will pay a premium above where the stock currently trades — and whether Apple will be a partner, a seller, or a complication.

Globalstar’s year-to-date performance sits at roughly 19.86% heading into this week.

As of Monday morning premarket, GSAT was trading up approximately 15.7%.

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