Key Takeaways
- Satellite communications provider Globalstar (GSAT) is reportedly the target of a potential $9 billion acquisition by Amazon.
- According to Bloomberg, an official announcement could come as soon as Tuesday, April 15.
- Shares of Globalstar jumped approximately 15.7% during premarket trading hours after the news broke.
- The situation is complicated by Apple’s 20% ownership position in Globalstar, stemming from a $1.5 billion 2024 investment.
- Over the trailing twelve months, Globalstar shares have climbed 273%, driven largely by acquisition rumors.
According to a Bloomberg report, Amazon has entered advanced negotiations to acquire satellite communications company Globalstar in a transaction valued at approximately $9 billion. The news triggered a sharp rally in GSAT shares, which climbed roughly 15.7% before Monday’s market open.
Sources close to the discussions told Bloomberg that a formal announcement could arrive as early as this Tuesday.
Should the acquisition materialize, Amazon would gain immediate access to critical satellite infrastructure, significantly advancing its efforts to compete in the low Earth orbit (LEO) broadband market against SpaceX’s Starlink.
Amazon’s Project Kuiper satellite initiative currently maintains approximately 180 satellites orbiting Earth — a fraction of the more than 10,000 satellites deployed by SpaceX. Acquiring Globalstar would provide Amazon with a substantial leap forward in closing this gap.
This latest Bloomberg report builds on earlier reporting from the Financial Times earlier this month, which also indicated that Amazon was moving toward a Globalstar acquisition. The convergence of these reports has strengthened investor conviction that a deal is imminent.
Apple’s Ownership Position Creates Complexity
A significant complicating factor in any potential transaction is Apple’s substantial equity position. The iPhone maker owns approximately 20% of Globalstar following a $1.5 billion capital injection in 2024. This investment was directly linked to Globalstar supplying satellite capabilities for Apple’s iPhone emergency SOS functionality.
To complete an acquisition, Amazon would need to reach an agreement with Apple regarding this ownership stake. This isn’t merely a financial detail — Apple serves as both a critical customer of Globalstar’s satellite services and a major shareholder, positioning the tech giant as a central player in any deal structure.
It remains unclear how Apple will respond to a potential buyout by Amazon, particularly given the competitive overlap between the two companies across multiple consumer technology sectors.
Shares Have Already Surged on Takeover Speculation
Globalstar has been a hot stock well before this latest news cycle. Shares have soared 273% over the past year, propelled mainly by investor speculation that its LEO satellite network would attract acquisition interest.
The company currently commands a market capitalization of approximately $9.41 billion, with typical daily trading volume averaging around 833,000 shares.
Given that the reported deal value sits near $9 billion, market participants are closely monitoring whether Amazon will offer a premium above current trading levels — and what role Apple will ultimately play: cooperative partner, willing seller, or potential obstacle.
Globalstar has posted year-to-date gains of roughly 19.86% entering this week.
During Monday’s premarket session, GSAT shares were trading up about 15.7%.
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