Blackstone, the buy-out firm, has sold New Skies Satellites to SES Global, the world's largest satellite operator, in a deal valuing the company at $1.16bn (€965m). It takes Blackstone's total returns from the operator to $610m, more than three and a half times its investment.

Goldman Sachs was financial adviser to News Skies and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett served as its legal adviser.