Inmarsat is considering the cash offer, which also includes Apax Partners and Warburg Pincus. The group offered US$7.21 per share, a premium on Tuesday’s close of US$7.05. U.K.-based Inmarsat’s stock fell on the deal, hitting US$6.55 by Wednesday close. (Reuters)

Talking point: Inmarsat mostly focused on communication services for shipping, although it’s been expanding to in-flight broadband services for commercial aircraft in recent years. That’s another significant growth opportunity for the company, particularly as business travellers increasingly come to expect internet access as they fly. The CPPIB-backed consortium faces one major hurdle in closing the deal: Inmarsat rebuffed a US$3.25-billion offer from another group eight months ago, so the satellite-maker is likely looking to start a bidding war.