Ergen Family Transfers $483M in Class B Stock to New Estate Planning Trust with Control Conditions
SATS has more than doubled off its 52-week low of $23.97.
Summary
Charles W. Ergen transferred 4.3 million Class B shares, worth $483 million, to a new estate planning trust managed by Cantey M. Ergen, maintaining the family's controlling stake.
Key Events · Ownership and Investor Activity · SATS
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Significant Stock Transfer
Charles W. Ergen transferred 4.3 million shares of Class B Common Stock to the newly formed Ergen Two-Year June 2026 SATS GRAT.
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Value of Transfer
The transferred shares are valued at approximately $483 million based on the current Class A stock price.
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Estate Planning
The transfer was made for estate planning purposes, with Cantey M. Ergen appointed as the trustee, holding sole voting and dispositive power over these shares.
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Control Maintained
The Ergen family continues to hold a controlling stake in EchoStar, with Charles W. Ergen reporting 51.0% and Cantey M. Ergen reporting 50.7% beneficial ownership of Class A Common Stock.
Analysis · SATS · Technology
Charles W. Ergen transferred 4.3 million shares of Class B Common Stock, valued at approximately $483 million, to a newly established Grantor Retained Annuity Trust (GRAT) for estate planning. This move shifts a significant portion of the controlling family's equity within their managed entities, with Cantey M. Ergen serving as trustee. The GRAT agreement includes specific conditions for disposition, tied to a 'Change of Control Event,' which could influence future ownership dynamics and potential liquidity events for this block of shares.
At the time of this filing, SATS was trading at $112.31 on NASDAQ in the Technology sector, with a market capitalization of approximately $32.4B. The 52-week trading range was $23.97 to $147.25. This filing was assessed with neutral market sentiment and an importance score of 7 out of 10.