Milbank LLP advised EQT X (“EQT”) on the acquisition of Exolaunch, a global leader in mission management, satellite integration, and deployment technologies, from founder Dmitriy Sternharz. The transaction is subject to customary conditions and approvals. It is expected to close during Q4 2026.
Headquartered in Berlin, Germany, Exolaunch enables access to space for global satellite operators. The Company offers industry-leading deployment hardware, facilitating the integration and aggregation of a wide range of satellites with different launch vehicles, deploying payloads into their target orbits. The company has deployed over 790 satellites across 47 missions for over 200 commercial and government customers from North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
EQT is a global investment organization with €269 billion in total assets under management as of March, 31, 2026, within two business segments – Private Capital and Real Assets.
The Milbank team that advised EQT on this transaction was led by partner Leopold Riedl (Corporate/M&A, Frankfurt) and included partners Steffen Oppenländer (Corporate/M&A, Munich), Dara Panahy (Transportation and Space, Washington, DC), Alexander Rinne (Antitrust) and Thomas Kleinheisterkamp (Tax, both Munich), special counsel Pinky Mehta (Transportation and Space, Washington, DC) as well as associates Steffen Post, Johannes Smida (both Frankfurt), Sandra Feil (Munich, all Corporate/M&A), Marlies Zeck (Antitrust, Munich), Richard Couch, Brian Murff, Bridget Golob (all Transportation and Space, Washington, DC) and Hannah Reichelscheimer (Employment, New York).
