In its monthly newsletter, the Student Sponsorship Program (SSP), one of the programs supported by Convergence Partners and its Foundation, profiled Convergence Partners.

Convergence not only provides financial support to this worthy cause, but the executives in the team are also mentoring students on the programme.

See attached SSP April 2011 Newsletter

Intelsat S.A., the world’s leading provider of fixed satellite services, announced today that the launch of the Intelsat New Dawn spacecraft aboard an Ariane 5 rocket, initially scheduled for launch on March 30, 2011, was scrubbed after the launch sequence was shut down automatically. The spacecraft is secure. Arianespace is going to review the data and make another launch attempt at a later date.

About Intelsat New Dawn

Initially announced in December 2008, the US$250 million Intelsat New Dawn project is funded approximately 15% with equity and 85% with debt. African institutions are providing approximately 90% of the total financing required for the joint venture and Intelsat will contribute the balance. Nedbank Capital, part of the Nedbank Group (one of South Africa’s largest banking groups) and a leading telecom project financier in South Africa, has arranged the non-recourse debt financing. A consortium of lenders including Nedbank, the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa and the African Development Bank will provide the debt funding. The equity is provided by Intelsat (74.9%) and the Convergence Partners-led group (25.1%), which also includes Altirah Telecoms and the not-for-profit Convergence Partners Foundation.

About Intelsat

Intelsat is the leading provider of fixed satellite services worldwide. For over 45 years, Intelsat has been delivering information and entertainment for many of the world’s leading media and network companies, multinational corporations, Internet Service Providers and governmental agencies. Intelsat’s satellite, teleport and fiber infrastructure is unmatched in the industry, setting the standard for transmissions of video, data and voice services. From the globalization of content and the proliferation of HD, to the expansion of cellular networks and broadband access, with Intelsat, advanced communications anywhere in the world are closer, by far. For more information, visit www.intelsat.com

Intelsat Safe Harbor Statement:

Some of the statements in this news release constitute “forward-looking statements” that do not directly or exclusively relate to historical facts. The forward-looking statements made in this release, reflect Intelsat’s intentions, plans, expectations, assumptions and beliefs about future events and are subject to risks, including known and unknown risks. Detailed information about some of the known risks is included in Intelsat’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended 31 December 2009, Intelsat’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 and Intelsat’s other periodic reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Because actual results could differ materially from Intelsat’s intentions, plans, expectations, assumptions and beliefs about the future, you are urged to view all forward-looking statements contained in this news release with caution. Intelsat does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

See attached press

See attached article from biztechafrica

See attached Engineering News article

See attached MyBroadband article

The Hopeville feature film, which was released nationally in South Africa in September 2010, has been making in-roads at the international film festivals and awards events.

Hopeville is a film produced by Heartlines, which is a beneficiary of the Convergence Partners Foundation.

The Hopeville feature film won two SAFTA Awards for Best Production Design (Karel Flint) and Best Lead Actor (Themba Ndaba).  Other nominations included Best Cinematography, Best Editor, Best Hair/Make-up and Best Music composition.

In addition, Hopeville has received nine nominations for the AMAA, (African Movie Academy Awards) including:

• Best Production Design;
• Best Cinematography;
• Best Screenplay;
• Best Editing;
• Best Young Actor- Junior Singo;
• Best Actress in Supporting Role- Mary Twala;
• Best Actor in Supporting Role- Desmond Dube;
• Best Actor in Leading Role- Themba Ndaba; and
• Best Film.

The 2011 Africa Movie Academy Awards, now in its 7^th year, will take place from March 21 to 27 in Yenagoa, Nigeria.

Hopeville was first developed by HEARTLINES, Curious Pictures and SABC Education as a six part mini-series which was broadcast on SABC.  The mini series went on to win a Rose’Dor in Switzerland and a coveted nomination at the International Emmy’s in New York City.

Hopeville will also be screening at the Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles, FESPACO in Burkina Faso, Afrika Film Festival in Belgium and Tiburon Film Festival in California.

HEARTLINES CEO, Dr Garth Japhet, said that he was thrilled that the film, which has a compelling message of ordinary citizens taking action for the good of the community, was reaching audiences worldwide. “With this film, and the previous series of eight award-winning values-based films, HEARTLINES is making a significant contribution to building the social fabric, not only of South Africa, but internationally as well.”

Hopeville Press Release

Convergence Partners, a SSP sponsor and part of the mentorship programme, was proud to attend the SSP 10^th anniversary celebration on 24 February 2011, held at Summer Place, Johannesburg.

The SSP is a scholarship and mentorship programme aimed at identifying and supporting historically disadvantaged scholars that are academically talented and show strong leadership qualities, by funding tuition at some of South Africa’s top high schools. In addition to having their tuition costs covered, the  SSP students have the benefit of access to successful people in business and society as their own mentors.

To date the programme has had 900 scholars enrolled and participating in the programme. Many have gone on to achieve incredible feats during and after school.

Convergence Partners has identified education as a key area of focus and through the Convergence Partners Foundation is currently supporting three scholars studying at schools in Johannesburg. In addition, the Foundation has sponsored the 10^th anniversary celebrations in recognition of the important role this programme has played in developing young leaders of our country.

See attached

The Intelsat New Dawn satellite is scheduled to be launched on 29 March 2011 from Arianespace’s launch site in Kourou, French Guiana. Intelsat New Dawn is the first ever African private sector communications satellite.

A joint-venture between a consortium led by Convergence Partners and Intelsat S.A., the world’s leading provider of fixed satellite services, the New Dawn satellite and its 28 C-band and 24 Ku-band 36 MHz transponder units are designed specifically to supply critical communications infrastructure for African customers. Operating from a geostationary orbital slot at 32.8 degrees East, Intelsat New Dawn will be ideally positioned to serve Africa through a payload optimized to deliver wireless backhaul, broadband and media content – the fastest growing satellite-based applications in Africa.

Delivered on time and within the originally announced $250 million budget, the Intelsat New Dawn venture has been approximately 90% funded from African sources. The Convergence Partners consortium also includes strategic shareholder Altirah Telecoms and the not-for-profit Convergence Partners Foundation.

When placed into service in the second quarter of 2011, Intelsat New Dawn will address the capacity backlog faced by African wireless telecom operators, broadband service providers, corporate network service providers and media operators who have experienced exceptional growth along with the economic development of the region. Customers contracting for capacity in advance of launch are the leading communications services providers in the region, including Vodacom International Ltd, Gateway Communications Africa (UK) Ltd, Bharti Airtel (originally contracted through Celtel Nigeria) and Gilat Satcom.

Thierry Guillemin, Chief Technical Officer of Intelsat, said, “With manufacturing of the satellite now concluding, our team transitions its focus to the launch mission in French Guiana. We will conduct tests on-site as the final preparations for this historic satellite are completed.”

Andile Ngcaba, Chairman of Convergence Partners, said, “With a launch slot secured for Intelsat New Dawn, we are now on the cusp of seeing this landmark venture become a reality. The project has been in development for five years, with the last two-and–a-half focusing on construction. When launched, the satellite will not only deliver crucial services specifically tailored for Africa, it will also herald the dawn of a new era where Africans enjoy far greater involvement in the space communications industry.”

Commissioned in December 2008 and built by Orbital Sciences Corporation, the hybrid C-band/Ku- band satellite will be operated and marketed as a part of the global Intelsat fleet, bringing to 22 the number of Intelsat satellites serving Africa. Arianespace was selected as the launch partner and will use the most powerful version in the Ariane 5 range, the Ariane 5 ECA (Cryogenic Evolution type A), for this dual payload mission of the Intelsat New Dawn and Yahsat 1A telecommunications satellites. The Ariane 5 launcher for the Intelsat New Dawn satellite recently arrived at the Spaceport in French Guiana, where it is being readied for the mission.

For more details on Intelsat New Dawn and to view frequent updates leading up to the launch, please visit www.intelsatnewdawn.com.

About Intelsat New Dawn

Initially announced in December 2008, the US$250 million project is funded approximately 15% with equity and 85% with debt. African institutions are providing approximately 90% of the total financing required for the joint venture and Intelsat will contribute the balance. Nedbank Capital, part of the Nedbank Group (one of South Africa’s largest banking groups) and a leading telecom project financier in South Africa, has arranged the non-recourse debt financing. A consortium of lenders including Nedbank, the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa and the African Development Bank will provide the debt funding. The equity is provided by Intelsat (74.9%) and the Convergence Partners- led group (25.1%), which also includes Altirah Telecoms and the not-for-profit Convergence Partners Foundation.

Read more here!

New Dawn press release 16 Feb 2011 FINAL

BusinessDay Article

IT Online Article

Techcentral Article

Business Wire Article

MyBroadband Article

News Clip

Engineering News

Heartlines, a values, transformation and upliftment initiative is working to finalise its Forgood channel to inform, connect and inspire South Africans for social action. The Convergence Partners Foundation is a founding partner of Heartlines Forgood social networking platform.

The support provided by Convergence Foundation included financial as well as advisory assistance in setting up the platform. This was done in partnership with the investee companies in the Convergence Partners portfolio.

Convergence Foundation believes strongly in the need to develop, build and strengthen the value system within our society and that technologies such as social networking platforms can contribute significantly to achieving these objectives.

See attached newsletter