EDGAR 10-K Filing

Company CIK: 797721
Filing Year: 2024
Filename: 797721_10-K_2024_0000950170-24-066031.json

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ITEM 1. BUSINESS
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Corporate Information
We were incorporated in California in 1986 under the name Viasat, Inc., and subsequently reincorporated in Delaware in 1996. The mailing address of our worldwide headquarters is 6155 El Camino Real, Carlsbad, California 92009, and our telephone number at that location is (760) 476-2200. Our website address is www.viasat.com. The information on our website does not constitute part of this report.
Company Overview
We are an innovative, global provider of communications technologies and services, focused on making connectivity accessible, available and secure for current and future customers worldwide. Our end-to-end multi-band platform of satellites, ground infrastructure and user terminals enables us to provide a wide array of cost-effective, high-quality broadband, narrowband and other connectivity solutions to aviation, maritime, enterprise, consumer, military and government users around the globe, whether on the ground, in the air or at sea. In addition, our government business includes a portfolio of communications gateways; situational awareness and command and control products and services; satellite communication products and services across various frequency bands; and cybersecurity and information assurance products and services. We believe that our diversification strategy-anchored in a broad portfolio of customer-centric products and services and supported by our fleet of broadband and narrowband satellites-our vertical integration and our ability to effectively cross-deploy technologies between government and commercial applications and segments as well as across different geographic markets, provide us with a strong foundation to sustain and enhance our leadership in advanced communications and networking technologies. We conduct our business through three segments: satellite services, commercial networks and government systems. In May 2024, certain organizational changes were made that are expected to impact our future internal reporting and reportable segments. The new segment reporting structure is expected to better reflect our strategy following the Inmarsat Acquisition, diverse global end markets, and certain organizational and leadership changes, that allow us to better assess the operational performance of and allocate resources to our multiple product lines. Commencing with the first quarter of fiscal year 2025 we will have two reportable segments: communication services and defense and advanced technologies. See Note 17 - Subsequent Event to our consolidated financial statements for additional information.
Inmarsat Acquisition
On May 30, 2023, we purchased all of the issued and outstanding shares of Connect Topco Limited, a private company limited by shares and incorporated in Guernsey (Inmarsat Holdings and, together with its subsidiaries, Inmarsat), in exchange for approximately $550.7 million in cash and 46.36 million shares of our common stock (the Inmarsat Acquisition). In connection with the closing of the Inmarsat Acquisition, we entered into a $616.7 million senior secured term loan facility (the 2023 Term Loan Facility) and a $733.4 million unsecured bridge loan facility (the Bridge Facility), which were fully drawn at closing. On September 28, 2023, we replaced the Bridge Facility with our 7.500% Senior Notes due 2031 (the 2031 Notes) in the same principal amount and at the same interest rate.
The assets and results of operations of Inmarsat's commercial business are primarily included in our satellite services segment (with an insignificant amount included in our commercial networks segment) and Inmarsat's government business included in our government systems segment for the period following the closing of the Inmarsat Acquisition on May 30, 2023.
Sale of Link-16 TDL Business
On January 3, 2023, we completed the sale of certain assets and assigned liabilities comprising our Link-16 Tactical Data Links business (the Link-16 TDL Business) to L3Harris Technologies, Inc. (L3Harris) in exchange for approximately $1.96 billion in cash, subject to certain adjustments (the Link-16 TDL Sale). Unless otherwise noted, discussion throughout this Annual Report on Form 10-K relates to continuing operations only and excludes the Link-16 TDL Business. See Note 5 - Discontinued Operations to our consolidated financial statements for additional information.
Other Acquisitions
On April 30, 2021, we completed our acquisition of the remaining 51% interest in Euro Broadband Infrastructure Sàrl (EBI), a satellite broadband internet service provider in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), from Eutelsat. We paid approximately $167.0 million in cash, net of approximately $22.0 million of purchase price consideration received during the second quarter of fiscal year 2024 and $121.7 million of EBI’s cash on hand, resulting in a cash outlay of approximately $29.0 million.
On April 30, 2021, we completed our acquisition of RigNet, Inc. (RigNet), a leading provider of ultra-secure, intelligent networking solutions and specialized applications. In connection with the acquisition, we issued approximately 4.0 million shares of our common stock to RigNet former shareholders, paid down $107.3 million of outstanding borrowings of RigNet’s revolving credit facility, and retained approximately $20.6 million of RigNet’s cash on hand.
The assets and results of operations of EBI and RigNet are primarily included in our satellite services segment, with insignificant amounts included in our commercial networks segment.
Segments
Satellite Services
Our satellite services segment provides a wide range of satellite-based broadband and narrowband services around the globe using our multi-band fleet of satellites in service as well as leased capacity on third party satellites. Our complementary fleet of 20 in service or operational satellites spans the Ka-, L- and S- bands, with ten high-bandwidth Ka-band satellites, eight high-availability L-band satellites (three of which are contingency L-band satellites that are operational but not currently in service), an S-band satellite that supports the European Aviation Network (EAN) to provide IFC services to commercial airlines in Europe, and an I-6 class hybrid Ka-/L-band satellite (the I-6 satellite). In addition the ViaSat-3 satellite has nearly completed in-orbit testing (IOT) and is expected to be integrated into our existing satellite fleet initially covering the Americas. Furthermore, we have ten additional geostationary (GEO) and highly-elliptical earth orbit (HEO) satellites under development: two additional high-capacity Ka-band GEO satellites (ViaSat-3 and ViaSat-3), three additional adaptive Ka-band GEO satellites (Inmarsat GX 7, GX 8 and GX 9), two Ka-band HEO satellite payloads intended to provide polar coverage (Inmarsat GX 10a and GX 10b) and three Inmarsat-8 L-band GEO safety service satellites. Our deep satellite fleet enables us to provide a wide array of high-quality broadband and narrowband services with near global coverage (including strong oceanic coverage) with greater redundancy and resiliency.
The primary services offered by our satellite services segment include:
•Aviation Services, including industry-leading IFC and wireless in-flight entertainment (W-IFE) services for commercial aircraft and private jets and narrowband safety services, as well as complementary aviation software services (such as cockpit, data safety and surveillance). The data capacity of our IFC systems enables all passengers and crew to receive in-flight internet service in the air similar to the internet service available on the ground, supporting applications such as high-speed web browsing, streaming and social media applications. The high quality of our IFC services is demonstrated by the numerous awards and accolades they have received, including 2023 and 2022 APEX Passenger Choice awards for best Wi-Fi. Our W-IFE service is a cloud-based platform providing passengers with access to a wide range of premium entertainment, video and information services maintained on an onboard server and wirelessly delivered direct to passengers’ own devices. As of March 31, 2024, our IFC systems were installed and in service on approximately 3,720 commercial aircraft, of which approximately 70 were inactive at fiscal year end (mostly due to standard aircraft maintenance). We anticipate that approximately 1,360 additional commercial aircraft will be put into service with our IFC systems under existing customer agreements with commercial airlines. However, due to the nature of commercial airline contracts, there can be no assurance that anticipated IFC services will be activated on all such additional commercial aircraft.
•Maritime Services (primarily derived from the Inmarsat Acquisition), which offer high-quality, resilient satellite-based broadband and narrowband communications services around the globe to commercial shipping fleets, offshore service vessel operators and commercial fishing companies. Our maritime service offerings are complemented by a suite of safety communications capabilities, security, Internet-of-Things (IoT) integration and crew welfare solutions.
•Fixed Broadband Services, which offer high-speed, high-quality, reliable broadband internet services to businesses and residential users (primarily in the United States as well as in various countries in Europe and Latin America), as well as enterprise connectivity solutions. Our service offerings include premium data plans with download speeds of up to 150 Mbps in select areas in the United States. We also offer wholesale and retail fixed broadband services to our distribution partners.
•Energy Services (primarily derived from our acquisition of RigNet in April 2021), which include secure, reliable networking and connectivity solutions for remote sites and operations, and industry-leading machine learning analytics.
•IoT and Other Narrowband Services, such as L-band managed services that enable real-time machine-to-machine (M2M) position tracking, direct-to-device services, high-value asset tracking, industrial IoT and analytics.
•Community Internet Services, which offer innovative, affordable internet services through satellite-based community hotspots in areas with little or no access to the internet. These services help foster digital inclusion by providing the opportunity for millions of people to connect to affordable, high-quality internet services via a centralized terminal connected to the internet via satellite, that is then used to provide community hotspots, home broadband and mobile broadband. We provide community internet services in Mexico and Brazil.
We believe that growth in our satellite services business will be driven in the coming years by the continued surging of demand for global mobility services (such as our aviation and maritime services), reflecting the continuing increases in the number of aircraft and maritime vessels in service, passenger volumes, internet users, applications and connected devices and platforms worldwide. Commercial global mobility services represent a very large and fast-growing addressable market, and are at the core of our growth strategy in our satellite services business. We expect that, as the number of aircraft, maritime vessels and passengers around the globe continue to grow, global mobility bandwidth demands will be effectively and reliably met by our fleet of organic and partner satellites.
Commercial Networks
We are a leading end-to-end network technology and equipment innovator and supplier in broadband satellite markets. In addition to developing our own proprietary satellite systems (such as our proprietary ViaSat-3 satellite design), our commercial networks segment develops and sells a wide array of advanced satellite and wireless products, antenna systems and network and terminal solutions that support or enable the provision of fixed and mobile broadband and narrowband services. We design, develop and produce space system solutions for multiple orbital regimes, including GEO, HEO, medium earth orbit (MEO) and low earth orbit (LEO).
Our products, systems and solutions are generally developed through a combination of customer funding and discretionary internal research and development (R&D) funding, with products often linked through common underlying technologies, customer applications and market relationships. For example, products, systems and solutions developed and sold in our commercial networks segment are often complementary to those developed and sold to government customers in our government systems segment, and our portfolio of government and military offerings in our government systems segment leverages our technological investments in our commercial networks segment. Our commercial networks segment also drives growth in our satellite services segment. For example, the IFC terminals sold and installed on commercial aircraft and business jets in our commercial networks segment are then utilized to receive IFC services, driving recurring revenues in our satellite services segment.
The primary products, systems, solutions and services offered by our commercial networks segment are comprised of:
•Mobile Satellite Communication Systems, which include satellite-based broadband and narrowband systems and products designed for use in aircraft, land-mobile and seagoing vessels, such as the IFC systems we install on commercial aircraft and private jets. These systems and products are designed to provide high-speed, cost-efficient broadband access to customers while on the move, and also utilize fixed broadband satellite infrastructure.
•Fixed Satellite Communication Systems, which include next-generation satellite network infrastructure and ground terminals designed to enable access to a wide variety of broadband and narrowband satellite-based services. Products and solutions in this category include space-to-earth connectivity systems, ground network infrastructure, user terminals and design and implementation for customer telecommunication systems. We also offer related products and services to enterprise customers to address bandwidth constraints and other issues. In addition to commercial sales of these products and solutions, our fixed broadband satellite communication systems also support our own fleet of proprietary Ka-band satellites.
•Antenna Systems, which include state-of-the-art ground and airborne terminals, antennas and gateways for terrestrial and satellite customer applications (such as real-time Earth imaging and remote sensing services, mobile satellite communication, Ka-band earth stations and other multi-band/multi-function antennas).
•Space Systems Design and Satellite Networking Development, which includes the design and development of the architecture of high-capacity Ka-band geosynchronous satellites and the associated satellite payload and antenna technologies (both for our own satellite fleet as well as for third parties), and special purpose LEO and MEO satellites and other small satellite platforms, as well as semiconductor design for application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) and monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) chips. Satellite networking development includes specialized design and technology services covering all aspects of satellite communication system architecture, networks and technology. Products and services include analysis, design and development of satellite and ground communications systems and network function virtualization, as well as ground-based network subsystems for various commercial, military and space uses.
We believe growth in our commercial networks business will be driven in the coming years by the continued surging growth in worldwide demand for mobile and fixed broadband connectivity. As the cost-effectiveness of satellite technologies to rapidly deploy broadband services across wide geographic areas and to large numbers of people continues to increase, we believe demand for the terminals, antenna systems, ground networking equipment and products that enable or support access to satellite-based services will continue to grow.
Government Systems
We are a leading provider of innovative communications and cybersecurity products and solutions to the U.S. Government and other military and government users around the world. Our government systems segment offers a broad array of complementary products and services designed to enable the collection and transmission of secure real-time digital information and communications between fixed and mobile command centers, intelligence, defense and homeland security platforms and individuals in a dispersed environment. Customers of our government systems segment include the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), other elements of the U.S. federal government, state governments, foreign governments, allied armed forces, public safety first-responders and remote government employees.
The primary products and services of our government systems segment include:
•Government Mobile Broadband Products and Services, which provide military and government users with high-speed, real-time broadband and multimedia connectivity in key regions of the world, as well as line-of-sight (LOS) and beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions. Our government mobile broadband services include high-bandwidth global communications services in support of VIP and senior-level airborne operations and emergency response, as well as LOS and BLOS ISR missions. Products include mobile broadband modems, terminals, network access control systems and antenna systems using a range of satellite frequency bands capable of being installed and operated on a wide variety of fixed wing, rotary wing, manned and unmanned aircraft, ground vehicles and maritime platforms. Services include advanced mobility services to governments for aircraft and ships, as well as for nomadic and ground-based missions. Our high-capacity, secure mobile broadband products and services are enabled by our next-generation satellite network infrastructure, which will be further enhanced following the launch of commercial service on our ViaSat-3 constellation.
•Government Narrowband Products and Services (primarily provided by Inmarsat prior to the Inmarsat Acquisition), which provide military and government users with L-band products and services such as Tactical Beyond Line of Sight (L-TAC) communications, L-band airborne ISR services and L-band Advanced Communications Element (LACE) terminals.
•Government Satellite Communication (SATCOM) Systems, which offer an array of portable, mobile and fixed broadband modems, terminals, network access control systems and antenna systems using a range of satellite frequency bands for Command and Control (C2) missions, satellite networking services, and network management systems for Wi-Fi and other internet access networks. Our SATCOM systems, products and services are designed to support high-throughput broadband data links, to increase available bandwidth using existing satellite capacity, and to be resilient to withstand certain catastrophic events. Our range of SATCOM broadband modems, terminals and systems support high-speed broadband and multimedia transmissions over point-to-point, mesh and hub-and-spoke satellite networking systems, and include products designed for manpacks, aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), seagoing vessels, ground-mobile vehicles, space-based systems and fixed applications.
•Secure Networking, Cybersecurity and Information Assurance Products and Services, which provide advanced, high-speed IP-based “Type 1” and High Assurance Internet Protocol Encryption (HAIPE®)-compliant encryption solutions that enable military and government users to communicate information securely, and that protect the integrity of data stored on computers and storage devices. Our encryption products and modules use a programmable, high-assurance architecture that can be easily upgraded in the field or integrated into existing communication networks, and are available both on a stand-alone basis and as embedded modules within our tactical radio, information distribution and other SATCOM systems and products. Our Move Out/Jump Off (MOJO) expeditionary tactical gateway family of products provides a complete LOS and BLOS communications system for on-the-move and at-the-pause air, land, and sea applications.
We believe that growth in our government systems business will be driven in the coming years by continued growth in demand for high-speed, high-quality, secure, resilient and reliable connectivity services (and the associated user terminals, ground infrastructure and encryption systems) to support government and military operations around the globe, with governments increasingly utilizing space-based resources to support their national security needs.
Our Strengths
We believe the following strengths position our business to capitalize on attractive growth opportunities in our business:
•Deep Satellite Fleet Spanning Multiple Frequency Bands. Our multi-band satellite platform with 20 satellites in space enables us to provide customers with the services they need to cost-efficiently and reliably meet their connectivity needs, including at peak times in the most congested areas. Customers in our target markets demand high-quality, reliable connectivity services that can meet mission-critical needs at the busiest places and times, backed by robust and measurable service level agreements. Our deep and capital-efficient satellite fleet, with multiple GEO satellites providing near-global broadband and narrowband coverage (including strong oceanic coverage and, once the two GX 10 satellite payloads under development are brought into service, polar reach), is ideally suited to meet these customer needs - and will be further enhanced by our ten additional GEO and HEO satellites under development. Demand for bandwidth is highly geographically concentrated, with 90% of total bandwidth demand estimated to be concentrated in just 15% of the Earth’s surface. Our GEO satellites, with their wide “field of view” and ability to flexibly and dynamically allocate capacity to meet constantly fluctuating bandwidth demands within each satellite’s footprint, enable our satellite platform to reliably and efficiently meet the peak capacity needs of our customers at the busiest times in areas of high congestion, such as airports, ports, major population centers and key transit routes. In addition, the high capacity of our satellites enables us to provide Terabits of capacity at attractive prices. In contrast, a satellite fleet comprised exclusively of LEO satellites typically suffers from a surplus of capacity in low-demand areas, and unreliable or insufficient capacity at times and places of high demand, given each satellite’s very narrow field of view. We are focused on delivering industry-leading fleet utilization and productivity to further drive down bandwidth fulfillment costs while also improving service quality.
•Broad Array of Complex, Complementary Service Offerings, Tailored to Customer Needs. We offer a broad array of high-quality satellite-based broadband and narrowband services, combined with complementary software and encryption services with multiple applications. For example, in addition to IFC terminals and our award-winning IFC services, we offer aviation customers complementary service offerings such as W-IFE, encryption solutions and integrated cockpit and safety software services. Similarly, in addition to high-quality broadband connectivity services and terminals, we offer our maritime customers comprehensive software-defined managed services (such as critical safety communications capabilities, security, IoT integration and crew welfare solutions). Our ability to offer bundled complex and complementary services, products and solutions to our customers, tailored to individual customer needs and market opportunities, helps us to differentiate our offerings from our competitors and drive deeper customer engagement and “stickiness.”
•Innovation of Next-Generation Satellite and Space Technologies. We have a long history of innovation in next-generation satellite and space technologies. Our first-generation, high-capacity Ka-band satellite, ViaSat-1, earned a Guinness World Records® title in 2013 as the highest-capacity communications satellite in the world at that time. Our second-generation ViaSat-2 satellite almost doubled the bandwidth capacity of ViaSat-1 and added expanded geographic reach, and in 2018 was selected as a winner in the ‘Space, Platforms’ category of Aviation Week’s 61st Annual Laureate Awards, honoring extraordinary achievements in the global aerospace arena. Our third-generation ViaSat-3 class satellites utilize a new satellite architecture with miniaturized electronics and more productive and efficient antenna designs. This new satellite design is expected to significantly expand the geographic coverage area and data capacity of each satellite and to further enhance our ability to flexibly and dynamically allocate capacity to match demand, resulting in greater speed, availability and cost-efficiency. We believe our history since inception of developing proprietary and innovative satellite technologies spanning spacecraft, ground infrastructure, user terminals and network design demonstrates that we possess the expertise and credibility required to serve the evolving technology needs of our customers whether on the ground, in the air or at sea.
•Vertically Integrated End-to-End Platform of Leading Technologies. We believe our innovative ecosystem of satellites, ground infrastructure and user terminals creates significant synergies in our business and positions us to drive operational efficiencies and cost-effectively deliver a diverse portfolio of high-quality broadband and narrowband solutions and applications to enterprise, consumer, military and government users. Our product, system and service offerings are often linked through common underlying technologies, customer applications and market relationships. We believe that our comprehensive and predominately vertically integrated portfolio of satellites, products and services, combined with our ability to effectively cross-deploy technologies between government and commercial segments and across different geographic markets, provides us with a strong foundation to sustain and enhance our leadership in broadband technologies and services.
•Diversification of Business Model. Our business is highly diversified across many different verticals. Our core business includes IFC systems and services for commercial, private and military aircraft around the globe, high-quality broadband and narrowband systems and services for maritime vessels and land mobile users, fixed broadband user terminals and services to consumers and enterprises, and a wide portfolio of broadband, narrowband and cybersecurity information assurance products and services for government and military users. This diversification in product and service offerings, customer base, geography and market segment helps to reduce our exposure to fluctuations in any of the individual markets we serve and to provide resilience in our business performance in times of economic or political disruption. For example, during fiscal year 2021, revenue impacts to our commercial aviation business in our satellite services and commercial networks segments resulting from the global disruption in the airline industry caused by the COVID-19 pandemic were offset by strong demand in our fixed broadband services business and other parts of our business.
•Diverse Portfolio of Market-Leading Military and Government Offerings. We are a leading provider of innovative communications, cybersecurity and information assurance products and solutions to the U.S. Government and other military and government users around the world. These products and services enable the transmission of secure real-time digital information and communications between fixed and mobile command centers, intelligence, defense and homeland security platforms and individuals. Our portfolio of government and military offerings leverages our technological investments in our commercial business, and includes expeditionary tactical gateways, small satellite development, fixed and mobile satellite broadband systems and services, cybersecurity and information assurance products and services. Total new awards in our government systems segment (excluding awards relating to our Link-16 TDL Business sold to L3Harris in January 2023) grew from approximately $0.6 billion in fiscal year 2018 to $1.7 billion in fiscal year 2024 (including approximately $0.7 billion in awards related to our Inmarsat Acquisition which closed during first quarter of fiscal year 2024), despite an uneven defense spending environment, reflecting the high demand for our diverse portfolio of products and services for military and government users. Our expeditionary tactical gateways bridge the gap between air and ground forces by providing secure, reliable access to air and ground data transmitted over disparate networks for improved situational awareness capabilities and support communications. Our small satellite development work is market leading and is designed to enable a new tactical space layer for our government customers, enabling increasingly advanced precision operations and maneuvering. Our mobile satellite broadband offerings leverage our innovative satellite technologies and proprietary Ka-band satellite platforms, allowing us to provide high-speed, high-quality internet services to government and military personnel, aircraft, ships and land vehicles. Our secure networking products and services include a broad portfolio of advanced, high-speed Type 1 encryption solutions that are capable of operating at speeds of up to 200 Gbps, as well as advanced cybersecurity products to detect and mitigate malicious network effects. In February 2021, we received enhanced cybersecurity accreditation from the DHS through their Enhanced Cybersecurity Services (ECS) program. As an accredited ECS provider, we receive DHS-provided sensitive and classified cybersecurity threat indicators and information to defend U.S.-based public and private computer networks, including state and local governments, against unauthorized access, denial, degradation, exploitation and data exfiltration.
•Blue-Chip Customer Base. Our blue-chip customer base includes customers such as the U.S. Government, leading aerospace and defense prime contractors, foreign governments, commercial airlines, civil agencies, satellite network integrators, large communications service providers and enterprises requiring complex communications and networking solutions and services. We believe that the credit strength of these key customers helps support more consistent financial performance. Moreover, our direct relationships with key customers such as commercial airlines and the DoD allow us to adapt our satellite designs and product and service offerings to better meet their desired outcomes.
•Experienced Management Team and Diversified Board of Directors. Our core management team is comprised of seasoned executives with significant leadership experience in satellite communications, defense, aerospace, global mobility and integration. For example, our Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Mark Dankberg, has been with Viasat since its inception in 1986. Mr. Dankberg is considered to be a leading expert in the field of satellite, wireless and defense communications. K. Guru Gowrappan, who joined Viasat in April 2023 as our President, brings extensive leadership experience building products globally and operationalizing and scaling businesses across ecosystems. In addition, in recent years we undertook a conscious effort to diversify our Board of Directors, bringing in a wide variety of skills and experience aligned with our long-term goals. Our Board of Directors is comprised of a diverse range of high-profile corporate leaders with extensive experience in globalization, communications, space operations, and technology and business integration.
Our Strategy
Our business strategy is to maintain our leadership position in utilization and yield with cost-efficient, high-quality satellite-based communications products and services, focused on making connectivity accessible, available and secure for current and future customers worldwide in attractive growth markets. Our strategic purpose is to responsibly and efficiently serve our customers by matching their increasing demand for bandwidth in the right place, at the right time - even in the highest demand locations - with our high capacity dynamic global satellite networks alongside hybrid multi-orbit, multi-band network service capabilities. By taking advantage of our fleet of organic and partner satellites, and the
dynamic beam-forming of our newest ones, we can derive and deliver substantially more value from already on-orbit resources. The principal elements of our strategy include:
•Drive Capital Efficiencies
oDeliver the Most Productive Satellite Systems: We are hyper-focused on maximizing the useful bandwidth per total lifetime capital cost of each satellite. We refer to this as “bandwidth productivity” and see this metric as a key factor in determining our return on satellite investment for each satellite we design, develop and build. However, it is our focus to drive productivity and returns at the fleet level that we believe will give us the greatest competitive advantage in serving our customers globally across a diversity of attractive markets.
oDrive Efficiencies of Scale and Operations: We intend to continue to drive efficiencies in our businesses through our vertical integration and other strategies and increasing scale as we move into new and adjacent geographic, product and service markets. We optimize our satellite systems through our development of an end-to-end platform of next-generation satellites, ground networking equipment and user terminals that enable the provision of a broad array of high-quality broadband and narrowband services. Our deep fleet of GEO satellites provide scale and operational efficiencies through their enhanced ability to efficiently and dynamically match supply and demand through the flexible allocation of capacity by service, time and geography within the satellite footprint, as well as through their near global geographic reach.
•Focus on Relentless Execution
oMaintain Focus on Technology Leadership: We continue to focus on strategic R&D to bring more efficient, effective and customer-centric high-quality broadband and narrowband communications to the global market. Our continued innovation in satellite system product development has been one of our hallmarks. We intend to maintain our leadership position in satellite systems, technologies and services, while continuing to expand our efforts in wireless communications, cloud networking and security, as well as new and emerging technologies such as direct-to-device and space-to-space communications. Our R&D efforts are supported by a global employee base that includes approximately 3,600 engineers and a culture that deeply values and supports innovation.
oFollow Our Path of Proven Performance: We have an enviable track record for identifying and bringing to market impactful communications technologies in space systems. For example, ViaSat-1 was the highest capacity communications satellite at the time of its launch; ViaSat-2 almost doubled the capacity of ViaSat-1; and the ViaSat-3 and ViaSat-3 satellites are individually anticipated to have significantly greater data capacity and geographic coverage than our ViaSat-2 satellite and to enable us to deliver affordable connectivity across a large geographic footprint spanning nearly one-third of the globe with a design that has an enhanced ability to flexibly and dynamically allocate capacity to markets where bandwidth usage demands and returns are highest.
oCustomer-Centricity Evolution: We are focused on continuing to increase our customer interactions and have incorporated new technologies, tools and learnings from artificial intelligence and machine learning to enhanced customer intimacy techniques and customer advisory councils. Our satellite systems have been designed to serve the specific requirements of our customers in the mobility and government sectors. We strive to continue to improve our ongoing customer engagements through proactive response, deeper customer insights and enhanced customer exchanges. This is an ongoing effort that will continue to be an investment and nurture opportunity for us.
•Continue to Expand into New Markets and Geographies
oEnter and Disrupt New and Adjacent Markets through Technology Innovation: We continue to create or address new and adjacent markets using our technological advancements to disrupt existing business models and drive shifts in target markets and user demand. For example, the technological innovations and power of our proprietary Ka-band satellite network enabled us to disrupt the IFC business model and successfully expand our broadband service offerings into the commercial air market. As the capacity of our satellite systems continues to increase as we bring new ViaSat-3 and Inmarsat GX satellites currently under development into commercial service, we expect the addressable markets for our technologies, products and services to continue to expand. Higher capacity, more flexible satellites, and layers of GEO/HEO satellites covering each region, will allow us to offer a broader array of cost-effective, reliable,
high-quality broadband services that can be tailored to different geographic regions and bandwidth usage demands.
oThink Beyond Current Customer Requirements to Open New Markets: In our government systems business, we actively identify market or operational needs that are not currently served by existing communications and encryption products and services, with a view to developing unique or disruptive products and services and creating new addressable markets. In fact, a key component to the continued success of Viasat’s defense business is its expansive portfolio of non-developmental items (NDI), which are designed to rapidly deliver cutting-edge technology solutions well ahead of the traditional government procurement model. Our business model delivers advanced capabilities significantly faster, at lower lifecycle costs and with lower risk to the customer when compared to traditional defense acquisition programs and timelines.
oTarget International Expansion. We have placed tremendous effort in recent years on growing our operations, sales/distribution, customer/partner base and regulatory framework globally, including through the Inmarsat Acquisition, with the addition of Inmarsat's satellite fleet enabling us to provide high-quality broadband and narrowband services with near global coverage (including strong oceanic coverage and, once the two GX 10 satellite payloads under development are brought into service, polar reach). We continue to believe that international markets provide attractive opportunities for the long-term growth of our business. As worldwide demand for broadband connectivity continues to grow, we expect that our comprehensive offering of next-generation broadband and narrowband satellites, advanced end-to-end communication systems and ground networking equipment and products, and their ability to enable a wide range of cost-effective, high-quality broadband and narrowband services, will be increasingly attractive internationally. Demand profile differs by geographic market, reflecting geographic, economic, political, regulatory and other factors. However, the flexibility, high bandwidth capacity and broad geographic coverage area of our multi-band satellite fleet allow us to tailor our service offerings for the opportunities and needs of different geographic markets.
•Prioritize the End-User
oRecognize Connectivity is a Means to an End, not an End in Itself. The value of a network is in the applications it enables. With this understanding, we have worked closely with leading edge and content providers (including companies such as Apple, Facebook, and DirecTV, among others) to enhance end-users’ experiences with their online and streaming media services over our network, helping them leverage the potential of making affordable broadband available in places where it has never been. We also work with U.S. Government agencies, major airlines and others on multiple continents to help ensure end-users have satisfying - and affordable - experiences on our network. Our expanded multi-band satellite fleet enables us to provide services with near global coverage (including strong oceanic coverage and, once the two GX 10 satellite payloads under development are brought into service, polar reach) with greater redundancy and resiliency. In addition, we work with various international governments to help bring digital and social inclusion to their constituents through efficient satellite-enabled services such as our community internet services, which offer community hotspots, home broadband and mobile broadband in unserved and underserved areas using satellite-powered centralized terminals. By making broadband connectivity accessible to millions of people living in regions where traditional terrestrial and wireless internet services were either non-existent or cost prohibitive, we have been able to help generate positive socio-economic impacts - in education, e-commerce, finance, healthcare and more - at lower bandwidth costs.
•Manage for the Long Term
oPursue Growth Through Strategic Alliances, Partnering Arrangements and Relationships. We actively seek strategic relationships and joint ventures with companies whose financial, marketing, operational or technological resources may accelerate the introduction of new technologies, service offerings and/or the penetration of new markets. For example, we have entered into strategic agreements with local partners in Brazil and Mexico to bring high-speed, affordable internet to unserved and underserved communities, which allows us to gain market insights and build brand awareness in those countries. In our government systems segment, we also regularly enter into teaming arrangements with other government contractors to more effectively capture complex government programs. We may continue to evaluate acquisitions of, or investments in, complementary companies, businesses, products or technologies to supplement our internal growth.
oEncourage Safe Sustainable Access to Space. We strive to be a leader in bringing benefits of space technology to the world in a sustainable, responsible and inclusive way. We are focused on cooperating with a broad range of responsible nations and global partners to ensure safe, responsible and equitable access to space for all.
Our Customers
Our customer base is highly diversified. Customers of our satellite services segment reflect the diversity in our service offerings and include commercial airlines, maritime commercial shipping fleets, offshore service vessel operators, commercial fishing companies, residential customers, small and medium-sized businesses and enterprises. The customers of our government systems and commercial networks segments include the DoD, the DHS, select other U.S. federal, state and local government agencies, foreign governments, allied armed forces, public safety first-responders, remote government employees, commercial and defense contractors, satellite network integrators, large communications service providers and enterprises requiring complex communications and networking solutions. Customers of our government systems segment also include various defense contractors, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the European Space Agency, as well as privately held companies, international organizations and non-government entities that support government businesses worldwide. We enter into government contracts either directly with U.S. or foreign governments, or indirectly through domestic or international partners or resellers. In our commercial networks segment, we also act as both a prime contractor and subcontractor for the sale of equipment and services.
Revenues from the U.S. Government as an individual customer comprised approximately 17%, 17% and 18% of total revenues for fiscal years 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively. None of our other customers comprised 10% or more of total revenues in fiscal years 2024, 2023 or 2022.
U.S. Government Contracts
Substantial portions of our revenues are generated from contracts and subcontracts with the DoD and other federal government agencies. Many of our contracts are subject to a competitive bid process and are awarded on the basis of technical merit, personnel qualifications, experience and price. We also receive some contract awards involving special technical capabilities on a negotiated, noncompetitive basis due to our unique mix of communication products, satellite services, engineering capabilities and technical expertise in specialized areas. The Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act of 1994 has encouraged the use of commercial type pricing, such as firm fixed-price contracts, on dual use products. Our future revenues and income could be materially affected by changes in government procurement policies and related oversight, a reduction in expenditures for the products and services we provide, and other risks generally associated with federal government contracts.
We provide products and services under federal government contracts that usually require performance over a period of several months to multiple years. Long-term contracts may be impacted based on when the government appropriated funds are available and to what level, which may result in a delay, reduction or termination of these contracts.
Our federal government contracts are performed under cost-reimbursement contracts, time-and-materials contracts and fixed-price contracts. Cost-reimbursement contracts provide for reimbursement of costs and payment of a fee. The fee may be either fixed by the contract or variable, based upon cost control, quality, delivery and the customer’s subjective evaluation of the work. Under time-and-materials contracts, we receive a fixed amount by labor category for services performed and are reimbursed for the cost of materials purchased to perform the contract. Under a fixed-price contract, we agree to perform specific work, which may include product R&D, for a fixed price and, accordingly, realize the benefit or detriment to the extent that the actual cost of performing the work differs from the contract price. In fiscal year 2024, approximately 6% of our total government revenues were generated from cost-reimbursement contracts with the federal government or our prime contractors, less than 1% from time-and-materials contracts and approximately 94% from fixed-price contracts.
Our allowable federal government contract costs and fees are subject to audit and review by the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) and the Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), as discussed below under “Regulatory Environment - Other Regulations.”
Our federal government contracts may be terminated, in whole or in part, at the convenience of the U.S. Government. If a termination for convenience occurs, the U.S. Government generally is obligated to pay for work completed or services rendered and/or the cost incurred by us under the contract, which may include a fee or allowance for profit. Contracts with prime contractors may have negotiated termination schedules that apply. When we participate as
a subcontractor, we are at risk if the prime contractor does not perform its contract. Similarly, when we act as a prime contractor employing subcontractors, we are at risk if a subcontractor does not perform its subcontract.
Some of our federal government contracts contain options that are exercisable at the discretion of the customer. An option may extend the period of performance for one or more years for additional consideration on terms and conditions similar to those contained in the original contract. An option may also increase the level of effort and assign new tasks to us.
Our eligibility to perform under our federal government contracts requires us to maintain adequate security measures. We have implemented security procedures that we believe adequately satisfy the requirements of our federal government contracts.
Research and Development
The industries in which we compete are subject to rapid technological developments, evolving standards, changes in customer requirements and continuing developments in the communications and networking environment. Our continuing ability to adapt to these changes, and to develop innovative satellite and communications technologies, and new and enhanced products and services, is a significant factor in maintaining or improving our competitive position and our prospects for growth. Therefore, we continue to make significant investments in next-generation satellite technologies and communications product and services development.
We conduct the majority of our R&D activities in-house and have R&D and engineering staff, which includes approximately 3,600 engineers worldwide. Our product development activities focus on products that we consider viable revenue opportunities to support all of our segments. We incurred $150.7 million, $128.9 million and $149.5 million during fiscal years 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively, on independent research and development (IR&D) expenses, which comprise R&D not directly funded by a third party. Funded R&D contains a profit component and is therefore not directly comparable to IR&D. As a U.S. Government contractor, we may also recover a portion of our IR&D expenses, consisting primarily of salaries and other personnel-related expenses, supplies and prototype materials related to R&D programs.
Intellectual Property
We seek to establish and maintain our proprietary rights in our technology and products through a combination of patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets and contractual rights. We also seek to maintain our trade secrets and confidential information through nondisclosure policies, the use of appropriate confidentiality agreements and other security measures. We have registered a number of patents and trademarks in the United States and in other countries and have a substantial number of patent filings pending determination. There can be no assurance, however, that these rights can be successfully enforced in any particular jurisdiction. Although we believe the protection afforded by our patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets and contractual provisions has value, the rapidly changing technology environment in the industries we work in (including the internet, networking, satellite and wireless communications industries) and uncertainties in the legal process make our future success dependent primarily on the innovative skills, technological expertise and management abilities of our employees rather than on the protections afforded by patent, copyright, trademark and trade secret laws and contractual rights. Accordingly, while these legal protections are important, they must be supported by other factors such as the expanding knowledge, ability and experience of our personnel, and the continued development of new products and product enhancements.
Certain of our products and services include software or other intellectual property licensed from third parties. While it may be necessary in the future to seek or renew licenses relating to various aspects of our products and services, we believe, based upon past experience and standard industry practice, that such licenses generally could be obtained on commercially reasonable terms. Nonetheless, there can be no assurance that the necessary licenses would be available on acceptable terms, if at all. Our inability to obtain these licenses or other rights or to obtain such licenses or rights on favorable terms, or the need to engage in litigation regarding these matters, could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition.
The industry in which we compete is characterized by rapidly changing technology, a large number of patents, and frequent claims and related litigation regarding patent and other intellectual property rights. We cannot assure you that our patents and other proprietary rights will not be challenged, invalidated or circumvented, that others will not assert intellectual property rights to technologies that are relevant to us, or that our rights will give us a competitive advantage. In addition, the laws of some foreign countries may not protect our proprietary rights to the same extent as the laws of the United States.
Sales and Marketing
We have a sales presence in various domestic and international locations, and we sell our products and services both directly and indirectly through partners, as described below:
•Satellite Services Sales Organization. Our satellite services sales organization involves both direct and indirect channels and varies based on subscriber and service type. Our commercial aviation offerings are sold direct to airlines, and our business aviation offerings are sold through direct sales and business development personnel as well as through aviation-focused value-added resellers. Our maritime service offerings are sold through direct and indirect value-added reseller partners targeting a variety of maritime commercial prospects. In each case, our focus is to identify business opportunities and develop solutions for the unique needs of each customer segment. Our residential fixed broadband services are primarily sold directly to customers through our Viasat Internet website, sales call centers and active retail dealers, and we utilize extensive dealer networks across the United States, as well as in each country where residential fixed broadband services are offered, to sell such services. Our business internet offerings are sold through a mix of direct sales personnel who work with enterprises and a network of enterprise-focused master agents and wholesale distribution partners. Finally, our community internet services are sold through local distribution partnerships.
•Commercial Networks Sales Organization. Our commercial networks sales organization consists of sales managers and sales engineers, who act as the primary interface to establish account relationships and determine technical requirements for customer networks. In addition to our sales force, we maintain a highly-trained service staff to provide technical product and service support to our customers. The sales cycle in the commercial network market is often lengthy and it is not unusual for a sale to take up to 18 months from the initial contact through the execution of the agreement. The sales process often includes several network design iterations, network demonstrations and pilot networks consisting of a few sites.
•Government Systems Sales Organization. Our government systems sales organization consists of both direct sales personnel who sell our standard products and services, and business development personnel who work with engineers, program managers, marketing managers and contract managers to identify business opportunities, develop customer relationships, develop solutions for customers’ needs, prepare proposals and negotiate contractual arrangements. The period of time from initial contact through the point of product sale and delivery can take over three years for more complex product developments. Products already in production can usually be delivered to a customer between 90 to 180 days from the point of product sale.
•Strategic Partners. To augment our direct sales efforts, we seek to develop key strategic relationships to market and sell our products and services. We direct our sales and marketing efforts to our strategic partners, primarily through our senior management relationships. In some cases a strategic ally may be the prime contractor for a system or network installation and will subcontract a portion of the project to us. In other cases, the strategic ally may recommend us as the prime contractor for the design and integration of the network. We seek strategic relationships and partners based on many factors, including financial resources, technical capability, geographic location and market presence.
Our marketing team works closely with our corporate and segment leadership, customer account executives, and business development, sales and operations organizations to increase the awareness and value of the Viasat brand through a mix of positive program performance, agile, results-oriented multichannel marketing campaigns that reflect new and evolving customer journeys, public relations, paid and owned media, live and virtual events, and conference speaking engagements that keep the market current on our services, products and features. Viasat products and services, both in the U.S. and internationally, are typically sold under one unified master global brand, using a single logo and visual identity system. Our marketing team also identifies and sizes new and adjacent target markets for our products and services, evaluates our customer experience, creates awareness of our company and our portfolio of offerings, and generates contacts and leads within these targeted markets.
Competition
The markets in which we compete are characterized by rapid change, converging technologies and a migration to solutions that offer higher capacity and speed and other superior advantages. These market factors represent both an opportunity and a competitive threat to us. In many cases our competitors can also be our customers or partners. Accordingly, maintaining an open and cooperative relationship is important. The overall number of our competitors may increase, and the identity and composition of competitors may change. As we continue to expand our business globally, we may see new competition in different geographic regions.
To compete, we emphasize:
•the high-quality, resilience, reliability, security and broad geographic availability of our service offerings;
•our deep understanding of our customers’ unique expectations and requirements;
•our proven designs and network integration services for complex, customized network needs;
•our demonstrated performance in uniquely challenging environments;
•the increased bandwidth efficiency offered by our networks, products and services;
•our safety certified L-band network enabling robust safety services for aviation, government and maritime customers;
•our advanced security and information assurance capabilities;
•the innovative and flexible features integrated into our products and services;
•our network management experience;
•our end-to-end network implementation capabilities;
•the distinct advantages of satellite data networks;
•the technical advantages and advanced features of our antenna systems as compared to our competitors’ offerings; and
•the overall cost-effectiveness of our communications systems, products and services.
While we believe we compete successfully on each of these factors, we expect to continue to face intense competition in each of our markets.
In our satellite services segment, our aviation service offerings compete against air-to-ground mobile services and other satellite-based services, such as the services offered by Anuvu (formerly Global Eagle), Gogo, Intelsat, SES, SpaceX, Thales Group, SmartSky, Iridium and Panasonic Avionics Corporation, among others. Our maritime service offerings compete against Marlink, Navarino, KVH, SES, SpaceX and Speedcast, among others. In our fixed broadband business, we compete with broadband service offerings from wireline and wireless telecommunications companies, including cable companies, fiber and DSL companies, satellite companies and fixed wireless companies. New entrants, some with significant financial resources and new emerging offerings (including terrestrial and space-based networks, such as LEO and MEO constellations) also compete with our satellite service offerings.
In our commercial networks segment, we compete with numerous other providers of satellite and terrestrial communications systems, products and equipment, including: CPI Antenna Systems Division, Comtech, EchoStar (Hughes Network Systems), General Dynamics, Gilat, iDirect Technologies, Newtec, L3Harris, Panasonic Avionics Corporation, Safran Aerosystems, Maxar, SpaceX and Thales Group. In addition, some of our customers continuously evaluate whether to develop and manufacture their own products and could elect to compete with us at any time.
Within our government systems segment, we generally compete with government communications service providers and manufacturers of defense electronics products, systems or subsystems, such as BAE Systems, Collins Aerospace, General Dynamics, Intelsat, Iridium, Eutelsat, OneWeb, SES, SpaceX, Telesat, L3Harris, EchoStar (Hughes Network Systems) and similar companies. We may also compete directly with the largest defense prime contractors, including Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and Raytheon Technologies Corporation. In many cases we partner with our competitors, and therefore maintaining an open and cooperative relationship is important.
Many of our competitors have significant competitive advantages, including strong customer relationships, more experience with regulatory compliance, greater financial and management resources and access to technologies not available to us. Many of our competitors are also substantially larger than we are, may have greater brand recognition, substantial capital resources or more extensive engineering, manufacturing and marketing capabilities than we do, may have access to spectrum or technologies not available to us, or may be able to offer bundled service offerings that we are not able to replicate. As a result, these competitors may be able to adapt more quickly to changing technology or market conditions or may be able to devote greater resources to the development, promotion and sale of their products.
Manufacturing
Our manufacturing objective is to produce high-quality products that conform to specifications at the lowest possible manufacturing cost. To achieve this objective, we primarily utilize a range of contract manufacturers that are selected based on the production volumes and complexity of the product. By employing contract manufacturers, we are able to reduce the costs of products and support rapid fluctuations in delivery rates when needed. As part of our manufacturing process, we conduct extensive testing and quality control procedures for all products before they are delivered to customers.
Contract manufacturers produce products for many different customers and pass on the benefits of large-scale manufacturing to their customers. These manufacturers are able to produce high quality products at lower costs by: (1) exercising their high-volume purchasing power, (2) employing advanced and efficient production equipment and capital intensive systems whose costs are leveraged across their broad customer base, and (3) using a cost-effective skilled workforce.
Our experienced management team facilitates an efficient contract manufacturing process through the development of strong relationships with a number of different domestic and offshore contract manufacturers. By negotiating beneficial contract provisions and purchasing some of the equipment needed to manufacture our products, we retain the ability to move the production of our products from one contract manufacturing source to another if required. Our operations management has experience in the successful transition from in-house production to contract manufacturing. The degree to which we employ contract manufacturing depends on the maturity of the product and the forecasted production life cycle. We intend to limit our internal manufacturing capacity to supporting new product development activities, building customized products that need to be manufactured in strict accordance with a customer’s specifications or delivery schedules, and building proprietary, highly sensitive Viasat-designed products and components for use in our proprietary technology platform. Therefore, our internal manufacturing capability for standard products has been, and is expected to continue to be, very limited and we intend to continue to rely on contract manufacturers for large-scale manufacturing. Our internal manufacturing capability is dependent on the availability of essential materials, parts and subassemblies from our suppliers and subcontractors. We use numerous sources for the wide array of raw materials required for our operations and our products, such as electronic components, printed circuit boards, metals and plastics. Although alternative sources generally exist for these raw materials, qualification of the sources could take a year or more. We also rely on outside vendors to manufacture specific components and subassemblies used in the production of our products. Some components, subassemblies, and services necessary for the manufacture of our products are obtained from a sole source supplier or a limited group of suppliers.
Regulatory Environment
We are required to comply with the laws and regulations of, and often obtain approvals from, national and local authorities in connection with the services that we provide. In particular, we provide a number of services that rely on the use of radio-frequency (RF) spectrum, and the provision of such services is highly regulated. National authorities generally require that the satellites they authorize be operated in a manner consistent with the regulations and procedures of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a specialized agency of the United Nations, which require the coordination of the operation of satellite networks and systems in certain circumstances, and more generally are intended to avoid the occurrence of harmful interference among different users of RF spectrum.
We also produce a variety of communications systems and networking equipment, the design, manufacture, and marketing of which are subject to the laws and regulations of the jurisdictions in which we sell such equipment. We are subject to export control laws and regulations, and trade and economic sanctions laws and regulations, with respect to the export of such systems and equipment. As a government contractor, we are subject to procurement laws and regulations.
Radio-frequency and Communications Regulation
International Telecommunication Union
The orbital location and frequencies for our satellites are subject to the ITU’s regulations, including its frequency registration and coordination procedures, and its various provisions on spectrum usage. Those procedures are specified in the ITU Radio Regulations and seek to facilitate shared international use of limited spectrum and orbital resources in a manner that avoids harmful interference. Among other things, the ITU Radio Regulations set forth procedures for establishing international priority with respect to the use of such resources, deadlines for bringing satellite networks into use in order to maintain such priority, and coordination rights and obligations with respect to other networks, which vary depending on whether such networks have higher or lower ITU priority.
The ITU Radio Regulations provide allocations or designations for how spectrum can be used for various purposes, and whether such uses operate on a primary or secondary basis with respect to one another. Secondary uses may not cause harmful interference to primary uses and may not claim interference protection from primary uses.
On our behalf, various countries have made ITU filings, and may in the future make additional filings, for the frequency assignments at particular orbital locations that are used, or may in the future be used, by our current satellite networks and potential future satellite networks we may build or acquire. In the event that any international coordination process that is triggered by such an ITU filing is not successfully completed, or bringing into use deadlines or requirements are not satisfied, we may be compelled to accept more limited or suboptimal orbital and spectrum rights, to operate the applicable satellite(s) on a non-interference basis, or to cease operating such satellite(s) altogether. The orbital arc is becoming increasingly congested with respect to such ITU filings and the satellite networks operated under those filings.
In addition, the ITU Radio Regulations are subject to change at periodic ITU World Radiocommunication Conferences (WRCs), and their application is determined by various governing bodies within the ITU. WRCs typically are convened approximately every four years, with the next one scheduled to occur at the end of calendar year 2027. The next WRC is expected to consider various changes to the ITU Radio Regulations that address the terms and conditions under which spectrum is used for satellite and terrestrial purposes, and future WRCs are likely to do the same.
Spectrum
The space stations and ground networks we use to provide our broadband, VoIP, and other services rely on access to spectrum within each country in which we do business. Use of such spectrum is authorized by regulatory authorities within each country (or a regional authority whose jurisdiction over spectrum rights encompasses that country), which determine the terms and conditions for access to and use of that spectrum in that particular country. The terms and conditions for access can and do vary by country, may differ from the ITU Radio Regulations, and may change over time. In particular, the growing demand for both satellite and terrestrial communications services is causing many countries to evaluate how spectrum is used within their borders, and to consider changes in the local terms and conditions for access to and use of spectrum. Those terms and conditions affect, among other things, the extent to which, and how, we must share spectrum with other spectrum users, including terrestrial and satellite uses, and whether we must operate on a secondary basis in some cases. Most of the spectrum on which we rely is shared with other satellite networks, including those operating in different orbits that could cross our orbital location and result in interference conditions. In many countries, portions of the spectrum on which we rely also are shared with terrestrial wireless services.
If the deployment of new terrestrial or satellite networks results in harmful interference into our satellite operations, or if the implementation of those networks under newly adopted terms and conditions constrains or prohibits the types of spectrum uses for which we have planned in a manner that we do not anticipate, such developments could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Broadband Services
We provide high-speed broadband internet access, VoIP, and other services to customers in the United States, as well as in Europe and Latin America, and on aircraft and seagoing vessels travelling around the world. Our provision of these services is subject to a number of legal obligations, including requirements to obtain licenses, authorizations, and/or registrations to provide service in or to a given jurisdiction, implementation of certain network capabilities to assist law enforcement, and open internet requirements. Legislators and regulators often consider changes to existing statutes, rules, and requirements, or prescribe new ones, which could significantly impact the ability to comply, or the costs of complying with, these types of obligations, or that otherwise could materially and adversely affect our ability to provide service in a given jurisdiction.
US Regulation
The commercial use of RF spectrum in the United States is subject to the jurisdiction of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) under the Communications Act of 1934, as amended (Communications Act). The FCC is responsible for licensing the operation of satellite earth stations and spacecraft, regulating the technical and other aspects of the operation of these facilities, and regulating certain aspects of the provision of services to customers.
Earth Stations. The Communications Act requires a license for the operation of transmitting satellite earth station facilities and certain receiving satellite earth station facilities in the United States. We currently hold licenses authorizing us to operate various earth stations within the United States, including, but not limited to, user terminals and facilities that aggregate traffic and interconnect with the internet backbone and network hubs. These licenses typically are granted for
15-year terms, and typically are renewed in the ordinary course. Material changes in earth station operations would require prior approval by the FCC. The operation of our earth stations is subject to various license conditions, as well as the technical and operational requirements of the FCC’s rules and regulations.
Space Stations. In the United States, the FCC authorizes the launch and operation of commercial spacecraft, and also authorizes non-U.S.-licensed spacecraft to be used to serve the United States. The FCC has authorized the use of the ViaSat-1, ViaSat-2, WildBlue-1, and Anik spacecrafts and one ViaSat-3 class spacecraft (ViaSat-3) to serve the United States. The use of these spacecraft in our business is subject to various conditions in the underlying authorizations, as well as the technical and operational requirements of the FCC’s rules and regulations.
Universal Service and Other Broadband Subsidies. Certain of our services may constitute the provision of telecommunications to, from, or within the United States, and we are required to contribute a percentage of our revenues from such services to universal service support mechanisms that subsidize the provision of services to low-income consumers, high-cost areas, schools, libraries, and rural health care providers. This percentage is set each calendar quarter by the FCC, and currently is 32.8%. Current FCC rules permit us to pass this universal service contribution through to our customers. The FCC has established universal service funding mechanisms to support the provision of voice and broadband services in certain high-cost areas of the United States. These supporting mechanisms are known as the Connect America Fund (CAF) and the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF). In addition, under the new Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, funding for broadband service is expected to be distributed by U.S. states and territories under the oversight and administration of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). Among other things, the CAF, RDOF, and BEAD mechanisms provide, or will likely provide, support to terrestrial service providers under terms and conditions that are not available to satellite-based service providers. The CAF and RDOF mechanisms could provide other service providers a competitive advantage in providing broadband services in supported areas, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. Additionally, Viasat has been awarded $122.5 million in support under the CAF program to serve certain portions of the country, and must comply with federal and state obligations imposed in connection with such support.
CALEA. We are obligated to comply with the requirements of the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA), which requires telecommunications providers and broadband internet access providers to ensure that law enforcement agencies are able to conduct lawfully authorized surveillance of users of their services.
Net Neutrality. In February 2015, the FCC adopted new rules intended to preserve the openness of the internet, a concept generally referred to as “net neutrality” or “open internet.” The FCC’s net neutrality rules, among other things, prohibited all ISPs from: (i) blocking access to legal content, applications, services, or non-harmful devices (subject to an exception for “reasonable network management”); (ii) impairing or degrading lawful internet traffic on the basis of content, applications, services, or non-harmful devices (subject to the same exception); (iii) favoring some lawful internet traffic over other lawful traffic in exchange for consideration of any kind whatsoever; and (iv) unreasonably interfering with or unreasonably disadvantaging the ability of end users to access content or the ability of content providers to access end users (again subject to the exception for reasonable network management). ISPs also were obligated to make certain disclosures to consumers with respect to their network management policies.
In adopting these rules, the FCC relied on Title II of the Communications Act, which authorizes the FCC to regulate telecommunications common carriers. More specifically, the FCC reclassified mass-market retail broadband internet access service as a “telecommunications service” subject to common-carrier regulation under Title II, reversing longstanding precedent classifying broadband as a lightly regulated “information service” not subject to such regulation. Such common-carrier regulation potentially could have included review of the reasonableness of an ISP’s rates and practices.
In January 2018, the FCC adopted an order restoring the classification of broadband internet access service as a lightly regulated information service, ending the Title II regulatory approach adopted in 2015. The order eliminated explicit requirements against blocking or throttling traffic and paid prioritization of traffic. At the same time, the FCC maintained the consumer disclosure requirements with some modifications and acknowledged the jurisdiction of the Federal Trade Commission to enforce consumer protection measures. The 2018 order was largely upheld by the D.C. Circuit.
In April 2024, the FCC adopted an order largely reverting to the 2015 approach by reclassifying mass-market broadband internet access service as a telecommunications service under Title II of the Communications Act and re-establishing the prior net neutrality rules. The order also adopted certain additional requirements that were not part of the 2015 framework, such as entry regulation under Title II. In addition, legislative proposals that would impose net neutrality requirements have been considered in Congress, and some states have adopted versions of the net neutrality requirements. A lawsuit challenging California's net neutrality statute was dismissed without prejudice in May 2022, and
the California statute is now in effect. Other legislative actions at the state level are being challenged in courts on federal preemption and other grounds. We cannot predict the outcome of these pending lawsuits or federal and state regulatory and legislative efforts, or any resulting impact on ISPs.
Privacy and Data Security. We are subject to federal and state laws concerning the privacy of consumers and the security we apply to their personal information. Certain of these laws provide privacy protections for certain types of personal information related to our voice services (referred to by such laws as customer proprietary network information). The Federal Trade Commission also oversees consumer privacy and data security more broadly through its authority to take enforcement action for unfair or deceptive practices, and state consumer protection laws can prompt review of privacy practices by state attorneys general. In addition, certain states have established specific consumer privacy and data security requirements, including the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and the California Privacy Rights Act that amended the CCPA in January 2023, which combined give California residents, among other things, the right to receive certain disclosures regarding the collection, use, and disclosure of personal information, as well as rights to access, delete, and restrict the sale and sharing of certain personal information collected about them by us and our service providers. State laws similar to those in California continue to multiply and evolve, and as various states pass their own comprehensive privacy laws, we and our business customers and partners could be exposed to additional regulatory complexities and obligations. Many states also have enacted security breach notification laws requiring notice to consumers and government agencies upon disclosure of certain information to an unauthorized party resulting from a security breach. In addition, the SEC recently issued enhanced requirements related to the reporting of material cybersecurity incidents, and the FCC likewise has issued new data breach notification rules for providers of telecommunications services.
Foreign Regulation
Our operation of spacecraft and ground network and our provision of services to customers outside of the United States are subject to legal requirements of the jurisdictions issuing the satellite authorizations and in which Viasat provides services. These include obtaining the market access, spectrum access and licenses, authorizations and/or registrations that are necessary to operate or provide service in or to a given jurisdiction, and in many cases licenses for the operation of transmitting satellite earth station facilities and certain receiving satellite earth station facilities. In particular, we must obtain authority to operate various earth stations outside the United States, including but not limited to user terminals and facilities that aggregate traffic and interconnect with the internet backbone and network hubs. This authority is subject to conditions and limitations that vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.
The spacecraft we use in our business are subject to the regulatory authority of, and conditions imposed by, foreign governments, as well as contractual arrangements with third parties and the rules and procedures of the ITU. Our ViaSat-1 satellite operates under authority granted to ManSat Limited by the governments of the Isle of Man and the United Kingdom (as well as authority from the FCC), and pursuant to contractual arrangements we have with ManSat Limited that extend past the expected useful life of ViaSat-1. ViaSat-2 and various Inmarsat satellites operate under the authority of the United Kingdom. ViaSat-3 operates under the authority of the United Kingdom and the FCC. We also use Ka-band capacity on the Anik satellite to provide our broadband services under an agreement with Telesat Canada, and we may do so until the end of the useful life of that satellite. Telesat Canada operates that satellite under authority granted to it by the government of Canada. We also currently use the WildBlue-1 satellite, which we own, and which is co-located with Anik under authority granted to Telesat Canada by the government of Canada, and pursuant to an agreement we have with Telesat Canada that expires upon the end of the useful life of Anik. Accordingly, we are reliant upon ManSat Limited and Telesat Canada maintaining their respective governmental rights on which our operating rights are based. The use of these spacecraft in our business is subject to various conditions in the underlying authorizations held by us, ManSat Limited and Telesat Canada, as well as the technical and operational requirements of the rules and regulations of those jurisdictions.
We are also subject to certain other forms of foreign regulation in connection with our provision of communications services. In the area of privacy, we are subject to existing, new, and evolving laws and regulations in the markets in which we operate. For instance, certain of our business units are subject to the European Union’s (EU) General Data Protection Regulation, which imposes transparency, accountability, data protection, cross-border data transfer, and other obligations on Viasat both as a data controller and a data processor of the personal data of individuals in the EU. Privacy laws and regulations can be subject to differing interpretations and may be inconsistent among jurisdictions. Certain foreign jurisdictions in which we operate also impose requirements related to network management practices, cooperation with local law enforcement agencies, and other matters. A smaller number of foreign jurisdictions in which we operate have adopted laws enabling the government to suspend ISP services in the country.
Equipment Design, Manufacture, and Marketing
We must comply with the applicable laws and regulations and, where required, obtain the approval of the regulatory authority of each country in which we design, manufacture, or market our communications systems and networking equipment. Applicable laws and regulatory requirements vary from country to country, and jurisdiction to jurisdiction. The increasing demand for wireless communications has exerted pressure on regulatory bodies worldwide to adopt new standards for these products, generally following extensive investigation and deliberation over competing technologies. The delays inherent in this government approval process have in the past caused and may in the future cause the cancellation, postponement or rescheduling of the installation of communication systems by our customers, which in turn may have a material adverse impact on the sale of our products to the customers.
Equipment Testing and Verification. Certain equipment that we manufacture must comply with applicable technical requirements intended to minimize radio interference to other communications services and ensure product safety. In the United States, the FCC is responsible for ensuring that communications devices comply with technical requirements for minimizing radio interference and human exposure to radio emissions. Other regulators perform similar functions around the world. These types of requirements typically provide for equipment to be tested either by the manufacturer or by a private testing organization to ensure compliance with the applicable technical requirements. In some cases, the regulator requires submission of an application, which must be approved by the regulator or a private testing organization accredited by the regulator.
Export Controls. Due to the nature and sophistication of our communications products, we must comply with applicable U.S. Government and other agency regulations regarding the handling and export of certain of our products. This often requires extra or special handling of these products and could increase our costs. Failure to comply with these regulations could result in substantial harm to us, including fines, penalties and the forfeiture of future rights to sell or export these products.
Aviation-Related Regulation
Aircraft Modification. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is responsible for the regulation and oversight of civil aviation within the United States. The FAA develops and enforces airworthiness standards and regulations that certify the industry’s ability to manufacture aircraft and aircraft components, perform modification and maintenance activities on aircraft, and repair equipment previously installed on aircraft. We interact with the FAA regarding aircraft modification through two main activities: (1) supporting Type Certificate (TC) activity with an aircraft original equipment manufacturer (OEM) to obtain linefit installation certification of our IFC and W-IFE equipment and (2) obtaining a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) to enable the retrofit installation of our IFC and W-IFE equipment. With respect to TC activity, the OEM is responsible for full certification and FAA regulatory compliance and we are responsible for providing certified equipment to the OEM. With respect to STC activity, we typically use Organization Designation Authorization (ODA) to support holding and maintaining our STCs to ensure FAA regulatory compliance. We also work with OEMs and airlines internationally who are not subject to the FAA's jurisdiction. In those situations, we adhere to the regulations and oversight of comparable foreign agencies in the applicable jurisdictions. Our commercial aviation business depends on our ability to interact with the FAA, comparable foreign agencies and ODAs, as well as certified engineering professionals, in order to access data and obtain authorizations and approvals.
Parts Manufacturing Approval. We have a wide range of products supporting both commercial and business aviation customers. The FAA, under its Part Manufacturing Approval (PMA) program, provides authorization to entities like us and our vendors to manufacture and deliver IFC and W-IFE equipment. These approvals are provided through assigned FAA Manufacturing Inspection District Offices and are subject to strict rules and ongoing oversight. We have been able to obtain PMA on all of our current IFC and W-IFE product offerings due to multiple agreements with both major OEMs for linefit installations and ODAs for retrofit installations.
FAA Part 145 Repair Stations. The FAA has approved several of our locations as 14 CFR Part 145 repair stations, which enables us to provide ongoing support to customers with respect to our IFC and W-IFE systems. These repair stations support both line-replaceable unit (LRU) and line maintenance activities associated with our IFC and W-IFE products. These approvals are provided and overseen by FAA Flight Standards District Offices. We have also obtained European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) approval for our repair stations dedicated to LRU repair and maintenance for our IFC and W-IFE products.
Environmental Regulations
We are subject to a variety of U.S. and international regulations relating to the storage, discharge, handling, emission, generation, manufacture and disposal of toxic or other hazardous substances used to manufacture our products. In addition, we could be affected by future U.S. or international laws or regulations imposed in response to concerns over climate change, and we monitor developments in environmental and climate-related laws and regulations and their potential impact to our business and financial condition. The failure to comply with current or future laws or
regulations could result in the imposition of substantial fines on us, suspension of production, alteration of our manufacturing processes or cessation of operations. To date, the current regulations have not had a material effect on our business, as we have neither incurred significant costs to maintain compliance nor to remedy past noncompliance, and we do not expect such regulations to have a material effect on our business in the current fiscal year.
Other Regulations
As a government contractor, we are routinely subject to audit and review by the DCMA, the DCAA and other U.S. Government agencies of our performance on government contracts, indirect rates and pricing practices, accounting and management internal control business systems, and compliance with applicable contracting and procurement laws, regulations and standards. Both contractors and the U.S. Government agencies conducting these audits and reviews have come under increased scrutiny. In particular, audits and reviews have become more rigorous and the standards to which we are held are being more strictly interpreted, increasing the likelihood of an audit or review resulting in an adverse outcome. Increases in congressional scrutiny and investigations into business practices and major programs supported by contractors may lead to increased legal costs and may harm our reputation and profitability if we are among the targeted companies. An adverse outcome to a review or audit or other failure to comply with applicable contracting and procurement laws, regulations and standards could result in material civil and criminal penalties and administrative sanctions being imposed on us, which may include termination of contracts, forfeiture of profits, triggering of price reduction clauses, suspension of payments, significant customer refunds, fines and suspension, or a prohibition on doing business with U.S. Government agencies. In addition, if we fail to obtain an “adequate” determination of our various accounting and management internal control business systems from applicable U.S. Government agencies or if allegations of impropriety are made against us, we could suffer serious harm to our business or our reputation, including our ability to bid on new contracts or receive contract renewals or our competitive position in the bidding process. Any of these outcomes could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Seasonality
In our satellite services segment, we typically see increased demand for our IFC services from airline passengers during peak holiday and summer travel periods, and historically subscriber activity for our fixed broadband services has been influenced by seasonal effects related to traditional retail selling periods (with new sales activity generally anticipated to be higher in the second half of the calendar year). However, IFC service uptake, sales activity and churn can be strongly affected by other factors which may either offset or magnify any anticipated seasonal effects, including the grounding of aircraft, flight disruptions, availability of capacity, promotional and subscriber retention efforts, changes in our resellers, distributors and wholesalers, changes in the competitive landscape, economic conditions, and other factors affecting customer demand.
Our commercial networks segment is not generally affected by seasonal impacts. In our government systems segment, our results are impacted by various factors including the timing of contract awards (with the second quarter of our fiscal year, for example, typically receiving a greater number of government contract awards) and the timing and availability of U.S. Government funding, as well as the timing of product deliveries and customer acceptance.
Availability of Public Reports
Through a link on the Investor Relations section of our website at www.viasat.com, we make available the following filings as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with or furnished to the SEC: our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and any amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All such filings are available free of charge. They are also available free of charge on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
We webcast our earnings calls and post the materials used in meetings with members of the investment community on the Investor Relations section of our website. Additionally, we provide notifications of news or announcements regarding our financial performance, including SEC filings, investor events, press and earnings releases and other supplemental information about our business on the Investor Relations section of our website. We also use the Investor Relations section of our website as a means of disclosing material non-public information and for complying with our disclosure obligations under Regulation FD. Accordingly, investors should monitor the Investor Relations section of our website, in addition to following our press releases, SEC filings and public conference calls and webcasts. Information relating to our corporate governance, including our certificate of incorporation, bylaws, corporate governance guidelines, board committee charters and guide to business conduct, is also included on the Investor Relations section of our website. The information contained on, or that may be accessed through, our website is neither incorporated by reference into nor made a part of this report.
Human Capital
Employees. As of March 31, 2024, we employed approximately 7,500 individuals worldwide, with 64% of our workforce located in the United States. We consistently engage with our employees and generally consider the relationships with our employees to be positive, with a significant majority stating that they are proud to work at Viasat. Competition for technical personnel in our industry is intense. We believe our future success depends in part on our continued ability to attract, hire, engage and retain qualified personnel.
Human Capital Resources. Viasat has a long history of putting people first. We believe that one of the most important investments we make is in our people. Our mission to connect the world depends on our ability to come together as one team to make a positive impact. As a global team, we take pride in our culture of teamwork, trust and collaboration. We prioritize our employees’ health and well-being to ensure we are all able to do our best work. For example, we have a dedicated global environmental, health, and safety (EHS) team which reinforces the importance of our safety programs and encourages a culture of safe work practices in all of our locations. All employees are trained with our EHS Essentials course, with additional courses such as "Working with hazardous material" provided annually for relevant employees.
We provide a comprehensive benefits package to all of our employees, which includes for eligible employees medical, dental, vision care, disability insurance, life insurance benefits, flexible spending plan, a 401(k) savings plan, educational reimbursement program, employee assistance program, employee stock purchase plan, holidays and personal time off which includes vacation and sick days as needed.
Our key pillars of human capital management are ensuring the health and safety of our employees, developing talented people, fostering diversity and inclusion and engaging communities. We believe that our long-term success is in large part dependent on our success across these dimensions, and we will continue to invest in and prioritize these areas in the future.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. The diversity of our employees is one of our most treasured assets. Our strategy for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is to embed and embrace DEI in everything we do, from how we approach talent to our overall business strategy. We understand that an authentic commitment to DEI starts with inclusive and equitable recruitment and talent development practices. In fiscal year 2022, we began applying hiring attribute lenses to recruitment practices to enable a more effective assessment of candidates to the talent needs of Viasat. To date, we have ten active employee resource groups designed to build meaningful connections among employees around shared experiences, cultures and interests.
Executive Officers
Set forth below is information concerning our executive officers and their ages:
Name
Age
Position
Mark Dankberg
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
Robert Blair
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
Girish Chandran
Chief Technical Officer
Evan Dixon
President, Global Fixed Broadband
James Dodd
Senior Vice President and President, Aviation
Shawn Duffy
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
K. Guru Gowrappan
President
Kevin Harkenrider
Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Corporate Officer
Craig Miller
President, Global Space Networks
Mark Miller
Executive Vice President and Chief Technical Officer
Krishna Nathan
Chief Information Officer
Ben Palmer
President, Maritime
Mark Dankberg is a founder of Viasat and has served as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer since its inception in May 1986, except for the period from November 2020 to June 2022 when he served as Executive Chairman. Mr. Dankberg provides Viasat with significant operational, business and technological expertise in the satellite and communications industry, and intimate knowledge of the issues facing our management. Mr. Dankberg also has significant expertise and perspective as a member of the boards of directors of companies in various industries, including communications. Mr. Dankberg currently serves on the board of Lytx, Inc., a privately-held company that provides fleet
safety management solutions. Prior to founding Viasat, he was Assistant Vice President of M/A-COM Linkabit, a manufacturer of satellite telecommunications equipment, from 1979 to 1986, and Communications Engineer for Rockwell International Corporation from 1977 to 1979. Mr. Dankberg holds B.S.E.E. and M.E.E. degrees from Rice University.
Robert Blair joined Viasat in May 2008 as Assistant General Counsel. In April 2009, Mr. Blair was appointed Associate General Counsel and in 2014 was appointed Vice President and Deputy General Counsel. In May 2017, Mr. Blair served as Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary beginning in May 2017 and assumed his current position as Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary in December 2021. In addition, Mr. Blair has served as a director of the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation since 2015. Prior to joining Viasat, Mr. Blair was an associate at the law firm of Latham & Watkins LLP. Mr. Blair holds a J.D. degree from Stanford University and A.B. degrees in Broadcast Journalism and Policy Studies from Syracuse University.
Girish Chandran joined Viasat in October 2007 as a Principal Engineer. In September 2013, Mr. Chandran was appointed Chief Technology Officer - Commercial Networks. In May 2017, he assumed his current position as Chief Technical Officer. Mr. Chandran has extensive experience building multimedia networks. Prior to joining Viasat, from 2001 to 2007, Mr. Chandran served as Vice President of Engineering at Newtec America Inc., a satellite communications equipment provider. From 1995 to 2001, he held several roles, including Vice President of Systems Engineering, at Tiernan Communications Inc. (acquired by Radyne Comstream Inc.), a provider of video compression and transmission solutions. Mr. Chandran earned a Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of California, San Diego, an M.S. degree in Electrical Communication Engineering from the Indian Institute of Science and a BSc. degree in Physics from the University of Kerala.
Evan Dixon joined Viasat in 2015 and served as Deputy CEO and Chief Marketing Officer of Euro Broadband Infrastructure Sàrl (which was at that time 49% owned by Viasat). In March 2018, he was appointed Vice President and General Manager of Viasat Europe, and in March 2020, he was appointed President, Global Fixed Broadband. Mr. Dixon previously held senior management positions at DIRECTV, a satellite television company, and AT&T Inc., a telecommunications company. Mr. Dixon holds a B.S. degree in Business Administration from the University of Colorado and an M.B.A. degree from Pepperdine University.
James Dodd joined Viasat in March 2020 as President, Global Mobile Solutions. In December 2020, he was appointed Senior Vice President and President, Global Enterprise & Mobility, and in August 2023, he assumed his current position as Senior Vice President and President, Aviation. Prior to joining Viasat, Mr. Dodd held a number of senior-level aviation management and engineering roles at Boeing, focused on complex Department of Defense and international contracted programs, overseeing strategic planning, execution, engineering and business development. Mr. Dodd was retired from October 2016 to February 2020, and at Boeing served as Vice President and Program Manager - Mobility, Surveillance and Engagement from 2015 to September 2016, Vice President and Program Manager - Weapons and Missile Systems from 2013 to 2014, and Vice President and Program Manager - Phantom Works, Advanced Boeing Military Aircraft from 2011 to 2012. Mr. Dodd earned an M.B.A. degree from Seattle University and a B.S. degree in Physics from Arkansas State University.
Shawn Duffy joined Viasat in 2005 as Corporate Controller. In 2009, she was appointed Viasat’s Vice President and Corporate Controller and in 2012 was appointed Vice President - Corporate Controller and Chief Accounting Officer. From August 2012 until April 2013, Ms. Duffy also served as interim Chief Financial Officer. She assumed her current position as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in June 2014. Prior to joining Viasat, Ms. Duffy was a Senior Manager at Ernst & Young, LLP, serving the technology and consumer product markets. Ms. Duffy is a certified public accountant in the State of California, and earned a B.S.B.A. degree in Accounting from San Diego State University.
K. Guru Gowrappan joined Viasat in April 2023 as President. Mr. Gowrappan is a co-founder of Bali Venture Partners, a privately held company that invests in early and growth stage enterprises. From October 2018 until September 2021, Mr. Gowrappan served as Chief Executive Officer of Verizon Media Group, the media division of Verizon Communications, Inc., a telecommunications company. He joined Verizon in April 2018 as President and Chief Operating Officer of Oath, Inc. From 2015 until joining Verizon in 2018, he held the position of Global Managing Director at the Alibaba Group, a multinational e-commerce company. Previously, Mr. Gowrappan served as Chief Operating Officer at Quixey, a mobile technology company, and Chief Operating Officer for Growth and Emerging Initiatives at Zynga Inc., a video game developer. Mr. Gowrappan currently serves on the boards of Bank of New York Mellon Corp (NYSE: BK) and Water.org, a global nonprofit focused on access to safe water and sanitation. Mr. Gowrappan earned an M.S. degree in Computer Science from the University of Southern California and completed the Business Bridge Program with the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. He also holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Madras in Chennai, India.
Kevin Harkenrider joined Viasat in October 2006 as Director - Operations, served as Vice President - Operations from January 2007 until December 2009, served as Vice President of Viasat and Chief Operating Officer of Viasat Communications Inc. from December 2009 to April 2011, as Senior Vice President - Infrastructure Operations from April 2011 to May 2012, as Senior Vice President - Broadband Services from May 2012 to May 2015, as Senior Vice President - Commercial Networks from May 2015 to May 2018, as Senior Vice President and President, Broadband Systems from May 2018 until March 2020, as Executive Vice President - Global Operations and Chief Operations Officer from March 2020 until November 2021 and as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer since November 2021. In August 2023, Mr. Harkenrider was also appointed to the role of Chief Corporate Officer. Prior to joining Viasat, Mr. Harkenrider served as Account Executive at Computer Sciences Corporation from 2002 through October 2006. From 1992 to 2001, Mr. Harkenrider held several positions at BAE Systems, Mission Solutions (formerly GDE Systems, Marconi Integrated Systems and General Dynamics Corporation, Electronics Division), including Vice President and Program Director, Vice President - Operations and Vice President - Material. Prior to 1992, Mr. Harkenrider served in several director and program manager positions at General Dynamics Corporation. Mr. Harkenrider holds a B.S. degree in Civil Engineering from Union College and an M.B.A. degree from the University of Pittsburgh.
Craig Miller joined Viasat in 1995 and has held numerous technology, business and strategic leadership roles. In January 2015, Mr. Miller was appointed Chief Technology Officer - Government Systems. In May 2021, he was appointed President, Government Systems, and in August 2023, he was appointed President - Global Space Networks. Mr. Miller holds a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Arizona.
Mark Miller is a founder of Viasat and served as Vice President and Chief Technical Officer of Viasat from March 1993 to June 2014, when he assumed his current position as Executive Vice President and Chief Technical Officer. From 1986 through 1993, Mr. Miller served as Engineering Manager. Prior to joining Viasat, Mr. Miller was a Staff Engineer at M/A-COM Linkabit from 1983 to 1986. Mr. Miller holds a B.S.E.E. degree from the University of California, San Diego and an M.S.E.E. degree from the University of California, Los Angeles.
Krishna Nathan joined Viasat in September 2019 as its Chief Information Officer. Mr. Nathan previously held senior leadership roles at S&P Global, a financial information and analytics company, and IBM, a technology company. Mr. Nathan holds a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from George Washington University, an M.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from M.I.T. and a Ph.D. degree in Engineering from Brown University.
Ben Palmer has served as the President of Viasat Maritime since August 2023, and previously served as the President of Inmarsat Maritime since November 2021. Mr. Palmer previously held various roles at Northrop Grumman, including Group Managing Director, Mission Systems Europe, from February 2019 to November 2021 and European Strategy and Business Development Director from May 2014 to February 2019. Prior to Northrop Grumman, he also held leadership positions at AlixPartners, a consulting firm, and BAE Systems, an aerospace and defense company. Mr. Palmer holds a B.A. degree from the University of Oxford and an MS degree from the London Business School.

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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
You should consider each of the following factors as well as the other information in this Annual Report in evaluating our business and prospects. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently consider immaterial may also impair our business operations. If any of the following risks actually occur, our business and financial results could be harmed. In that case, the trading price of our common stock could decline. You should also refer to the other information set forth in this Annual Report, including our financial statements and the related notes.
Risks Related to Our Satellites and Business
Our Operating Results Are Difficult to Predict
Our operating results have varied significantly from quarter to quarter in the past and may continue to do so in the future. Factors that cause our quarter-to-quarter operating results to be unpredictable include the status of satellite-related activities (including the construction, launch and bringing into service of satellites and the associated levels of investment); impact of any construction or launch delays, operational or launch failures, satellite anomalies or deployment issues or other disruptions to our satellites; timing, quantity and mix of products and services sold; unpredictability or length of procurement processes; timing of customer payments; cost overruns (due to inflation or otherwise); impact of one-time charges; and other factors described under the heading “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Factors and Trends Affecting our Results of Operations” in Part II, Item 7 of this report. Any of the foregoing factors, or any other factors discussed elsewhere herein, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations that could adversely affect our stock price.
Satellite Failures or Degradations in Satellite Performance Could Affect Our Business, Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Satellites utilize highly complex technology, operate in the harsh environment of space and are subject to significant operational risks while in orbit. These risks include malfunctions (commonly referred to as anomalies), such as malfunctions in the deployment of subsystems and/or components, interference from electrostatic storms, and collisions with meteoroids, decommissioned spacecraft or other space debris. Anomalies can occur as a result of various factors, including satellite manufacturer error, problems with the power or control sub-system of a satellite or general failures caused by the harsh space environment. Our satellites have experienced various anomalies in the past and we will likely experience anomalies in the future. In addition, satellites may experience issues in deployment or anomalies during orbit raising. For example, our first ViaSat-3 satellite experienced a reflector deployment issue and our I6 satellite experience a power subsystem anomaly during its orbit raising phase. Any single anomaly or other operational failure or degradation on the satellites we use could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Anomalies may also reduce the expected useful life of a satellite, thereby creating additional expense due to the need to provide replacement or backup capacity, which may not be available on reasonable economic terms, a reasonable schedule or at all. In addition, anomalies or satellite failures or degradations may cause a reduction of the revenues generated by the applicable satellite or the recognition of an impairment loss (such as those we experienced in connection with the launch of our ViaSat-3 and I6 satellites), and could lead to claims from third parties for damages. Finally, anomalies may adversely affect our ability to insure our satellites at commercially reasonable premiums or terms, if at all. While some anomalies are covered by insurance policies, others may not be covered or may be subject to large deductibles. Although our satellites have redundant or backup systems and components that operate in the event of an anomaly, operational failure or degradation of primary critical components, these redundant or backup systems and components are subject to risk of failure similar to those experienced by the primary systems and components. The occurrence of a failure of any of these redundant or backup systems and components could materially impair the useful life, capacity, coverage or operational capabilities of the satellite.
Satellites Have a Finite Useful Life, and Their Actual Operational Life May Be Shorter than Their Mission Life
Our ability to earn revenues from our satellite services depends on the continued operation of the satellites we own and operate or use. Each satellite has a limited useful life, referred to as its mission life. There can be no assurance as to the actual operational life of a satellite, which may be shorter than its mission life. A number of factors affect the useful lives of the satellites, including the quality of design and construction, durability of component parts and back-up units, the ability to continue to maintain proper orbit and control over the satellite’s functions, the efficiency of the launch vehicle used, consumption of on-board fuel, degradation and durability of solar panels, the actual space environment experienced and the occurrence of anomalies or other in-orbit risks affecting the satellite. In addition, continued improvements in satellite technology may make satellites obsolete prior to the end of their operational life.
New or Proposed Satellites Are Subject to Significant Risks Related to Construction and Launch that Could Limit Our Ability to Utilize these Satellites
Satellite construction and launch are subject to significant risks, including construction delays, manufacturer error, cost overruns, regulatory conditions or delays, unavailability of launch opportunities, launch failure, damage or destruction during launch and improper orbital placement, any of which could result in significant additional cost or materially impair the useful life, capacity, coverage or operational capabilities of the satellite. The technologies in our satellite designs are also very complex, and there can be no assurance that the technologies will work as we expect or that we will realize any or all of their anticipated benefits. We have in the past identified construction-related issues in our satellites. For example, our ViaSat-2 satellite experienced an antenna deployment issue which reduced its output capabilities. Satellite construction and launch activities may be delayed by a number of factors, many of which may be outside of our control. For example, civil unrest in French Guiana caused a delay in the launch of our ViaSat-2 satellite. Similarly, the COVID-19 pandemic with the resultant construction delays and supply chain disruptions, followed by launch delays caused by both adverse weather events and the scheduling of high priority launch missions, delayed the construction and launch of the ViaSat-3 satellite. If satellite construction schedules are not met or other events prevent satellite launch on schedule, a launch opportunity may not be available at the time the satellite is ready to be launched. In addition, delays in construction or launch could impact our ability to meet milestone conditions in our satellite authorizations and/or to maintain the rights we may enjoy under various ITU filings. A launch failure may result in significant delays because of the need both to construct a replacement satellite and to obtain other launch opportunities. The overall historical launch failure rate for proven/established launch vehicles serving the commercial satellite industry for launches of commercial satellites (similar in size or mission to Viasat's fleet) to geostationary orbits in the last five years is estimated by some industry participants to be close to 0% but could at any time be higher. Launch vehicles may also underperform, in which case the satellite may still be able to be placed into service by using its onboard propulsion systems to reach the desired orbital location, but this would cause a reduction in its useful life. Moreover, even if launch is successful, there can be no assurance that the satellite will successfully reach its geostationary orbital slot and pass in-orbit testing prior to transfer of control of the satellite to us. We may also experience issues during orbital placement and testing, such as the reflector deployment issue experienced with the ViaSat-3 satellite or the power subsystem anomaly suffered by the I-6 satellite during its orbit raising phase. The failure to implement our satellite deployment plan on schedule could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Potential Satellite Losses May Not Be Fully Covered By Insurance, or at All
We may not be able to obtain or renew pre-launch, launch or in-orbit insurance for our satellites on reasonable economic terms or at all. A failure to obtain or renew our satellite insurance may also result in a default under our debt instruments. In addition, the occurrence of anomalies on other satellites, or failures of a satellite using similar components or failures of a similar launch vehicle to any launch vehicle we intend to use, may materially adversely affect our ability to insure our satellites at commercially reasonable premiums or terms, if at all.
The policies covering our insured satellites will not cover the full cost of constructing and launching or replacing a satellite nor fully cover our losses in the event of a satellite failure or significant degradation. Moreover, such policies do not cover lost profits, business interruptions, fixed operating expenses, loss of business or similar losses, including contractual payments that we may be required to make under our agreements with our customers for interruptions or degradations in service. Our insurance contains customary exclusions, material change and other conditions that could limit recovery under those policies, and may contain exclusions for past satellite anomalies. Further, any insurance proceeds may not be received on a timely basis in order to launch a replacement satellite or take other remedial measures. In addition, the policies are subject to limitations involving uninsured losses, large satellite performance deductibles and policy limits.
The Markets in Which We Compete Are Highly Competitive and Our Competitors May Have Greater Resources than Us
The markets in which we compete are highly competitive and competition is increasing. In addition, because the markets in which we operate are constantly evolving and characterized by rapid technological change, it is difficult for us to predict whether, when and by whom new competing technologies, products or services may be introduced into our markets. Currently, we face substantial competition in each of our segments. See “Business-Competition” in Part I, Item 1 of this report for a discussion of the competitive environment in each of our segments. Many of our competitors have significant competitive advantages, including strong customer relationships, more experience with regulatory compliance, greater financial and management resources and access to technologies not available to us. Many of our competitors are also substantially larger than we are and may have more extensive engineering, manufacturing and marketing capabilities than we do. As a result, these competitors may be able to adapt more quickly to changing technology or market conditions or may be able to devote greater resources to the development, promotion and sale of their products. Our ability to
compete in each of our segments may also be adversely affected by limits on our capital resources and our ability to invest in maintaining and expanding our market share.
The Global Business Environment and Economic Conditions Could Negatively Affect Our Business, Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Our business and operating results are affected by the global business environment and economic conditions, including changes in interest rates, consumer credit conditions, consumer debt levels, consumer confidence, rates of inflation, unemployment rates, energy costs, geopolitical issues and other macro-economic factors. For example, high unemployment levels or energy costs may impact our customer base in our satellite services segment by reducing consumers’ discretionary income, reducing airline passenger numbers, and affecting their ability to subscribe for fixed broadband services. Our commercial networks segment similarly depends on the economic health and willingness of our customers and potential customers to make and adhere to capital and financial commitments to purchase our products and services. During periods of slowing global economic growth or recession, our customers or key suppliers may experience deterioration of their businesses, cash flow shortages and difficulty obtaining financing or insolvency. Existing or potential customers may reduce or postpone spending in response to tighter credit, reduced consumer demand, negative financial news or declines in income or asset values, which could have a material negative effect on the demand for our products and services. For example, the business and financial condition of our commercial airline customers were materially impacted during the COVID-19 pandemic by the severe decline in global air travel. In addition, current supply chain and labor market challenges and inflationary pressures have negatively affected and may continue to negatively affect our performance as well as the performance of our suppliers and customers. Moreover, natural disasters (including those resulting from climate change), political instability, civil unrest, terrorist activity, acts of war, and public health issues such as the COVID-19 pandemic or epidemics could disrupt supplies and raise prices globally which, in turn, may have adverse effects on the world and U.S. economies. Any of these factors could result in reduced demand for, and pricing pressure on, our products and services, which could reduce our revenues and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
In addition, U.S. credit and capital markets have experienced significant dislocations and liquidity disruptions from time to time. Uncertainty or volatility in credit or capital markets may negatively impact our ability to access additional debt or equity financing or to refinance existing indebtedness in the future on favorable terms or at all. Any of these risks could impair our ability to fund our operations or limit our ability to expand our business, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Acquisitions such as the Inmarsat Acquisition, Joint Ventures and Other Strategic Alliances May Have an Adverse Effect on Our Business; We May Fail to Realize the Anticipated Benefits of such Transactions
In order to position ourselves to take advantage of growth opportunities, from time to time we make strategic acquisitions and enter into joint ventures and other strategic alliances that involve significant risks and uncertainties. For example, during fiscal year 2024 we completed the Inmarsat Acquisition and in fiscal year 2022 we closed the acquisitions of RigNet and EBI. Risks and uncertainties relating to the these transactions and any other acquisitions, joint ventures and other strategic alliances we may undertake include:
•the difficulty in combining, integrating and managing newly acquired businesses or any businesses of a joint venture or strategic alliance in an efficient and effective manner;
•the challenges in achieving the objectives, cost savings, synergies and other benefits expected from such transactions;
•the risk of diverting resources and the attention of senior management from the operations of our business;
•additional demands on management related to integration efforts or the increase in the size and scope of our company following an acquisition or to the complexities of a joint venture or strategic alliance, including challenges of coordinating geographically dispersed organizations and addressing differences in corporate cultures or management philosophies;
•difficulties in the assimilation and retention of key employees and in maintaining relationships with present and potential customers, distributors and suppliers;
•the lack of unilateral control over a joint venture or strategic alliance and the risk that joint venture or strategic partners have business goals and interests that are not aligned with ours, or the failure of a joint venture partner to satisfy its obligations or its bankruptcy or malfeasance;
•costs and expenses associated with any undisclosed or potential liabilities of an acquired business;
•delays, difficulties or unexpected costs in the integration, assimilation, implementation or modification of platforms, systems, functions (including corporate, administrative, information technology, marketing and distribution functions), technologies, infrastructure, and product and service offerings of the acquired business, joint venture or strategic alliance, or in the harmonization of standards, controls (including internal accounting controls), procedures and policies;
•the risk that funding requirements of the acquired business, joint venture or combined company may be significantly greater than anticipated;
•the risks of entering markets in which we have less experience; and
•the risks of disputes concerning indemnities and other obligations that could result in substantial costs.
We may not achieve the anticipated growth, cost savings or other benefits from the Inmarsat Acquisition or any other transaction we may undertake without adversely affecting current revenues and investments in future growth. Moreover, the anticipated growth, cost savings, synergies and other benefits of the Inmarsat Acquisition or any other transaction we may undertake may not be realized fully, or at all, or may take longer to realize than expected. Additionally, we may inherit legal, regulatory, and other risks of the acquired business, whether known or unknown to us, which may be material to the combined company. Moreover, uncertainty about the effect of a pending transaction on employees, suppliers and customers may have an adverse effect on us and/or the acquired business, which uncertainties may impair our or its ability to attract, retain and motivate key personnel, and could cause our or its customers, suppliers and distributors to seek to change existing business relationships with either of us. In addition, in connection with acquisitions, joint ventures or strategic alliances, we may incur debt, issue equity securities, assume contingent liabilities or have amortization expenses and write-downs of acquired assets, which could cause our earnings per share to decline. In addition, for companies such as Inmarsat that are private companies at the time of acquisition, bringing their legacy systems and procedures into compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 requirements and integrating them into our compliance and accounting systems may cause us to incur substantial additional expense, make some activities more difficult, time-consuming or costly and increase demand on our systems and resources.
Mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures and strategic alliances are inherently risky and subject to many factors outside of our control, and we cannot be certain that our previous or future acquisitions, joint ventures and strategic alliances will be successful and will not materially adversely affect our business, operating results or financial condition. We may not be able to successfully integrate the businesses, products, technologies or personnel that we might acquire in the future, and any strategic investments we make may not meet our financial or other investment objectives. Any failure to do so could seriously harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our Reliance on U.S. Government Contracts Exposes Us to Significant Risks
Our government systems segment revenues typically represent a significant percentage of our total revenues, and are derived primarily from U.S. Government applications. Therefore, any significant disruption or deterioration of our relationship with the U.S. Government would significantly reduce our revenues. U.S. Government business exposes us to various risks, including:
•changes in governmental procurement legislation and regulations and other policies, which may reflect military and political developments;
•unexpected contract or project terminations or suspensions;
•unpredictable order placements, reductions or cancellations;
•reductions or delays in government funds available for our projects due to government policy changes, budget cuts or delays, changes in available funding, reductions in defense expenditures and contract adjustments;
•the ability of competitors to protest contractual awards;
•penalties arising from post-award contract audits;
•the reduction in the value of our contracts as a result of the routine audit and investigation of our costs by U.S. Government agencies;
•higher-than-expected final costs, particularly relating to software and hardware development, for work performed under contracts where we commit to specified deliveries for a fixed price;
•limited profitability from cost-reimbursement contracts under which the profit is limited to a specified amount;
•unpredictable cash collections of unbilled receivables that may be subject to acceptance of deliverables by the customer and contract close-out procedures, including government approval of final indirect rates;
•competition with programs managed by other government contractors for limited resources and for uncertain levels of funding;
•significant changes in contract scheduling or program structure, which generally result in delays or reductions in deliveries; and
•intense competition for available U.S. Government business necessitating increases in time and investment for design and development.
We must comply with and are affected by laws and regulations relating to the award, administration and performance of U.S. Government contracts. Government contract laws and regulations affect how we do business with our customers and, in some instances, impose added costs on our business, including the establishment of compliance procedures. A violation of specific laws and regulations could result in the imposition of fines and penalties, the termination of our contracts or debarment from bidding on contracts.
Substantially all of our U.S. Government backlog scheduled for delivery can be terminated at the convenience of the U.S. Government because our contracts with the U.S. Government typically provide that orders may be terminated with limited or no penalties. If we are unable to address any of the risks described above, or if we were to lose all or a substantial portion of our sales to the U.S. Government, it could materially harm our business and impair the value of our common stock.
The funding of U.S. Government programs is subject to congressional appropriations. Congress generally appropriates funds on a fiscal year basis even though a program may extend over several fiscal years. Consequently, programs are often only partially funded initially and additional funds are committed only as Congress makes further appropriations. In the event that appropriations for one of our programs become unavailable, or are reduced or delayed, our contract or subcontract under such program may be terminated or adjusted by the government, which could have a negative impact on our future sales and results of operations. Budget cuts to defense spending, such as those that took effect in March 2013 under the Budget Control Act of 2011, can exacerbate these problems. From time to time, when a formal appropriation bill has not been signed into law before the end of the U.S. Government’s fiscal year, Congress may pass a continuing resolution that authorizes agencies of the U.S. Government to continue to operate, generally at the same funding levels from the prior year, but does not authorize new spending initiatives, during a certain period. During such period (or until the regular appropriation bills are passed), delays can occur in procurement of products and services due to lack of funding, and such delays can affect our results of operations during the period of delay.
Our Success Depends on the Investment in and Development of New Broadband Technologies and Advanced Communications and Secure Networking Systems, Products and Services, as well as their Market Acceptance
Broadband, advanced communications and secure networking markets are subject to rapid technological change, frequent new and enhanced product and service introductions, product obsolescence and changes in user requirements. Our ability to compete successfully in these markets depends on our success in applying our expertise and technology to existing and emerging broadband, advanced communications and secure networking markets, as well as our ability to successfully develop, introduce and sell new products and services on a timely and cost-effective basis that respond to ever-changing customer requirements, which depends on numerous factors, including our ability to: continue to develop market-leading satellite technologies (including high-capacity Ka-band satellites and associated ground networks); continue to increase satellite capacity, bandwidth cost-efficiencies and service quality; develop and introduce competitive products, services and technologies with innovative features that differentiate our offerings from those of our competitors; successfully integrate our complex technologies and system architectures; and implement manufacturing and assembly processes and cost reduction efforts.
We cannot assure you that our new technology, product or service offerings will be successful or that any of our offerings will achieve market acceptance. Many of these risks are amplified in new and emerging markets where we do not currently operate or have limited operations, but which present opportunities for international expansion following the launch of commercial service on our ViaSat-3 global constellation. The time from conception through satellite launch for a new satellite design may be four years or longer, thereby delaying our ability to realize the benefits of our investments in new satellite designs and technologies. We may experience difficulties that could delay or prevent us from successfully selecting, developing, manufacturing or marketing new technologies, products or services, which could increase costs and divert our attention and resources from other projects. We cannot be sure that our efforts and expenditures will ultimately lead to the timely development of new offerings and technologies. In addition, defects may be found in our products after we begin deliveries that could degrade service quality, or result in the delay or loss of market acceptance. If we are unable
to design, manufacture, integrate and market profitable new products and services for existing or emerging markets, it could materially harm our business, financial condition and results of operations, and impair the value of our common stock.
In addition, we believe that significant investments in next-generation broadband satellites and associated infrastructure will continue to be required as demand for broadband services and satellite systems with higher capacity and higher speed continues to grow. The development of these capital-intensive next-generation systems may require us to undertake debt financing and/or the issuance of additional equity, which could expose us to increased risks and impair the value of our common stock. In addition, if we are unable to effectively or profitably design, manufacture, integrate and market such next-generation technologies, it could materially harm our business, financial condition and results of operations, and impair the value of our common stock.
Because Our Products Are Complex and Are Deployed in Complex Environments, Our Products as well as Third Party Products on Which We Rely Are Likely To Have Vulnerabilities and Defects that We May Discover Only After Full Deployment, which Could Seriously Harm Our Business
We produce highly complex products that incorporate leading-edge technology, including both hardware and software, including hardware and software manufactured by third parties. Software typically contains defects or programming flaws that can unexpectedly interfere with expected operations. In addition, our products are complex and are designed to be deployed across complex networks, which in some cases may include over a million users, and are sometimes integrated with our customers' systems. Because of the nature of these products, there is no assurance that our pre-shipment testing programs will be adequate to detect all defects or vulnerabilities. As a result, our customers may discover errors or defects in our hardware or software, or our products may not operate as expected after they have been fully deployed. If we are unable to cure a product defect, we could experience damage to our reputation, reduced customer satisfaction, loss of existing customers and failure to attract new customers, failure to achieve market acceptance, cancellation of orders, loss of revenues, reduction in backlog and market share, increased service and warranty costs, diversion of development resources, legal actions by our customers, product returns or recalls, issuance of credit to customers and increased insurance costs. Further, due to the high volume nature of our fixed broadband business, defects of products used in this business could significantly increase these risks. Defects, integration issues or other performance problems in our products could also result in financial or other damages to our customers. Our customers could seek damages for related losses from us, which could seriously harm our business, financial condition and results of operations. A product liability claim brought against us, even if unsuccessful, would likely be time consuming and costly. The occurrence of any of these problems would seriously harm our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, given the complex nature of our systems and technologies, we regularly identify and track security vulnerabilities using scanning tools. We cannot guarantee comprehensively applied patches nor confirm that measures are in place to mitigate all such vulnerabilities or that patches will be applied before vulnerabilities are exploited by a threat actor. If a threat actor is able to exploit a critical vulnerability before patches are installed or mitigating measures are implemented, significant compromises could impact our and our customers’ systems and data, and could materially harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our Reputation and Business Could Be Materially Harmed as a Result of Data Breaches, Data Theft, Unauthorized Access or Hacking
We rely heavily on computer systems, hardware, software, infrastructure and various connected sites and networks for both internal and external operations that are critical to our business (collectively, IT Systems). We own and manage some of these IT Systems but also rely on third parties for a range of IT Systems and related products and services, including but not limited to cloud computing services. In addition, in the ordinary course of our business, our IT Systems and those of our third-party business partners, including our distributors, business partners, supply chain and other vendors, store sensitive data, including information that is confidential, regulated, proprietary or otherwise sensitive in nature to our business. This information may include intellectual property and product information, personal data, financial information and other confidential business information relating to us and our employees, customers, suppliers and other business partners.
We and our distributors, partners, vendors and customers face numerous and evolving cybersecurity risks that threaten the confidentiality, integrity and availability of our respective IT Systems and information, including threats from a wide range of bad actors and malicious parties, such as computer programmers, hackers or sophisticated nation-state and nation-state supported actors, as well as incidents attributable to employee error or wrongful conduct, malfeasance, the exploitation of misconfigurations, "bugs" and other vulnerabilities in hardware or software, or other disruptions caused by sophisticated social engineering and malware exploits (e.g., ransomware).
Despite our security measures, and those of our third-party vendors, we have experienced cyberattacks, data breaches and disruptive incidents, and we remain vulnerable to breaches, attacks and disruptions in the future. For
example, in late fiscal year 2022, a cyberattack involving our KA-SAT network resulted in a partial interruption of consumer-oriented fixed broadband services provided through our KA-SAT satellite, affecting thousands of fixed broadband customers in Europe and North Africa. While to date no incidents have had a material impact on our operations or financial results, we cannot guarantee that material incidents will not occur in the future.
Because the techniques used to obtain unauthorized access, disable or degrade service, or sabotage IT Systems, change frequently and often are not recognized until launched against a target, we may be unable to anticipate these techniques (such as those incorporating artificial intelligence) or unable to implement adequate preventative measures, particularly given that attackers are increasingly using sophisticated techniques designed to circumvent controls, evade detection, and remove forensic evidence. Any integration of artificial intelligence in our or any third party’s operations, products or services is expected to pose new or unknown cybersecurity risks and challenges. We have also acquired and expect to continue to acquire companies that have cybersecurity vulnerabilities and/or unsophisticated security measures, and we face challenges in integrating acquired entities with our cybersecurity program, controls and tools, all of which exposes us to significant cybersecurity, operational, and financial risks with any merger, acquisition or joint venture in which we engage. Additionally, outside parties regularly attempt to induce employees or users to disclose sensitive or confidential information through phishing and other social engineering techniques in order to gain access to IT Systems and data. There can also be no assurance that our cybersecurity risk management program and processes, including our policies, controls or procedures, will be fully implemented, complied with or effective in protecting our IT Systems and confidential information.
If any breach or attack compromises our IT Systems, creates system disruptions or slowdowns or exploits security vulnerabilities therein, the information stored on our networks or those of our customers or other business partners could be accessed and modified, misappropriated, publicly disclosed, lost or stolen, our data or computer systems may be corrupted, and we may be subject to liability to our customers, vendors, business partners and others, and suffer reputational and financial harm. We could be held liable to our customers or other parties, or be subject to regulatory or other actions. Any compromise of our security could result in a loss of confidence in our security measures, a loss of existing and prospective customers, and subject us to litigation, civil or criminal penalties, and negative reputational impact and publicity that could adversely affect our business relationships, financial condition and results of operations. We could also suffer other negative consequences, including significant remediation costs, significant increased cybersecurity protection costs, loss of material revenues resulting from attacks on our satellites or technology, and the unauthorized use of proprietary information or the failure to retain or attract customers following an attack.
We cannot guarantee that any costs and liabilities incurred in relation to an attack or incident will be covered by our existing insurance policies or that applicable insurance will be available to us in the future on economically reasonable terms or at all. Further, if we are unable to comply with the security standards established by banks and the payment card industry, we may be subject to fines, restrictions, and expulsion from card acceptance programs, which could adversely affect our operations.
A Significant Portion of Our Revenues Is Derived from a Few of Our Contracts
A small number of our contracts account for a significant percentage of our revenues. Our five largest contracts generated approximately 16% of our total revenues in fiscal year 2024. The failure of these customers or any of our key distributors to place additional orders or to maintain their contracts with us for any reason, including any downturn in their business or financial condition or our inability to renew our contracts with these customers or obtain new contracts when they expire, could materially harm our business and impair the value of our common stock.
Our Development Contracts May Be Difficult for Us to Comply with and May Expose Us to Third-Party Claims for Damages, and We May Experience Losses from Fixed-Price Contracts
We are often party to government and commercial contracts involving the development of new products. We derived approximately 12% of our total revenues for fiscal year 2024 from these development contracts. These contracts typically contain strict performance obligations and project milestones. We cannot assure you we will comply with these performance obligations or meet these project milestones in the future. If we are unable to comply with these performance obligations or meet these milestones, our customers may terminate these contracts and, under some circumstances, recover damages or other penalties from us. We are not currently, nor have we always been, in compliance with all outstanding performance obligations and project milestones in our contracts. We cannot assure you that the other parties to any such contract will not terminate the contract or seek damages from us. If other parties elect to terminate their contracts or seek damages from us, it could materially harm our business and impair the value of our common stock.
A substantial majority of revenues in our government systems and commercial networks segments are derived from contracts with fixed prices. These contracts carry the risk of potential cost overruns because we assume all of the cost burden. We assume greater financial risk on fixed-price contracts than on other types of contracts because if we do not anticipate technical problems, estimate costs accurately or control costs during performance of a fixed-price contract, it
may significantly reduce our net profit or cause a loss on the contract. In the past, we have experienced significant cost overruns and losses on fixed-price contracts. Because many of these contracts involve new technologies and applications and can last for years, unforeseen events, such as technological difficulties, fluctuations in the price of raw materials, a significant increase in or a sustained period of increased inflation, problems with our suppliers and cost overruns, can result in the contractual price becoming less favorable or even unprofitable to us over time (which, especially in the case of sharp increases in or significant sustained inflation, could happen quickly and have long-lasting impacts). Furthermore, if we do not meet contract deadlines or specifications, we may need to renegotiate contracts on less favorable terms, be forced to pay penalties or liquidated damages or suffer major losses if the customer exercises its right to terminate. We believe a high percentage of our contracts in our government systems and commercial networks segments will be at fixed prices in the future. Although we attempt to accurately estimate costs for fixed-price contracts, we cannot assure you our estimates will be adequate or that substantial losses on fixed-price contracts will not occur in the future. If we are unable to address any of the risks described above, it could materially harm our business, financial condition and results of operations, and impair the value of our common stock.
Our Reliance on a Limited Number of Third Parties to Manufacture and Supply Our Products and the Components Contained therein Exposes Us to Various Risks
We expect our internal manufacturing capacity to be limited to supporting new product development activities, building customized products that need to be manufactured in strict accordance with a customer’s specifications or delivery schedules, and building proprietary, highly sensitive Viasat-designed products and components for use in our proprietary technology platform. Therefore, our internal manufacturing capacity has been, and is expected to continue to be, very limited and we intend to continue to rely on contract manufacturers to produce the majority of our products. In addition, some components, subassemblies and services necessary for the manufacture of our products are obtained from a sole source supplier or a limited group of suppliers.
Our reliance on contract manufacturers and on sole source suppliers or a limited group of suppliers involves several risks. We may not be able to obtain an adequate supply of required components, and our control over the price, timely delivery, reliability and quality of finished products may be reduced. The process of manufacturing our products and some of our components and subassemblies is extremely complex. We have in the past experienced and may in the future experience delays in the delivery of and quality problems with products and components and subassemblies from vendors. Some of the suppliers we rely upon have relatively limited financial and other resources. Significant events such as an outbreak of a pandemic such as the COVID-19 pandemic and its lingering effects, natural disasters or extreme weather events (including as a result of climate change), acts of terrorism or civil unrest, cyberattacks, labor market instability or global shortages of components or materials may cause temporary or long-term disruptions in our supply chain and distribution systems and/or delays in the delivery of inventory. If we are not able to obtain timely deliveries of components and subassemblies of acceptable quality or if we are otherwise required to seek alternative sources of supply or to substitute alternative technology, or to manufacture our finished products or components and subassemblies internally, our ability to satisfactorily and timely complete our customer obligations could be negatively impacted which could result in reduced sales, termination of contracts and damage to our reputation and relationships with our customers. This failure could also result in a customer terminating our contract for default. A default termination could expose us to liability and have a material adverse effect on our ability to compete for future contracts and orders. In addition, a delay in our ability to obtain components and equipment parts from our suppliers may affect our ability to meet our customers’ needs and may have an adverse effect upon our profitability.
We Depend on a Limited Number of Key Employees Who Would Be Difficult to Replace
We depend on a limited number of key technical, marketing and management personnel with a longstanding knowledge of Viasat's business to manage and operate our business. In particular, we believe our success depends to a significant degree on our ability to attract and retain highly skilled personnel, including our Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer (Mark Dankberg), and those highly skilled design, process and test engineers involved in the manufacture of existing products and the development of new products and processes. The competition for these types of personnel is intense, and the loss of key employees could materially harm our business and impair the value of our common stock. To the extent that the demand for qualified personnel exceeds supply, we could experience higher labor, recruiting or training costs to attract and retain such employees, or experience difficulties in performing under our contracts if our needs for such employees were unmet.
Because We Conduct Business Internationally, We Face Additional Risks, including Risks Related to Global Political and Economic Conditions, Sanctions, Changes in Regulation and Currency Fluctuations
Approximately 29% of our total revenues in fiscal year 2024 were derived from international sales. Conducting business internationally involves additional risks, including unexpected changes in laws, policies and regulatory requirements (including regulations related to import-export control); increased cost of localizing systems in foreign
countries; increased sales and marketing and R&D expenses; timing and availability of export licenses; political and economic instability, wars, insurrections and other conflicts, such as the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine; issues related to the political relationship between the United States and other countries; fluctuations in currency exchange rates (including their effect on sales denominated in foreign currencies), foreign exchange controls and restrictions on cash repatriation; compliance with international laws and U.S. laws affecting the activities of U.S. companies abroad, including existing and future privacy and cyber-related laws; challenges in staffing and managing foreign operations; difficulties in managing distributors; requirements for additional liquidity to fund our international operations; availability of suitable export financing; ineffective legal protection of our intellectual property rights in certain countries; potentially adverse tax consequences; potential difficulty in making adequate payment arrangements; potential difficulty in collecting accounts receivable; and imposition of taxes, tariffs, embargoes, sanctions and other trade barriers. For example, in January 2024 the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China imposed sanctions on “ViaSat” in accordance with China’s Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law, which sanctions may materially restrict our ability to conduct business in China, either directly or through subsidiaries or affiliated companies, and could lead to the seizure of assets located within the People’s Republic of China. While we believe the applicability and enforcement of these sanctions is restricted solely to Viasat, Inc., thereby permitting all subsidiaries and affiliate entities to continue operating in China, this could change at any time. In addition, some of our customer purchase agreements are governed by foreign laws, which may differ significantly from U.S. laws and we may be limited in our ability to enforce our rights under these agreements and to collect damages, if awarded. As a result of these and other risks, we may be unsuccessful in implementing our business plan for our business internationally, or we may not be able to achieve the revenues that we expect. If we are unable to address any of the risks described above, it could materially harm our business and impair the value of our common stock.
Due to the global nature of our operations, we are subject to the complex and varying tax laws and rules of many countries and have material tax-related contingent liabilities that are difficult to predict or quantify. We are also subject to tax audits, including with respect to transfer pricing, in the United States and other jurisdictions and our tax positions may be challenged by tax authorities. There can be no assurance that our current tax provisions will be settled for the amounts accrued, that additional tax exposures will not be identified in the future or that additional tax reserves will not be necessary for any such exposures. Any increase in the amount of taxation incurred as a result of challenges to our tax filing positions could result in a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Adverse Resolution of Litigation May Harm Our Operating Results or Financial Condition
We are a party to various lawsuits and claims in the normal course of our business. Moreover, significant transactions like the Inmarsat Acquisition are frequently subject to litigation or other legal proceedings, including actions alleging that our Board of Directors breached their fiduciary duties to our stockholders by entering into the transaction. Litigation can be expensive, lengthy and disruptive to normal business operations, including through the possible diversion of company resources or distraction of key personnel. Moreover, the results of complex legal proceedings are difficult to predict. An unfavorable resolution of a particular lawsuit, as well as the costs and efforts of a defense even if successful, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Future Sales of Our Common Stock Could Lower Our Stock Price and Dilute Existing Stockholders
From time to time, we raise capital from equity financings and file universal shelf registration statements with the SEC for the future sale of an unlimited amount of common stock, preferred stock, warrants, rights, and other securities. For example, during fiscal year 2017 we sold 7.5 million shares of our common stock in an underwritten public offering, and during fiscal year 2021 we sold 4.5 million shares of our common stock to certain accredited investors in a private placement transaction exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
We may also issue additional shares of common stock to finance acquisitions. For example, we issued 46.36 million shares of our common stock as consideration in the Inmarsat Acquisition, and during fiscal year 2022 we issued 4.0 million shares of our common stock as consideration for the acquisition of RigNet. Additionally, a substantial number of shares of our common stock are available for future sale pursuant to stock options, warrants or issuance pursuant to our 1996 Equity Participation Plan of ViaSat, Inc. and the ViaSat, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan. Future issuances of shares may be dilutive to existing stockholders. We cannot predict the size of future issuances of our common stock or the effect, if any, that future sales and issuances of shares of our common stock will have on the market price of our common stock. Sales of substantial amounts of our common stock (including shares issued upon the exercise of stock
options and warrants or in connection with acquisition financing), or the perception that such sales could occur, may adversely affect prevailing market prices for our common stock.
We Expect Our Stock Price to Be Volatile, and You May Lose All or Some of Your Investment
The market price of our common stock has been volatile in the past. For example, between April 1, 2019 and March 31, 2024, the market price of our common stock ranged from $97.31 to $15.02. Trading prices may continue to fluctuate in response to a number of events and factors, including quarterly variations in operating results (or operating results falling below the expectations of analysts and investors), significant announcements by us or our competitors (including with respect to technological innovations, satellite construction and launch activities, acquisitions and other material transactions), regulatory developments, or changes in market conditions in our industry or the economy as a whole. Any of these events may cause the market price of our common stock to fall. In addition, the stock market in general and the market prices for technology companies in particular have experienced significant volatility that often has been unrelated to the operating performance of these companies. These broad market and industry fluctuations may adversely affect the market price of our common stock, regardless of our operating performance.
We May Not Be Able to Utilize All of Our Deferred Tax Assets
Our deferred tax asset valuation allowances are the result of uncertainties regarding the future realization of our deferred tax assets (consisting primarily of U.S. net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards, reserves and accruals that are not currently deductible for tax). Current evidence does not suggest we will realize sufficient taxable income of the appropriate character within the carryforward period to allow us to realize these deferred tax benefits. If we were to identify and implement tax planning strategies to recover these deferred tax assets or generate sufficient income of the appropriate character in these jurisdictions in the future, it could lead to the reversal of these valuation allowances and a reduction of income tax expense.
Our ability to utilize our net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards to offset future taxable income and reduce future cash tax liabilities would be negatively impacted if we were to experience an “ownership change,” as defined in Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code). In general terms, an “ownership change” can occur whenever the ownership of a company by one or more “5% shareholders” changes by more than 50 percentage points within a rolling three-year period. The determination of whether an ownership change has occurred for purposes of Section 382 of the Code is complex and requires significant judgment. Moreover, the number of shares of our common stock outstanding at any time for purposes of Section 382 of the Code may differ from the number of shares that we report as outstanding in our filings with the SEC. In the event that an ownership change occurs, our ability to utilize our net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards would be negatively impacted, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Provisions in Our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, under Delaware Law and in Our Credit Facilities May Discourage, Delay or Prevent a Change in Control or Prevent an Acquisition of Our Business at a Premium Price
Some of the provisions of our certificate of incorporation, our bylaws and Delaware law could discourage, delay or prevent an acquisition of our business, even if a change in control of Viasat would be beneficial to the interests of our stockholders and was made at a premium price. These provisions permit the board of directors to increase its own size and fill the resulting vacancies, provide for a board comprised of three classes of directors with each serving a staggered three-year term, authorize the issuance of blank check preferred stock in one or more series, and prohibit stockholder action by written consent.
We are also subject to Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, which imposes restrictions on mergers and other business combinations between us and any holder of 15% or more of our common stock. In addition, under each of the indentures (collectively, the Indentures) governing our senior unsecured and senior secured notes (collectively, the Notes), if certain “change of control” events occur, each holder of Notes may require us to repurchase all of such holder’s Notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount of such Notes. Additionally, Viasat’s and Inmarsat’s senior secured credit facilities (collectively, the Credit Facilities) provide for an event of default upon the occurrence of certain specified “change of control” events.
Risks Related to the Regulation of Our Business
We May Be Unable to Obtain or Maintain Required Authorizations or Contractual Arrangements
Various types of U.S. domestic and international authorizations and contractual arrangements are required in connection with the products and services that we provide. See “Regulatory Environment.” Compliance with certain laws, regulations, conditions, and other requirements, including the payment of fees, may be required to maintain the rights provided by such authorizations, including the rights to operate satellite networks at certain orbital slots in certain radio
frequencies. Failure to comply with such requirements, or comply in a timely manner, could lead to the loss of such authorizations and could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
We currently hold authorizations to, among other things, operate various satellite earth stations (including, but not limited to, user terminals, facilities that interconnect with the internet backbone, and network hubs) and operate satellite space stations and/or use those space stations to provide service to certain jurisdictions. Such authorizations are conditioned upon meeting certain milestone conditions and/or due diligence requirements, which, if not met or extended, could result in loss of the authorization. While we anticipate that these authorizations will be extended or renewed in the ordinary course to the extent that they otherwise would expire, or replaced by authorizations covering more advanced facilities, we can provide no assurance that this will be the case. Our inability to timely obtain or maintain such authorizations could delay or preclude our operation of such satellites or our provision of products and services that rely upon such satellites. Further, changes to the laws and regulations under which we operate could adversely affect our ability to obtain or maintain authorizations. Any of these circumstances could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
The spacecraft we use in our business are subject to the regulatory authority of, and conditions imposed by, foreign governments, as well as contractual arrangements with third parties and the regulations and procedures of the ITU governing access to orbital and spectrum rights and the international coordination of satellite networks. The use of spacecraft in our business is subject to various conditions in the underlying authorizations held by us and third parties, as well as the requirements of the laws and regulations of the jurisdictions in which we provide service or that govern our network operations. Any failure to meet these types of requirements in a timely manner, maintain our contractual arrangements, obtain or maintain our authorizations, or manage potential conflicts with the orbital slot rights afforded to third parties could lead to us losing our rights to operate from these orbital locations or may otherwise require us to modify or limit our operations from these locations, which could materially adversely affect our ability to operate a satellite at full capacity or at all, and could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Changes in the Regulatory Environment Could Have a Material Adverse Impact on Our Competitive Position, Growth and Financial Performance
Our business is highly regulated. We are subject to the regulatory authority of the jurisdictions in which we operate, including the United States and other jurisdictions around the world. Those authorities regulate, among other things, the launch and operation of satellites, the use of RF spectrum, the ability to operate satellites at specific orbital locations in space, the licensing of earth stations and other radio transmitters, the provision of communications services, privacy and data security, and the design, manufacture, and marketing of communications systems and networking infrastructure. The space stations and ground network we use to provide our broadband and other services operate using some spectrum that is regulated for use on a primary basis for certain types of the satellite services we provide, some spectrum that is regulated for use on a shared basis with terrestrial wireless services and/or other satellite technologies, and some spectrum that is regulated primarily for terrestrial wireless and other uses but that we are authorized to use on a secondary or non-interference basis. Moreover, spectrum availability varies from country to country, and even within countries, within our service areas.
Laws and regulations affecting our business are subject to change in response to industry developments, new technology, and political considerations, among other things. Legislators and regulatory authorities in various countries are considering, and may in the future adopt, new laws, policies, and regulations, as well as changes to existing laws, policies and regulations. We cannot predict when or whether applicable laws, policies, or regulations may come into effect or change, or what the cost and time necessary to comply with such new or updated laws or regulations may be. For example, cybersecurity and data privacy security and protection laws and regulations are evolving and present increasing compliance challenges, which may increase our costs, affect our competitiveness, cause reputational harm, and expose us to substantial fines or other penalties.
Changes in laws or regulations, including changes in the way spectrum is regulated and/or in regulations governing our products and services, changes in the way spectrum is made available to us or is allowed to be used by others, or changes in the regulation of competing uses of spectrum or orbital locations, could, directly or indirectly, affect our operations or the operations of our distribution partners, increase the cost of providing our products and services, and make our products and services less competitive. Some regulators are considering new or additional terrestrial services in the spectrum in which we operate, which may not be compatible with the way we use, or plan to use, that same spectrum. In certain instances, such changes could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Among other things, changes to laws and regulations could materially harm our business by (1) affecting our ability to obtain or retain required governmental authorizations, (2) restricting our ability to provide certain products or services,
(3) restricting development efforts by us and our customers, (4) making our current products and services less attractive or obsolete, (5) increasing our operational costs, or (6) making it easier or less expensive for our competitors to compete with us. Failure to comply with applicable laws or regulations could result in the imposition of financial penalties against us, the adverse modification or cancellation of required authorizations, or other material adverse actions. Any such matters could materially harm our business and impair the value of our common stock.
Risks Associated with Environmental, Social and Governance Matters, Including Global Climate Change, and Legal, Regulatory or Market Responses to These Matters Could Harm Our Reputation and Business
Increasing shareholder environmental, social and governance (ESG) expectations, physical and transition risks associated with climate change, emerging ESG regulation, contractual requirements and policy requirements present short, medium and long-term risks to our business and financial condition. Changes in environmental and climate change laws or regulations could lead to additional operational restrictions and compliance requirements upon us. For example, in our government systems segment, changes in government procurement laws that mandate or include climate change considerations, such as the contractor’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, lower emission products or other climate risks, in evaluating bids could result in costly changes to our operations or affect our competitiveness on future bids. In addition, in our commercial networks segment, increased awareness and adverse publicity in the global marketplace about the GHGs emitted by companies in the airline and transportation industries could adversely impact our business. If consumers reduce their use of air travel in response to new environmental regulations or changes in public perception about the impact of air travel on climate change, consumers may reduce their usage of our services, which may have a material negative effect on the demand for our products and services.
Compliance with current and future environmental laws and regulations may require significant operating and capital costs. Environmental laws and regulations may institute substantial fines and criminal sanctions to address violations and may require the installation of costly pollution control equipment or operational changes to limit emissions or discharges. Our suppliers may face similar business interruptions and incur additional costs that may be passed on to us. In addition, customers, shareholders and institutional investors continue to increase their focus on ESG, including our environmental sustainability practices and commitments with respect to our business and operations. If our responses to new or evolving legal and regulatory requirements or other sustainability concerns are unsuccessful or perceived as inadequate for the U.S. or our international markets, we also may suffer damage to our reputation, which could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our International Sales and Operations Are Subject to Applicable Laws Relating to Trade, Sanctions, Export Controls and Foreign Corrupt Practices, the Violation of Which Could Have a Material Adverse Impact on our Business
We must comply with all applicable export control laws and regulations of the United States and other countries. U.S. export and control laws and regulations applicable to us include the Arms Export Control Act, the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 (ECRA) and the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). The export of certain satellite hardware, software services and technical data relating to satellites is regulated by the U.S. Department of State under ITAR. Certain satellites and other items are controlled for export by the U.S. Department of Commerce under the EAR. In addition, we must comply with trade and economic sanctions laws and regulations, including those administered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). We cannot provide certain products and services to certain countries or persons subject to U.S. trade sanctions unless we first obtain the necessary authorizations from OFAC. We are also subject to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the UK Bribery Act, which generally bar bribes to foreign governments or officials. Although we have in place policies for our respective employees, directors and officers, and we have clauses in our contracts with our distribution partners, resellers and other intermediaries, we cannot be certain that any such activities are not undertaken, and cannot guarantee that our policies and contracts will prevent situations occurring, including actions by distribution partners, resellers and other intermediaries, for which we may be held responsible. Non-compliance with any applicable trade control, sanctions, export control or anti-corruption laws or other legal requirements may result in criminal and/or civil penalties, disgorgement and/or other sanctions and remedial measures, and may result in unexpected legal or compliance costs. Violations of any of these laws or regulations could also result in more onerous compliance requirements, more extensive debarments from export privileges or loss of authorizations needed to conduct aspects of our business, and could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Moreover, any investigation of alleged violations of any such laws could have a material adverse impact on our reputation, business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our Business Could Be Adversely Affected by a Negative Audit by the U.S. Government
As a government contractor, we are routinely subject to audit and review by the DCMA, the DCAA and other U.S. Government agencies of our performance on government contracts, indirect rates and pricing practices, accounting and
management internal control business systems, and compliance with applicable contracting and procurement laws, regulations and standards. Audits and reviews have become more rigorous and the standards to which we are held are being more strictly interpreted, increasing the likelihood of an audit or review resulting in an adverse outcome. Increases in congressional scrutiny and investigations into business practices and major programs supported by contractors may lead to increased legal costs and may harm our reputation and profitability if we are among the targeted companies.
An adverse outcome to a review or audit or other failure to comply with applicable contracting and procurement laws, regulations and standards could result in material civil and criminal penalties and administrative sanctions being imposed on us, which may include termination of contracts, forfeiture of profits, triggering of price reduction clauses, suspension of payments, significant customer refunds, fines and suspension, or a prohibition on doing business with U.S. Government agencies. In addition, if we fail to obtain an “adequate” determination of our various accounting and management internal control business systems from applicable U.S. Government agencies or if allegations of impropriety are made against us, we could suffer serious harm to our business or our reputation, including our ability to bid on new contracts or receive contract renewals and our competitive position in the bidding process. Any of these outcomes could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Risks Related to Our Indebtedness
Our Level of Indebtedness May Adversely Affect Our Ability to Operate Our Business, Remain in Compliance with Debt Covenants, React to Changes in Our Business or the Industry in which We Operate, or Prevent Us from Making Payments on Our Indebtedness
We have a significant amount of indebtedness. As of March 31, 2024, the aggregate principal amount of our total outstanding indebtedness was $7.5 billion (as more fully described in "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in Part II, Item 7 below). As of March 31, 2024, we had undrawn availability of $591.5 million under Viasat's $647.5 million revolving credit facility (the Viasat Revolving Credit Facility) and undrawn availability of $550.0 million under Inmarsat's $550.0 million revolving line of credit (the Inmarsat Revolving Credit Facility and, together with the Viasat Revolving Credit Facility, the Revolving Credit Facilities).
Our high level of indebtedness could have important consequences. For example, it could:
•make it more difficult for us to satisfy our debt obligations;
•increase our vulnerability to general adverse economic and industry conditions;
•impair our ability to obtain additional debt or equity financing in the future for working capital, capital expenditures, product development, satellite construction, acquisitions or general corporate or other purposes, or to refinance existing debt on commercially reasonable terms (or at all);
•require us to dedicate a material portion of our cash flows to the payment of principal and interest on our indebtedness, thereby reducing the availability of our cash flows to fund working capital needs, capital expenditures, product development, satellite construction, acquisitions and other general corporate purposes;
•expose us to variable interest rate risk with respect to borrowings under our variable rate Credit Facilities;
•limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and the industry in which we operate;
•place us at a disadvantage compared to our competitors that have less indebtedness; and
•limit our ability to adjust to changing market conditions.
Any of these risks could materially impact our ability to fund our operations or limit our ability to expand our business, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We may also incur significant additional indebtedness in the future, which may include financing relating to future satellites, potential acquisitions, joint ventures and strategic alliances, working capital, capital expenditures or general corporate purposes. If our level of indebtedness increases significantly, the related risks that we now face would intensify.
We May Not Be Able to Generate Sufficient Cash to Service All of Our Indebtedness and Fund Our Working Capital and Capital Expenditures or Refinance Our Indebtedness, and May Be Forced to Take Other Actions to Satisfy Our Obligations under Our Indebtedness, which May Not Be Successful
Our ability to make scheduled payments on or to refinance our indebtedness will depend upon our future operating performance and on our ability to generate cash flow in the future, which is subject to economic, financial, business, competitive, legislative, regulatory and other factors beyond our control. We cannot assure you that our business will generate sufficient cash flow from operations, or that future borrowings, including under our Revolving Credit Facilities, will be sufficient to enable us to pay our indebtedness when due, or to fund our other liquidity needs. In the event of
satellite failure or loss, amounts recovered under satellite insurance policies may be insufficient to adequately service our debt obligations. In addition, borrowings under all of our Credit Facilities except Viasat's direct loan facility with the Export-Import Bank of the United States (the Ex-Im Credit Facility) are subject to variable rates of interest and expose us to interest rate risk, and therefore high prevailing interest rates (such as the level of interest rates during fiscal year 2024) may adversely impact our levels of interest expense. Moreover, there can be no assurance that we will be able to refinance our debt obligations on commercially reasonable terms, or at all.
If our cash flows and capital resources are insufficient to fund our debt service obligations, we could face substantial liquidity problems and could be forced to reduce or delay investment and capital expenditures or to dispose of material assets or operations, seek additional debt or equity capital or restructure or refinance our indebtedness. We may not be able to effect any such alternative measures, if necessary, on commercially reasonable terms or at all and, even if successful, such alternative actions may not allow us to meet our scheduled debt service obligations. Our Credit Facilities and Indentures restrict our ability to dispose of assets and use the proceeds from the disposition, and may also restrict our ability to raise debt or equity capital to repay or service our indebtedness.
If we cannot make scheduled payments on our debt, we will be in default and, as a result, the lenders under our Credit Facilities and the holders of the Notes could declare all outstanding principal and interest to be due and payable, the lenders under our Credit Facilities could terminate their commitments to loan money and foreclose against the assets securing the borrowings under our Credit Facilities, and we could be forced into bankruptcy or liquidation, which could result in you losing your investment in our company.
Covenants in Our Debt Agreements Could Limit Our Ability to Implement Our Business Plan
Our Credit Facilities and Indentures contain covenants that may restrict our ability to implement our business plan, borrow under our Credit Facilities or secure additional financing, respond to changing conditions, and engage in opportunistic transactions. Our Credit Facilities and Indentures include covenants restricting, among other things, our ability to incur indebtedness, issue redeemable or preferred stock, incur liens, sell or dispose of assets (including capital stock of subsidiaries), make loans and investments, pay dividends, enter into affiliate transactions, reduce our satellite insurance and consolidate or merge with or into, or sell substantially all of our assets to, another person.
In addition, our Credit Facilities require us to comply with certain financial covenants, including a maximum total leverage ratio and minimum interest coverage ratio, as well as financial covenants under the Inmarsat Revolving Credit Facility.
If we default under our Credit Facilities or the Indentures, all outstanding amounts thereunder could become immediately due and payable. In the past we violated covenants in our former revolving credit facilities and received waivers for these violations. We cannot assure you that we will be able to comply with covenants or that any covenant violations will be waived in the future. Any violation that is not waived could result in an event of default, permitting our lenders to declare outstanding indebtedness and interest thereon due and payable, and permitting the lenders under our Credit Facilities to suspend commitments to make any advance or, with respect to the Revolving Credit Facilities, require any outstanding letters of credit to be collateralized by an interest bearing cash account, any or all of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, if we fail to comply with our financial or other covenants under our Credit Facilities or the Indentures, we may need additional financing to service or extinguish our indebtedness. We may not be able to obtain financing or refinancing on terms acceptable to us, if at all. We cannot assure you that we would have sufficient funds to repay all the outstanding amounts under our Credit Facilities or the Indentures, and any acceleration of amounts due would have a material adverse effect on our liquidity and financial condition.
Risks Related to Intellectual Property
Our Ability to Protect Our Proprietary Technology Is Limited
Our success depends on our ability to protect our proprietary rights to the technologies we use in our products and services. We generally rely on a combination of patents, copyrights, trademarks and trade secret laws and contractual rights to protect our proprietary rights. We also enter into confidentiality agreements with our employees, consultants and corporate partners, and control access to and distribution of our proprietary information. Despite our efforts, unauthorized parties may attempt to copy or obtain and use our proprietary information. If we are unable to protect our proprietary rights adequately, our competitors could use the intellectual property we have developed to enhance their own products and services, which could materially harm our business and impair the value of our common stock. Monitoring and preventing unauthorized use of our technology is difficult. From time to time, we undertake actions to prevent unauthorized use of our technology, including sending cease and desist letters. In addition, we may be required to commence litigation to protect our intellectual property rights or to determine the validity and scope of the proprietary rights of others. For example, in
February 2012 we successfully sued Space Systems/Loral, Inc. and its former parent company Loral Space & Communications, Inc. for patent infringement and breach of contract relating to the manufacture of ViaSat-1. If we are unsuccessful in any such litigation in the future, our rights to enforce such intellectual property may be impaired or we could lose our rights to such intellectual property. We do not know whether the steps we have taken will prevent unauthorized use of our technology, including in foreign countries where the laws may not protect our proprietary rights as extensively as in the United States. If we are unable to protect our proprietary rights, we may find ourselves at a competitive disadvantage to others who need not incur the substantial expense, time and effort required to create the innovative products. Also, we have delivered technical data and information to the U.S. Government under procurement contracts, and the U.S. Government may have unlimited rights to use that technical data and information. There can be no assurance that the U.S. Government will not authorize others to use that data and information to compete with us.
Our Involvement in Litigation Relating to Intellectual Property Claims May Have a Material Adverse Effect on Our Business
We may be party to intellectual property infringement, invalidity, right to use or ownership claims by third parties or claims for indemnification resulting from infringement claims. Regardless of the merit of these claims, intellectual property litigation can be time consuming and costly and may result in the diversion of the attention of technical and management personnel. An adverse result in any litigation could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Asserted claims or initiated litigation can include claims against us or our manufacturers, suppliers or customers alleging infringement of their proprietary rights with respect to our existing or future products, or components of those products. If our products are found to infringe or violate the intellectual property rights of third parties, we may be forced to (1) seek licenses or royalty arrangements from such third parties, (2) stop selling, incorporating or using products that included the challenged intellectual property, or (3) incur substantial costs to redesign those products that use the technology. We cannot assure you that we would be able to obtain any such licenses or royalty arrangements on reasonable terms or at all or to develop redesigned products or, if these redesigned products were developed, they would perform as required or be accepted in the applicable markets.
We Rely on the Availability of Third-Party Licenses
Many of our products are designed to include software or other intellectual property licensed from third parties. It may be necessary in the future to seek or renew licenses relating to various elements of the technology used to develop these products. We cannot assure you that our existing or future third-party licenses will be available to us on commercially reasonable terms, if at all. Our inability to maintain or obtain any third-party license required to sell or develop our products and product enhancements could require us to obtain substitute technology of lower quality or performance standards, or at greater cost.

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ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None.

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ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
Our worldwide headquarters are located at our Carlsbad, California campus and our international headquarters are located in London, United Kingdom. In addition to our Carlsbad campus and international headquarters in London, each of which we lease, we own or lease facilities, offices and earth stations across the globe, including our leased facility in Tempe, Arizona. Each of our segments uses each of these facilities. Although we believe that our existing facilities are suitable and adequate for our present purposes, in fiscal year 2025 and beyond we will continue to evaluate our real estate needs and may further re-size our real estate footprint (based on utilization and operational needs, or as a part of our continuing integration efforts following the Inmarsat Acquisition, similar to the re-sizing undertaken in fiscal years 2024 and 2023), and/or add additional facilities as needed.

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ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Periodically, we are involved in a variety of claims, suits, investigations and proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business, including government investigations and claims, and other claims and proceedings with respect to intellectual property, breach of contract, labor and employment, tax and other matters. Such matters could result in fines; penalties, compensatory, treble or other damages; or non-monetary relief. A violation of government contract laws and regulations could also result in the termination of our government contracts or debarment from bidding on future government contracts. Although claims, suits, investigations and proceedings are inherently uncertain and their results cannot be predicted with certainty, we believe that the resolution of our current pending matters will not have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or liquidity. Regardless of the outcome, litigation can have an adverse impact on us because of defense costs, diversion of management resources and other factors. In addition, it is possible that an unfavorable resolution of one or more such proceedings could in the future materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations or liquidity in a particular period. For further information on the risks we face from existing and future claims, suits, investigations and proceedings, see “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A of this report.

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ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not applicable.
PART II

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ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Our common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “VSAT.” As of May 10, 2024, there were approximately 481 holders of record of our common stock. A substantially greater number of holders of Viasat common stock are “street name” or beneficial holders, whose shares are held of record by banks, brokers and other financial institutions.
Dividend Policy
To date, we have neither declared nor paid any dividends on our common stock. We currently intend to retain all future earnings, if any, for use in the operation and development of our business and, therefore, do not expect to declare or pay any cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future. Any future determination to pay cash dividends will be at the discretion of the Board of Directors and will be dependent upon our financial condition, results of operations, capital requirements, general business condition and such other factors as the Board of Directors may deem relevant. In addition, as more fully described in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in Item 7, the existing terms of our Credit Facilities and the Indentures restrict our ability to declare or pay dividends on our common stock.

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ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
ITEM 6. [RESERVED]

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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Company Overview
We are an innovative, global provider of communications technologies and services, focused on making connectivity accessible, available and secure for current and future customers worldwide. Our end-to-end multi-band platform of satellites, ground infrastructure and user terminals enables us to provide a wide array of cost-effective, high-quality broadband, narrowband and other connectivity solutions to aviation, maritime, enterprise, consumer, military and government users around the globe, whether on the ground, in the air or at sea. In addition, our government business includes a portfolio of communications gateways; situational awareness and command and control products and services; satellite communication products and services across various frequency bands; and cybersecurity and information assurance products and services. We believe that our diversification strategy-anchored in a broad portfolio of customer-centric products and services and supported by our fleet of broadband and narrowband satellites-our vertical integration and our ability to effectively cross-deploy technologies between government and commercial applications and segments as well as across different geographic markets, provide us with a strong foundation to sustain and enhance our leadership in advanced communications and networking technologies. We conduct our business through three segments: satellite services, commercial networks and government systems. In May 2024, certain organizational changes were made that are expected to impact our future internal reporting and reportable segments. The new segment reporting structure is expected to better reflect our strategy following the Inmarsat Acquisition, diverse global end markets, and certain organizational and leadership changes, that allow us to better assess the operational performance of and allocate resources to our multiple product lines. Commencing with the first quarter of fiscal year 2025 we will have two reportable segments: communication services and defense and advanced technologies. See Note 17 - Subsequent Event to our consolidated financial statements for additional information.
Satellite Services
Our satellite services segment provides a wide range of satellite-based broadband and narrowband services around the globe using our multi-band fleet of satellites in service as well as leased capacity on third party satellites. The primary services offered by our satellite services segment include:
•Aviation services, including industry-leading IFC services, W-IFE services and narrowband safety services, as well as complementary aviation software services.
•Maritime services, which offer high-quality, resilient satellite-based broadband and narrowband communications services around the globe to commercial shipping fleets, offshore service vessel operators and commercial fishing companies.
•Fixed broadband services, which offer high-speed, high-quality, reliable broadband internet services to businesses and residential users (primarily in the United States as well as in various countries in Europe and Latin America), as well as enterprise connectivity solutions.
•Energy services, which include secure, reliable networking and connectivity solutions for remote sites and operations, and industry-leading machine learning analytics.
•IoT and other narrowband services, including L-band managed services and analytics.
•Community internet services, which offer innovative, affordable internet services through satellite-based community hotspots in areas with little or no access to the internet. We provide community internet services in Mexico and Brazil.
Commercial Networks
Our commercial networks segment develops and sells a wide array of advanced satellite and wireless products, antenna systems and network and terminal solutions that support or enable the provision of fixed and mobile broadband and narrowband services. We design, develop and produce space system solutions for multiple orbital regimes, including GEO, HEO, MEO and LEO. The primary products, systems, solutions and services offered by our commercial networks segment are comprised of:
•Mobile satellite communication systems, designed for use in aircraft, land-mobile and seagoing vessels.
•Fixed satellite communication systems, including next-generation satellite network infrastructure, ground terminals and design and implementation for customer telecommunication systems.
•Antenna systems, including state-of-the-art ground and airborne terminals, antennas and gateways for terrestrial and satellite customer applications, mobile satellite communication, Ka-band earth stations and other multi-band/multi-function antennas.
•Space systems design and satellite networking development, including the design and development of the architecture of high-capacity Ka-band geosynchronous satellites and the associated satellite payload and antenna technologies (both for our own satellite fleet as well as for third parties), and special purpose LEO and MEO satellites and other small satellite platforms, as well as semiconductor design for ASIC and MMIC chips. Satellite networking development includes specialized design and technology services covering all aspects of satellite communication system architecture, networks and technology.
Government Systems
Our government systems segment offers a broad array of products and services, including:
•Government mobile broadband products and services, which provide military and government users with high-speed, real-time broadband and multimedia connectivity in key regions of the world, as well as LOS and BLOS Intelligence and ISR missions.
•Government narrowband products and services, which provide military and government users with L-band products and services such as L-TAC communications, L-band airborne ISR services and LACE terminals.
•Government satellite communication systems, which offer an array of portable, mobile and fixed broadband modems, terminals, network access control systems and antenna systems, and include products designed for manpacks, aircraft, UAVs, seagoing vessels, ground-mobile vehicles, space-based systems and fixed applications.
•Secure networking, cybersecurity and information assurance products and services, which provide advanced, high-speed IP-based “Type 1” and HAIPE-compliant encryption solutions that enable military and government users to communicate information securely, and that protect the integrity of data stored on computers and storage devices, and include our MOJO expeditionary tactical gateway family of products.
Factors and Trends Affecting our Results of Operations
We believe that the performance of our business and our results of operations in a given period are driven by various factors, including:
•the timing and impact of acquisitions and divestitures (such as the Inmarsat Acquisition) and transaction-related or integration costs and any incurrence or repayment of indebtedness in connection therewith;
•the extent and stage of our satellite design, construction and launch activities, the associated level of investment required, the impact of any construction or launch delays, operational or launch failures or satellite anomalies or deployment issues, and the impact of bringing newly launched satellites into commercial service and associated ramp-up activities and costs (see the discussion below under “Satellite-Related Activities”);
•our ability to manage available bandwidth ahead of new satellites entering commercial service;
•our ability to maintain the health, capacity, control and level of service of our satellite fleet, or the existence or occurrence of any malfunctions or anomalies in or other disruptions to our satellites;
•changes in the levels of our R&D spending, including the effects of associated tax credits;
•the uptake of our in-flight services by commercial airlines and number of aircraft retrofitted or installed with our IFC systems, and the rate of revenue growth in our IFC-related businesses in our satellite services and commercial networks segments, as well as the impact of the grounding or slowdown in manufacture of aircraft related to aircraft safety, maintenance or other issues;
•the rate of growth in worldwide demand for mobile and fixed broadband connectivity, including growth in the number of aircraft and vessels in service, passengers, internet users, applications and connected devices;
•the rate of technological innovation and change in the industries in which we operate, and the introduction of new competing technologies, products and services by new and existing competitors;
•seasonal effects related to the timing of contract awards, the timing and availability of U.S. Government funding, and the timing of product deliveries and customer acceptance in our government systems segment, as well as increased demand for IFC services from airline passengers during peak holiday and summer travel periods and subscriber activity for our fixed broadband services related to traditional retail selling periods in our satellite services segment;
•the marketing and pricing strategies of our competitors with respect to competing technologies, products and services;
•our ability to implement (on a timely basis) our technology roadmap and the associated investments and costs, as well as market acceptance and the timing of availability of our new products and services;
•the timing, quantity and mix of products and services sold in each of our segments;
•the complex and lengthy procurement process for most of our commercial networks and government systems customers and potential customers, the impact of a failure to receive an expected order or a deferral of an order to a later period, and the timing of or effect of delays in obtaining government product certifications;
•the difficulty in estimating costs over the life of a contract, which may require adjustment in future periods, and the impact of cost overruns (due to inflation or otherwise) on fixed-price development contracts;
•the timing of customer payments under significant contracts;
•our reliance on a few significant customers, particularly agencies of the U.S. Government, for a significant percentage of our revenues, as a result of which the loss or decline in business with any of these customers may negatively impact our revenue and collectability of related accounts receivable;
•our reliance on a global supply chain, including contract manufacturers and single-source or limited groups of suppliers; the impact of supply chain bottlenecks, and our ability to purchase component parts that are periodically subject to shortages or supply chain disruptions resulting from surges in demand, natural disasters, wars and other conflicts or other events;
•varying subscriber addition, churn and average revenue per user (ARPU) rates for our fixed broadband businesses and mix of wholesale and retail subscribers;
•one-time charges to operating income arising from items such as costs and expenses, relating to acquisitions or divestitures, impairment of assets and write-offs of assets related to customer non-payments or obsolescence;
•changes in laws, regulations and interpretations affecting our business, including changes affecting spectrum availability or permitted uses;
•our ability to generate sufficient cash flows to repay our indebtedness; and
•the impact of public health crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, general economic and political conditions, and other trends that affect the industries in which we operate, and the return to normalization after associated disruptions, such as the timing of return to normalization of government acquisition processes and pre-pandemic global airline traffic levels following COVID-19-related disruptions.
We may see some negative impacts on revenues and operating cash flows from our aviation businesses in fiscal year 2025 and potentially beyond, as a result of the impacts of regulatory oversight, approvals for new model aircraft and lingering global supply chain issues on the timely deliveries of aircraft to our commercial airline customers. The extent of global economic challenges (including lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic) on our business in fiscal year 2025 and potentially beyond will depend on many factors, including the extent of effects on important global, regional and local supply chains, overall supply and demand, global air travel, consumer confidence, discretionary spending levels and levels of economic activity.
See also “Business-Segments” in Part I, Item 1 of this report for a discussion of what we believe to be key drivers for future growth in each of our segments.
Inmarsat Acquisition
On May 30, 2023, we purchased all of the issued and outstanding shares of Connect Topco Limited, a private company limited by shares and incorporated in Guernsey (Inmarsat Holdings and, together with its subsidiaries, Inmarsat), in exchange for approximately $550.7 million in cash and 46.36 million shares of our common stock (the Inmarsat Acquisition). In connection with the closing of the Inmarsat Acquisition, we entered into the 2023 Term Loan Facility and Bridge Facility, which were fully drawn at closing. On September 28, 2023, we replaced the Bridge Facility with the 2031 Notes, in the same principal amount and at the same interest rate.
The assets and results of operations of Inmarsat's commercial business are primarily included in our satellite services segment (with an insignificant amount included in our commercial networks segment) and Inmarsat's government business included in our government systems segment for the period following the closing of the Inmarsat Acquisition on May 30, 2023.
Other Transactions
On January 3, 2023, we completed the sale of certain assets and assigned certain liabilities comprising our Link-16 TDL Business to L3Harris in exchange for approximately $1.96 billion in cash, subject to certain adjustments. Unless otherwise noted, discussion throughout this Item 7 relates to our continuing operations only and excludes the Link-16 TDL Business. See Note 5 - Discontinued Operations to our consolidated financial statements for additional information.
On April 30, 2021, we completed our acquisition of the remaining 51% interest in EBI, a satellite broadband internet service provider in EMEA, from Eutelsat. We paid approximately $167.0 million in cash, net of approximately $22.0 million of purchase price consideration received during the second quarter of fiscal year 2024 and $121.7 million of EBI’s cash on hand, resulting in a cash outlay of approximately $29.0 million.
On April 30, 2021, we completed our acquisition of RigNet, a leading provider of ultra-secure, intelligent networking solutions and specialized applications. In connection with the acquisition, we issued approximately 4.0 million shares of our common stock to RigNet former shareholders, paid down $107.3 million of outstanding borrowings of RigNet’s revolving credit facility, and retained approximately $20.6 million of RigNet’s cash on hand.
The assets and results of operations of EBI and RigNet are primarily included in our satellite services segment, with insignificant amounts included in our commercial networks segment.
Satellite-Related Activities
We launched the first of our third-generation ViaSat-3 class satellites, ViaSat-3, into orbit on April 30, 2023. On July 12, 2023, we reported a reflector deployment issue that materially impacted the performance of the ViaSat-3 satellite, and on August 24, 2023, we reported the I-6 satellite (which was launched prior to the closing of the Inmarsat Acquisition) suffered a power subsystem anomaly during its orbit raising phase and concluded that the satellite would not operate as intended (see Note 1 - The Company and a Summary of Its Significant Accounting Policies - Property, equipment and satellites to our consolidated financial statements for more information).
We currently have ten GEO and HEO satellites under development: two additional high-capacity Ka-band GEO satellites (ViaSat-3 ViaSat-3), three additional adaptive Ka-band GEO satellites (Inmarsat GX 7, GX 8 and GX 9), two Ka-band HEO satellite payloads intended to provide polar coverage (Inmarsat GX 10a and GX 10b) and three Inmarsat-8 L-band GEO safety service satellites. The ViaSat-3 satellite is expected to enter into commercial service in mid calendar year 2024. The ViaSat-3 satellite is anticipated to be placed into commercial service by late calendar year 2025, with the ViaSat-3 satellite expected to go into commercial service mid to late calendar year 2025.
We expect to continue to invest in IR&D as we continue our focus on leadership and innovation in satellite and space technologies, including for the development of any new generation satellite designs and next-generation satellite network solutions. The level of our investment in a given fiscal year will depend on a variety of factors, including the stage of development of our satellite projects, new market opportunities and our overall operating performance.
As we continue to build and expand our global network and satellite fleet, from time to time we enter into satellite construction agreements for the construction and purchase of additional satellites and (depending on the satellite design) the integration of our payload and technologies into the satellites. See Note 14 - Commitments to our consolidated financial statements for information as of March 31, 2024 regarding our future minimum payments under our satellite construction contracts and other satellite-related purchase commitments (including satellite performance incentive obligations relating to the ViaSat-1 and ViaSat-2 satellites) for the next five fiscal years and thereafter. The total project cost to bring a new satellite into service will depend, among other things, on the scope and timing of the earth station infrastructure roll-out and the method used to procure fiber or other access to the earth station infrastructure. Our total cash funding of a satellite project may be reduced through third-party agreements, such as potential joint service offerings and other strategic partnering arrangements.
In connection with the launch of any new satellite and the commencement of commercial service on the satellite, we expect to incur additional operating costs that negatively impact our financial results. For example, when ViaSat-2 was placed in commercial service in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2018, this resulted in additional operating costs in our satellite services segment during the ramp-up period prior to service launch and in the fiscal year following service launch. These increased operating costs included depreciation, amortization of capitalized software development, earth station connectivity, marketing and advertising costs, logistics, customer care and various support systems. In addition, interest expense increased during fiscal year 2019 as we no longer capitalized the interest expense relating to the debt incurred for the construction of ViaSat-2 and the related gateway and networking equipment once the satellite was in commercial service. As services using the new satellite scaled, however, our revenue base for broadband services expanded and we gained operating cost efficiencies, which together yielded incremental segment earnings contributions. We anticipate that
we will incur a similar cycle of increased operating costs and constrained bandwidth supply as we prepare for and launch commercial services on future satellites, including our ViaSat-3 constellation, followed by increases in revenue base and in scale. However, there can be no assurance that we will be successful in significantly increasing revenues or achieving or maintaining operating profit in our satellite services segment, and any such gains may also be offset by investments in our global business. In addition, in fiscal years 2024 and 2023 we experienced (and we may in the future experience) capacity constraints on our existing satellites in the lead-up to the commencement of commercial service on new satellites.
Sources of Revenues
Our satellite services segment revenues are primarily derived from our in-flight services, fixed broadband services, maritime services (including narrowband and safety of communication capabilities primarily acquired through the Inmarsat Acquisition) and energy services.
Revenues in our commercial networks and government systems segments are primarily derived from three types of contracts: fixed-price contracts (which require us to provide products and services under a contract at a specified price), cost-reimbursement contracts (under which we are reimbursed for all actual costs incurred in performing the contract to the extent such costs are within the contract ceiling and allowable under the terms of the contract, plus a fee or profit), and time-and-materials contracts (which reimburse us for the number of labor hours expended at an established hourly rate negotiated in the contract, plus the cost of materials utilized in providing such products or services).
Historically, a significant portion of our revenues in our commercial networks and government systems segments has been derived from customer contracts that include the development of products. The development efforts are conducted in direct response to the customer’s specific requirements and, accordingly, expenditures related to such efforts are included in cost of sales when incurred and the related funding (which includes a profit component) is included in revenues. See Note 1 - The Company and a Summary of Its Significant Accounting Policies to our consolidated financial statements for additional information.
To date, our ability to grow and maintain our revenues in our commercial networks and government systems segments has depended on our ability to identify and target markets where the customer places a high priority on the technology solution, and our ability to obtain additional sizable contract awards. Due to the nature of this process, it is difficult to predict the probability and timing of obtaining awards in these markets.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations discusses our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). The preparation of these financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. We consider the policies discussed below to be critical to an understanding of our financial statements because their application places the most significant demands on management’s judgment, with financial reporting results relying on estimation about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain. We describe the specific risks for these critical accounting policies in the following paragraphs. For all of these policies, we caution that future events rarely develop exactly as forecast, and even the best estimates routinely require adjustment.
Revenue recognition
We apply the five-step revenue recognition model under Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (commonly referred to as ASC 606) to our contracts with our customers. Under this model, we (1) identify the contract with the customer, (2) identify our performance obligations in the contract, (3) determine the transaction price for the contract, (4) allocate the transaction price to our performance obligations and (5) recognize revenue when or as we satisfy our performance obligations. These performance obligations generally include the purchase of services (including broadband capacity and the leasing of broadband equipment), the purchase of products, and the development and delivery of complex equipment built to customer specifications under long-term contracts. Taxes imposed by governmental authorities on our revenues, such as sales taxes and value added taxes, are excluded from net sales.
The timing of satisfaction of performance obligations may require judgment. We derive a substantial portion of our revenues from contracts with customers for services, primarily consisting of connectivity services. These contracts typically require advance or recurring monthly payments by the customer. Our obligation to provide connectivity services
is satisfied over time as the customer simultaneously receives and consumes the benefits provided. The measure of progress over time is based upon either a period of time (e.g., over the estimated contractual term) or usage (e.g., bandwidth used/bytes of data processed). We evaluate whether broadband equipment provided to our customers as part of the delivery of connectivity services represents a lease in accordance with the authoritative guidance for leases (ASC 842). As discussed in Note 1 - The Company and a Summary of Its Significant Accounting Policies - Leases to our consolidated financial statements, for broadband equipment leased to customers in conjunction with the delivery of connectivity services, we account for the lease and non-lease components of connectivity service arrangements as a single performance obligation as the connectivity services represent the predominant component.
We also derive a portion of our revenues from contracts with customers to provide products. Performance obligations to provide products are satisfied at the point in time when control is transferred to the customer. These contracts typically require payment by the customer upon passage of control and determining the point at which control is transferred may require judgment. To identify the point at which control is transferred to the customer, we consider indicators that include, but are not limited to, whether (1) we have the present right to payment for the asset, (2) the customer has legal title to the asset, (3) physical possession of the asset has been transferred to the customer, (4) the customer has the significant risks and rewards of ownership of the asset, and (5) the customer has accepted the asset. For product revenues, control generally passes to the customer upon delivery of goods to the customer.
Our contracts with the U.S. Government typically are subject to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and are priced based on estimated or actual costs of producing goods or providing services. The FAR provides guidance on the types of costs that are allowable in establishing prices for goods and services provided under U.S. Government contracts. The pricing for non-U.S. Government contracts is based on the specific negotiations with each customer. Under the typical payment terms of our U.S. Government fixed-price contracts, the customer pays us either performance-based payments (PBPs) or progress payments. PBPs are interim payments based on quantifiable measures of performance or on the achievement of specified events or milestones. Progress payments are interim payments based on a percentage of the costs incurred as the work progresses. Because the customer can often retain a portion of the contract price until completion of the contract, our U.S. Government fixed-price contracts generally result in revenue recognized in excess of billings which we present as unbilled accounts receivable on the balance sheet. Amounts billed and due from our customers are classified as receivables on the balance sheet. The portion of the payments retained by the customer until final contract settlement is not considered a significant financing component because the intent is to protect the customer. For our U.S. Government cost-type contracts, the customer generally pays us for our actual costs incurred within a short period of time. For non-U.S. Government contracts, we typically receive interim payments as work progresses, although for some contracts, we may be entitled to receive an advance payment. We recognize a liability for these advance payments in excess of revenue recognized and present it as collections in excess of revenues and deferred revenues on the balance sheet. An advance payment is not typically considered a significant financing component because it is used to meet working capital demands that can be higher in the early stages of a contract and to protect us from the other party failing to adequately complete some or all of its obligations under the contract.
Performance obligations related to developing and delivering complex equipment built to customer specifications under long-term contracts are recognized over time as these performance obligations do not create assets with an alternative use to us and we have an enforceable right to payment for performance to date. To measure the transfer of control, revenue is recognized based on the extent of progress towards completion of the performance obligation. The selection of the method to measure progress towards completion requires judgment and is based on the nature of the products or services to be provided. We generally use the cost-to-cost measure of progress for our contracts because that best depicts the transfer of control to the customer which occurs as we incur costs on our contracts. Under the cost-to-cost measure of progress, the extent of progress towards completion is measured based on the ratio of costs incurred to date to the total estimated costs at completion of the performance obligation. Estimating the total costs at completion of a performance obligation requires management to make estimates related to items such as subcontractor performance, material costs and availability, labor costs and productivity and the costs of overhead. When estimates of total costs to be incurred on a contract exceed total estimates of revenue to be earned, a provision for the entire loss on the contract is recognized in the period the loss is determined. A one percent variance in our future cost estimates on open fixed-price contracts as of March 31, 2024 would change our income (loss) before income taxes by an insignificant amount.
The evaluation of transaction price, including the amounts allocated to performance obligations, may require significant judgments. Due to the nature of the work required to be performed on many of our performance obligations, the estimation of total revenue, and, where applicable, the cost at completion, is complex, subject to many variables and requires significant judgment. Our contracts may contain award fees, incentive fees, or other provisions, including the potential for significant financing components, that can either increase or decrease the transaction price. These amounts, which are sometimes variable, can be dictated by performance metrics, program milestones or cost targets, the timing of payments, and customer discretion. We estimate variable consideration at the amount to which we expect to be entitled.
We include estimated amounts in the transaction price to the extent it is probable that a significant reversal of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur when the uncertainty associated with the variable consideration is resolved. Our estimates of variable consideration and determination of whether to include estimated amounts in the transaction price are based largely on an assessment of our anticipated performance and all information (historical, current and forecasted) that is reasonably available to us. In the event an agreement includes embedded financing components, we recognize interest expense or interest income on the embedded financing components using the effective interest method. This methodology uses an implied interest rate which reflects the incremental borrowing rate which would be expected to be obtained in a separate financing transaction. We have elected the practical expedient not to adjust the promised amount of consideration for the effects of a significant financing component if we expect, at contract inception, that the period between when we transfer a promised good or service to a customer and when the customer pays for that good or service will be one year or less.
If a contract is separated into more than one performance obligation, the total transaction price is allocated to each performance obligation in an amount based on the estimated relative standalone selling prices of the promised goods or services underlying each performance obligation. Estimating standalone selling prices may require judgment. When available, we utilize the observable price of a good or service when we sell that good or service separately in similar circumstances and to similar customers. If a standalone selling price is not directly observable, we estimate the standalone selling price by considering all information (including market conditions, specific factors, and information about the customer or class of customer) that is reasonably available.
Deferred costs to obtain or fulfill contract
Under ASC 340-40, Other Assets and Deferred Costs - Contracts with Customers, we recognize an asset from the incremental costs of obtaining a contract with a customer if we expect to recover those costs. The incremental costs of obtaining a contract are those costs that we incur to obtain a contract with a customer that we would not have incurred if the contract had not been obtained. ASC 340-40 also requires the recognition of an asset from the costs incurred to fulfill a contract when (1) the costs relate directly to a contract or to an anticipated contract that we can specifically identify, (2) the costs generate or enhance our resources that will be used in satisfying (or in continuing to satisfy) performance obligations in the future, and (3) the costs are expected to be recovered. We recognize an asset related to commission costs incurred primarily in our satellite services segment and recognize an asset related to costs incurred to fulfill contracts. Costs to acquire customer contracts are amortized over the estimated customer contract life. Costs to fulfill customer contracts are amortized in proportion to the revenue to which the costs relate. For contracts with an estimated amortization period of less than one year, we expense incremental costs immediately.
Property, equipment and satellites
Property, equipment and satellites, net includes our owned and leased satellites and the associated earth stations and networking equipment, as well as the customer premise equipment units which are leased to customers as part of our satellite services segment.
Satellites and other property and equipment are recorded at cost or in the case of certain satellites and other property acquired, the fair value at the date of acquisition, net of accumulated depreciation. Capitalized satellite costs consist primarily of the costs of satellite construction and launch, including launch insurance and insurance during the period of in-orbit testing, the net present value of performance incentive payments expected to be payable to the satellite manufacturers (dependent on the continued satisfactory performance of the satellites), costs directly associated with the monitoring and support of satellite construction, and interest costs incurred during the period of satellite construction. We also construct earth stations, network operations systems and other assets to support our satellites, and those construction costs, including interest, are capitalized as incurred. At the time satellites are placed in commercial service, we estimate the useful life of our satellites for depreciation purposes based upon an analysis of each satellite’s performance against the original manufacturer’s orbital design life, estimated fuel levels and related consumption rates, as well as historical satellite operating trends. We periodically review the remaining estimated useful life of our satellites to determine if revisions to the estimated useful lives are necessary.
Leases
In accordance with ASC 842, we assess at contract inception whether the contract is, or contains, a lease. Generally, we determine that a lease exists when (1) the contract involves the use of a distinct identified asset, (2) we obtain the right to substantially all economic benefits from use of the asset, and (3) we have the right to direct the use of the asset. A lease is classified as a finance lease when one or more of the following criteria are met: (1) the lease transfers ownership of the asset by the end of the lease term, (2) the lease contains an option to purchase the asset that is reasonably certain to be exercised, (3) the lease term is for a major part of the remaining useful life of the asset, (4) the
present value of the lease payments equals or exceeds substantially all of the fair value of the asset or (5) the asset is of such a specialized nature that it is expected to have no alternative use to the lessor at the end of the lease term. A lease is classified as an operating lease if it does not meet any of these criteria.
At the lease commencement date, we recognize a right-of-use asset and a lease liability for all leases, except short-term leases with an original term of 12 months or less. The right-of-use asset represents the right to use the leased asset for the lease term. The lease liability represents the present value of the lease payments under the lease. The right-of-use asset is initially measured at cost, which primarily comprises the initial amount of the lease liability, less any lease incentives received. All right-of-use assets are periodically reviewed for impairment in accordance with standards that apply to long-lived assets. The lease liability is initially measured at the present value of the lease payments, discounted using an estimate of our incremental borrowing rate for a collateralized loan with the same term as the underlying leases.
Lease payments included in the measurement of lease liabilities consist of (1) fixed lease payments for the noncancelable lease term, (2) fixed lease payments for optional renewal periods where it is reasonably certain the renewal option will be exercised, and (3) variable lease payments that depend on an underlying index or rate, based on the index or rate in effect at lease commencement. Certain of our real estate lease agreements require variable lease payments that do not depend on an underlying index or rate established at lease commencement. Such payments and changes in payments based on a rate or index are recognized in operating expenses when incurred.
Lease expense for operating leases consists of the fixed lease payments recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term plus variable lease payments as incurred. Lease expense for finance leases consists of the depreciation of assets obtained under finance leases on a straight-line basis over the lease term and interest expense on the lease liability based on the discount rate at lease commencement. For both operating and finance leases, lease payments are allocated between a reduction of the lease liability and interest expense.
For broadband equipment leased to customers in conjunction with the delivery of connectivity services, we have made an accounting policy election not to separate the broadband equipment from the related connectivity services. The connectivity services are the predominant component of these arrangements. The connectivity services are accounted for in accordance ASC 606. We are also a lessor for certain insignificant communications equipment. These leases meet the criteria for operating lease classification. Lease income associated with these leases is not material.
Business combinations
The purchase price for business combinations is allocated to the estimated fair values of acquired tangible and intangible assets, and assumed liabilities, where applicable. Additionally, we recognize technology, contracts and customer relationships, orbital slots and spectrum assets, trade names and other as identifiable intangible assets, which are recorded at fair value as of the transaction date. Goodwill is recorded when consideration transferred exceeds the fair value of identifiable assets and liabilities. Measurement-period adjustments to assets acquired and liabilities assumed with a corresponding offset to goodwill are recorded in the period they occur, which may include up to one year from the acquisition date. Contingent consideration is recorded at fair value at the acquisition date.
Impairment of long-lived and other long-term assets (property, equipment and satellites, and other assets, including goodwill)
In accordance with the authoritative guidance for impairment or disposal of long-lived assets (ASC 360), we assess potential impairments to our long-lived assets, including property, equipment and satellites and other assets, when there is evidence that events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. We recognize an impairment loss when the undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by an asset (or group of assets) are less than the asset’s carrying value. Any required impairment loss would be measured as the amount by which the asset’s carrying value exceeds its fair value, and would be recorded as a reduction in the carrying value of the related asset and charged to results of operations. Except for the impairment related to certain of our satellites under construction and satellite programs (discussed in Note 1 - The Company and a Summary of Its Significant Accounting Policies - Property, equipment and satellites below) in the second and third quarters of fiscal year 2024 and the impairment of certain right-of-use assets in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2023, no other material impairments were recorded by us for fiscal years 2024, 2023 and 2022. See Note 7 - Leases to our consolidated financial statements for additional information.
We account for our goodwill under the authoritative guidance for goodwill and other intangible assets (ASC 350). Current authoritative guidance allows us to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is necessary to perform the quantitative goodwill impairment test. If, after completing the qualitative assessment, we determine that it is more likely than not that the estimated fair value is greater than the carrying value, we conclude that no impairment exists.
Alternatively, if we determine in the qualitative assessment that it is more likely than not that the fair value is less than its carrying value, then we perform a quantitative goodwill impairment test to identify both the existence of an impairment and the amount of impairment loss, by comparing the fair value of the reporting unit with its carrying amount, including goodwill. If the estimated fair value of the reporting unit is less than the carrying value, then a goodwill impairment charge will be recognized in the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the fair value, limited to the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. We test goodwill for impairment during the fourth quarter every fiscal year and when an event occurs or circumstances change such that it is reasonably possible that an impairment may exist.
In accordance with ASC 350, we assess qualitative factors to determine whether goodwill is impaired. The qualitative analysis includes assessing the impact of changes in certain factors including: (1) changes in forecasted operating results and comparing actual results to projections, (2) changes in the industry or our competitive environment since the acquisition date, (3) changes in the overall economy, our market share and market interest rates since the acquisition date, (4) trends in the stock price and related market capitalization and enterprise values, (5) trends in peer companies’ total enterprise value metrics, and (6) additional factors such as management turnover, changes in regulation and changes in litigation matters.
Based on our qualitative assessment performed during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2024, we concluded that it was more likely than not that the estimated fair value of each of our reporting units exceeded their related carrying value as of March 31, 2024.
Income taxes and valuation allowance on deferred tax assets
Management evaluates the realizability of our deferred tax assets and assesses the need for a valuation allowance on a quarterly basis to determine if the weight of available evidence suggests that an additional valuation allowance is needed. In accordance with the authoritative guidance for income taxes (ASC 740), net deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance if, based on all the available evidence, it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. In the event that our estimate of taxable income is less than that required to utilize the full amount of any deferred tax asset, a valuation allowance is established, which would cause a decrease to income in the period such determination is made.
Our analysis of the need for a valuation allowance on deferred tax assets considered historical as well as forecasted future operating results, the reversal of temporary differences, taxable income in prior carryback years (if permitted), and the availability of tax planning strategies. Additionally, in our analysis, we also considered the fact that ASC 740 places more weight on the objectively verifiable evidence of current pre-tax losses and recent events than forecasts of future profitability.
Accruals for uncertain tax positions are provided for in accordance with the authoritative guidance for accounting for uncertainty in income taxes (ASC 740). Under the authoritative guidance, we may recognize the tax benefit from an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefits recognized in the financial statements from such a position should be measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement. The authoritative guidance addresses the derecognition of income tax assets and liabilities, classification of deferred income tax assets and liabilities, accounting for interest and penalties associated with tax positions, and income tax disclosures.
We are subject to income taxes in the United States and numerous foreign jurisdictions. In the ordinary course of business, there are calculations and transactions where the ultimate tax determination is uncertain. In addition, changes in tax laws and regulations as well as adverse judicial rulings could adversely affect the income tax provision. We believe we have adequately provided for income tax issues not yet resolved with federal, state and foreign tax authorities. However, if these provided amounts prove to be more than what is necessary, the reversal of the reserves would result in tax benefits being recognized in the period in which we determine that provision for the liabilities is no longer necessary. If an ultimate tax assessment exceeds our estimate of tax liabilities, an additional charge to expense would result.
Results of Operations
The following table presents, as a percentage of total revenues, income statement data of our continuing operations for the periods indicated:
Fiscal Years Ended
March 31,
March 31,
March 31,
Revenues:
%
%
%
Product revenues
Service revenues
Operating expenses:
Cost of product revenues
Cost of service revenues
Selling, general and administrative (including satellite impairment and related charges, net - see Note 1 - The Company and a Summary of Its Significant Accounting Policies - Property, equipment and satellites to our consolidated financial statements)
Independent research and development
Amortization of acquired intangible assets
Income (loss) from continuing operations
(21
)
(6
)
(5
)
Interest (expense) income, net
(7
)
-
(1
)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes
(28
)
(6
)
(6
)
(Provision for) benefit from income taxes from continuing operations
(2
)
Net income (loss) from continuing operations
(24
)
(8
)
(4
)
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax
-
Net income (loss) attributable to Viasat, Inc.
(25
)
(1
)
Fiscal Year 2024 Compared to Fiscal Year 2023
Revenues
Fiscal Years Ended
Dollar
Percentage
(In millions, except percentages)
March 31,
March 31,
Increase
(Decrease)
Increase
(Decrease)
Product revenues
$
1,279.2
$
954.1
$
325.0
%
Service revenues
3,004.6
1,602.0
1,402.6
%
Total revenues
$
4,283.8
$
2,556.2
$
1,727.6
%
Our total revenues grew by $1,727.6 million as a result of a $1,402.6 million increase in service revenues and a $325.0 million increase in product revenues, which increases reflect ten months of contribution from the Inmarsat Acquisition in fiscal year 2024. The service revenue increase was due to increases of $931.0 million in our satellite services segment, $461.8 million in our government systems segment, and $9.7 million in our commercial networks segment. The increase in product revenue was driven primarily by a $169.5 million increase in our government systems segment and a $155.5 million increase in our commercial networks segment.
Cost of revenues
Fiscal Years Ended
Dollar
Percentage
(In millions, except percentages)
March 31,
March 31,
Increase
(Decrease)
Increase
(Decrease)
Cost of product revenues
$
973.4
$
736.4
$
236.9
%
Cost of service revenues
1,928.7
1,098.3
830.4
%
Total cost of revenues
$
2,902.1
$
1,834.8
$
1,067.3
%
Cost of revenues increased by $1,067.3 million due to an increase of $830.4 million in cost of service revenues and $236.9 million in cost of product revenues. The cost of service revenues increase was primarily due to increased service
revenues across each of our segments, causing a $961.6 million increase in cost of service revenues on a constant margin basis. The increase in cost of service revenues was partially offset by higher margins, primarily driven by our government systems and satellite services segments. The cost of product revenue increase was primarily due to increased product revenues, mainly from our government systems and commercial networks segments, causing a $230.3 million increase in cost of product revenues on a constant margin basis, prior to the effects of product revenues related to the Acacia litigation (see Note 15 - Contingencies to our consolidated financial statements for more information). The increase in cost of product revenues was further increased by lower margins, primarily driven by our government systems and commercial networks segments.
Selling, general and administrative expenses
Fiscal Years Ended
Dollar
Percentage
(In millions, except percentages)
March 31,
March 31,
Increase
(Decrease)
Increase
(Decrease)
Selling, general and administrative
$
1,893.7
$
718.6
$
1,175.0
%
The $1,175.0 million increase in selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses was driven primarily by a net loss of approximately $905.5 million related to satellite impairment, including liabilities associated with the termination of certain subcontractor agreements, net of estimated insurance claim receivables recorded in our satellite service segment, and also reflected acquisition and integration costs associated with the Inmarsat Acquisition. See Note 1 - The Company and a Summary of Its Significant Accounting Policies - Property, equipment and satellites to our consolidated financial statements for more information. Additionally, we experienced an increase in support costs of $212.6 million, reflected across all three of our segments, which reflects the inclusion of ten months of support costs relating to the Inmarsat business for the period following the Inmarsat Acquisition. The increase in SG&A expenses was also driven by $59.5 million in higher selling costs, reflected primarily in our satellite services and government systems segments. SG&A expenses consisted primarily of personnel costs and expenses for business development, marketing and sales, bid and proposal, acquisition and transaction related expenses, facilities, finance, contract administration and general management.
Independent research and development
Fiscal Years Ended
Dollar
Percentage
(In millions, except percentages)
March 31,
March 31,
Increase
(Decrease)
Increase
(Decrease)
Independent research and development
$
150.7
$
128.9
$
21.7
%
The $21.7 million increase in IR&D expenses was mainly the result of a $17.1 million increase in our government systems segment (primarily related to the inclusion of IR&D expenses relating to the Inmarsat business for the period following the Inmarsat Acquisition, tactical satcom radio products and information assurance projects). The increase in our government systems segment was partially offset by a decrease in IR&D expenses related to advancement of integrated government satellite communications platforms. This overall increase in IR&D expenses was also due to a $4.6 million increase in our commercial networks segment (primarily related to the inclusion of IR&D expenses relating to the Inmarsat business for the period following the Inmarsat Acquisition, mobile satellite communication systems for commercial airline platforms and antenna systems). The increase in our commercial networks segment was partially offset by a decrease in IR&D expenses related to next-generation consumer broadband integrated technologies and next-generation satellite payload technologies.
Amortization of acquired intangible assets
We amortize our acquired intangible assets from prior acquisitions over their estimated useful lives, which range from two to 20 years. The $197.4 million increase in amortization of acquired intangible assets in fiscal year 2024 compared to the prior fiscal year was primarily related to the amortization of new intangibles acquired as a result of the Inmarsat Acquisition in May 2023. Expected amortization expense for acquired intangible assets for each of the following periods is as follows:
Amortization
(In thousands)
Expected for fiscal year 2025
$
269,313
Expected for fiscal year 2026
269,161
Expected for fiscal year 2027
269,161
Expected for fiscal year 2028
269,161
Expected for fiscal year 2029
268,416
Thereafter
1,199,255
$
2,544,467
Interest income
The $76.7 million increase in interest income for fiscal year 2024 compared to fiscal year 2023 was primarily due to the interest earned on the invested portion of the cash related to proceeds of approximately $1.96 billion received from L3Harris in the Link-16 TDL Sale as well as cash acquired as part of the Inmarsat Acquisition.
Interest expense
The $373.6 million increase in interest expense in fiscal year 2024 compared to fiscal year 2023 was primarily the result of the effects of increased interest expense arising from our increased level of indebtedness following the closing of the Inmarsat Acquisition on May 30, 2023. The increase in interest expense was partially offset by an increase in the amount of interest capitalized during fiscal year 2024 compared to the prior year period.
Income taxes
The income tax benefit in fiscal year 2024 primarily reflected the tax benefit from our loss before income taxes, partially offset by a valuation allowance recorded against our U.S. net deferred tax assets. The income tax provision in fiscal year 2023 primarily reflected the establishment of a valuation allowance on the deferred tax asset for California R&D tax credits and the expense for tax deficiencies upon settlement of stock-based compensation during the period, partially offset by the benefit of federal R&D tax credits. Our valuation allowance against deferred tax assets increased from $150.0 million at March 31, 2023 to $353.6 million at March 31, 2024. The valuation allowance relates to federal, state, and foreign net operating loss carryforwards, federal and state R&D tax credit carryforwards and foreign tax credit carryforwards.
Segment Results for Fiscal Year 2024 Compared to Fiscal Year 2023
Satellite services segment
Revenues
Fiscal Years Ended
Dollar
Percentage
(In millions, except percentages)
March 31,
March 31,
Increase
(Decrease)
Increase
(Decrease)
Segment product revenues
$
-
$
-
$
-
-
%
Segment service revenues
2,141.8
1,210.7
931.0
%
Total segment revenues
$
2,141.8
$
1,210.7
$
931.0
%
The increase of $931.0 million in our satellite services segment revenues for fiscal year 2024 compared to the prior fiscal year was primarily due to ten months of contribution from the Inmarsat Acquisition in fiscal year 2024 and an increase in revenues from our in-flight services business compared to the prior fiscal year. The Inmarsat Acquisition contributed approximately $932.3 million of service revenues (nearly half from maritime services), while our in-flight services business service revenue increased $147.0 million as the number of commercial aircraft receiving our in-flight services through IFC systems and passenger air traffic both continued to increase. The increase in our satellite services segment revenues was partially offset by lower fixed broadband revenues in the United States as we continued to allocate a greater proportion of our bandwidth to our IFC business due to bandwidth constraints.
Segment operating profit (loss)
Fiscal Years Ended
Dollar
Percentage
(In millions, except percentages)
March 31,
March 31,
(Increase)
Decrease
(Increase)
Decrease
Segment operating profit (loss)
$
(770.9
)
$
(41.0
)
$
(729.8
)
(1,778
)%
Percentage of segment revenues
(36
)%
(3
)%
The increase in our satellite services segment operating loss is primarily due to the recording of satellite impairment and related charges, net of estimated insurance claim receivables of approximately $905.5 million in fiscal year 2024, as well as higher SG&A costs of $131.4 million, mostly related to the Inmarsat Acquisition, partially offset by increased earnings contributions of $306.1 million, mainly due to ten months of revenue contribution from the Inmarsat Acquisition in fiscal year 2024 and improved margins from our in-flight services business as it continued to scale.
Commercial networks segment
Revenues
Fiscal Years Ended
Dollar
Percentage
(In millions, except percentages)
March 31,
March 31,
Increase
(Decrease)
Increase
(Decrease)
Segment product revenues
$
685.9
$
530.4
$
155.5
%
Segment service revenues
92.0
82.3
9.7
%
Total segment revenues
$
777.8
$
612.6
$
165.2
%
Our commercial networks segment revenues increased by $165.2 million, due to a $155.5 million increase in product revenues and a $9.7 million increase in service revenues. The increase in product revenues was primarily the result of an increase in revenues recognized as a result of settlement payments from the Acacia litigation (see Note 15 - Contingencies to our consolidated financial statements for more information). The increase in product revenues was also driven by increases of $52.1 million in mobile satellite communication systems products related to higher IFC terminal shipments, $30.5 million in antenna systems products, $20.3 million in satellite payload technology development programs, and $6.6 million in fixed satellite networks. The increase in service revenues was primarily driven by increases in mobile satellite communication systems services.
Segment operating profit (loss)
Fiscal Years Ended
Dollar
Percentage
(In millions, except percentages)
March 31,
March 31,
(Increase)
Decrease
(Increase)
Decrease
Segment operating profit (loss)
$
(135.0
)
$
(145.3
)
$
10.4
%
Percentage of segment revenues
(17
)%
(24
)%
The $10.4 million decrease in our commercial networks segment operating loss was driven primarily by an increase in earnings contributions of $43.3 million, partially offset by higher SG&A costs of $28.4 million and an increase of $4.6 million in IR&D expenses (primarily related to the inclusion of IR&D expenses relating to the Inmarsat business for the period following the Inmarsat Acquisition, mobile satellite communication systems for commercial airline platforms and antenna systems, partially offset by a decrease in IR&D expenses related to next-generation consumer broadband integrated technologies and next-generation satellite payload technologies.
Government systems segment
Revenues
Fiscal Years Ended
Dollar
Percentage
(In millions, except percentages)
March 31,
March 31,
Increase
(Decrease)
Increase
(Decrease)
Segment product revenues
$
593.3
$
423.8
$
169.5
%
Segment service revenues
770.8
309.0
461.8
%
Total segment revenues
$
1,364.1
$
732.8
$
631.4
%
Our government systems segment revenues increased by $631.4 million due to increases of $461.8 million in service revenues, and $169.5 million in product revenues. The service revenue increase was primarily due to ten months of contribution from the Inmarsat Acquisition in fiscal year 2024 and increases of $15.8 million in government mobile broadband services and $4.4 million in tactical satcom radio services. The Inmarsat Acquisition contributed approximately $431.1 million of service revenues in our government systems segment following the closing of the acquisition. The product revenue increase was primarily driven by a $113.1 million increase in cybersecurity and information assurance products, a $50.2 million increase due to the Inmarsat Acquisition, and a $17.1 million increase in tactical satcom radio products.
Segment operating profit (loss)
Fiscal Years Ended
Dollar
Percentage
(In millions, except percentages)
March 31,
March 31,
Increase
(Decrease)
Increase
(Decrease)
Segment operating profit (loss)
$
243.2
$
60.2
$
183.0
%
Percentage of segment revenues
%
%
The $183.0 million increase in our government systems segment operating profit was primarily driven by higher earnings contributions of $310.9 million, primarily due to increased revenues due to ten months of contribution from the Inmarsat Acquisition in fiscal year 2024. The increase in operating profit was partially offset by a $110.7 million increase in SG&A costs, of which $93.3 million related to the Inmarsat Acquisition, and a $17.1 million increase in IR&D expenses (primarily related to the inclusion of IR&D expenses relating to the Inmarsat business for the period following the Inmarsat Acquisition, tactical satcom radio products and information assurance projects partially offset by a decrease in IR&D expenses related to advancement of integrated government satellite communications platforms).
Fiscal Year 2023 Compared to Fiscal Year 2022
For a discussion of our results of operations for fiscal year 2023 as compared to fiscal year 2022, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in Part II, Item 7 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023.
Backlog
Our firm and funded backlog as of March 31, 2024 is reflected in the table below.
As of
March 31, 2024
(In millions)
Firm backlog
Satellite services segment
$
1,731.9
Commercial networks segment
647.7
Government systems segment
1,316.4
Total
$
3,696.0
Funded backlog
Satellite services segment
$
1,731.9
Commercial networks segment
575.1
Government systems segment
1,175.4
Total
$
3,482.4
The firm backlog does not include contract options. As of March 31, 2024, a little less than half of the firm backlog is expected to be delivered during the next 12 months, with the balance delivered thereafter. We include in our backlog only
those orders for which we have accepted purchase orders, and not anticipated purchase orders and requests. In our satellite services segment, our backlog includes fixed broadband service revenues under our subscriber agreements, but does not include future recurring IFC service revenues under our agreements with commercial airlines. As of March 31, 2024, our IFC systems were installed and in service on approximately 3,720 commercial aircraft, of which approximately 70 were inactive at fiscal year end (mostly due to standard aircraft maintenance). We anticipate that approximately 1,360 additional commercial aircraft will be put into service with our IFC systems under existing customer agreements with commercial airlines. Due to the nature of commercial airline contracts, there can be no assurance that all anticipated purchase orders and requests will be placed or that anticipated IFC services will be activated on all such additional commercial aircraft.
Our total new awards which exclude future revenue under recurring consumer commitment arrangements were approximately $4.2 billion for fiscal year 2024 and $3.2 billion (of which $384.4 million was attributable to discontinued operations related to the Link-16 TDL Business) for fiscal year 2023.
Backlog is not necessarily indicative of future sales. A majority of our contracts can be terminated at the convenience of the customer. Orders are often made substantially in advance of delivery, and our contracts typically provide that orders may be terminated with limited or no penalties. In addition, purchase orders may present product specifications that would require us to complete additional product development. A failure to develop products meeting such specifications could lead to a termination of the related contract.
Firm backlog amounts are comprised of funded and unfunded components. Funded backlog represents the sum of contract amounts for which funds have been specifically obligated by customers to contracts. Unfunded backlog represents future amounts that customers may obligate over the specified contract performance periods. Our customers allocate funds for expenditures on long-term contracts on a periodic basis. Our ability to realize revenues from contracts in backlog is dependent upon adequate funding for such contracts. Although we do not control the funding of our contracts, our experience indicates that actual contract funding has ultimately been approximately equal to the aggregate amounts of the contracts.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Overview
We have financed our operations to date primarily with cash flows from operations, bank line of credit financing, debt financing, export credit agency financing and equity financing. At March 31, 2024, we had $1.9 billion in cash and cash equivalents, $2.2 billion in working capital, no outstanding borrowings and borrowing availability of $591.5 million under the Viasat Revolving Credit Facility, and no outstanding borrowings and borrowing availability of $550.0 million under the Inmarsat Revolving Credit Facility. At March 31, 2023, we had $1.4 billion in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash, $1.3 billion in working capital, and no outstanding borrowings and borrowing availability of $657.4 million under the Viasat Revolving Credit Facility. We invest our cash in excess of current operating requirements in short-term, highly liquid bank money market funds primarily investing in U.S. government-backed securities and treasuries.
The general cash needs of our satellite services, commercial networks and government systems segments can vary significantly and our future capital requirements will depend upon many factors, including cash required for our satellite projects and any future broadband satellite projects we may engage in, expansion of our IR&D and marketing efforts, and the nature and timing of orders. In particular:
•The cash needs of our satellite services segment tend to be driven by the timing and amount of capital expenditures (e.g., payments under satellite construction and launch contracts and investments in ground infrastructure roll-out), investments in joint ventures, strategic partnering arrangements, network expansion activities, investments to obtain STCs to enable the retrofit installation of our IFC and W-IFE equipment and investments in platforms and software to support our services and entry into new markets, as well as the quality of customer, type of contract and payment terms, and timing and amount of recoveries under satellite insurance claims.
•In our commercial networks segment, cash needs tend to be driven primarily by the type and mix of contracts in backlog, the nature and quality of customers, the timing and amount of investments in IR&D activities (including with respect to next-generation satellite payload technologies) and the payment terms of customers (including whether advance payments are made or customer financing is required).
•In our government systems segment, the primary factors determining cash needs tend to be the type and mix of contracts in backlog (e.g., product or service, development or production) and timing of payments (including restrictions on the timing of cash payments under U.S. Government procurement regulations). Other factors affecting the cash needs of our commercial networks and government systems segments include contract
duration and program performance. For example, if a program is performing well and meeting its contractual requirements, then its cash flow requirements are usually lower.
Additionally, we will continue to evaluate other possible acquisitions of, or investments in complementary businesses, products and technologies which may require the use of cash or additional financing.
As a result of the divestiture of the Link-16 TDL Business, we have taken measures to mitigate the impact of stranded costs and to right-size our remaining businesses by reducing discretionary spending and by undertaking cost-reduction measures, including reducing our real estate footprint and workforce, which measures resulted in approximately $40 million of expenses during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2023, primarily recorded in our SG&A.
In November 2023, we announced an important milestone in our integration program following our Inmarsat Acquisition. As part of our ongoing strategy to streamline operations and better serve our growing customer base, we completed our work on the rationalization of roles in our global business, which is intended to achieve both operational and cost efficiencies. As part of the role rationalization, we reduced our global workforce by approximately 800 positions, or approximately 10%, and recorded total costs (primarily related to employee severance payments, benefits and related termination costs) of approximately $48 million during fiscal year 2024. These one-time costs were recorded within operating expenses in our consolidated statements of operations across all three of our segments, with insignificant amounts remaining to be incurred and paid.
To further enhance our liquidity position or to finance the construction and launch of any future satellites, acquisitions, strategic partnering arrangements, joint ventures or other business investment initiatives, we may obtain additional financing, which could consist of debt, convertible debt or equity financing from public and/or private credit and capital markets. From time to time, we file universal shelf registration statements with the SEC for the future sale of an unlimited amount of common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, depositary shares and warrants, which securities may be offered from time to time, separately or together, directly by us, by selling security holders, or through underwriters, dealers or agents at amounts, prices, interest rates and other terms to be determined at the time of the offering. Additionally, we consider strategic divestitures from time to time, such as the Link-16 TDL Sale that was completed in January 2023 for approximately $1.96 billion in cash, subject to adjustments.
Although we can give no assurances concerning our future liquidity, we believe that we have adequate sources of funding to meet our anticipated operating requirements for the next 12 months, which include, but are not limited to, cash on hand, borrowing capacity, and cash expected to be provided by operating activities.
Cash flows
Cash provided by operating activities for fiscal year 2024 was $688.2 million compared to $367.9 million for fiscal year 2023. This $320.3 million increase was driven by our operating results (net income (loss) adjusted for depreciation, amortization and other non-cash charges) which resulted in $648.1 million of higher cash provided by operating activities year-over-year, partially offset by a $327.7 million year-over-year increase in cash used to fund net operating assets. The increase in cash used to fund net operating assets during fiscal year 2024 when compared to the prior year period was primarily due to timing of payments related to our accrued liabilities and accounts payables, and the timing of deferred revenue recognized under certain long-term contracts acquired through the Inmarsat Acquisition in our satellite services segment.
Cash used in investing activities for fiscal year 2024 was $1.3 billion compared to cash provided by investing activities for fiscal year 2023 of $768.0 million. Cash used in investing activities for fiscal year 2024 reflects approximately $719 million in cash (net of cash acquired) used for the Inmarsat Acquisition in the first quarter of fiscal year 2024 and cash used for Inmarsat capital expenditures following the date of acquisition, partially offset by $508.6 million of cash receipts related to satellite insurance claim proceeds received during fiscal year 2024. Cash provided by investing activities for fiscal year 2023 reflected $1.9 billion recorded as cash proceeds in our consolidated statement of cash flows for fiscal year 2023 received from the Link-16 TDL Sale in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2023. The remaining cash used for capital expenditures (excluding cash used for Inmarsat capital expenditures following the date of acquisition) remained relatively flat year-over-year.
Cash provided by financing activities for fiscal year 2024 was $1.1 billion compared to cash used in financing activities of $66.1 million for fiscal year 2023. Cash provided by financing activities for fiscal year 2024 was primarily comprised of proceeds from debt borrowings of approximately $1.3 billion incurred in connection with the Inmarsat Acquisition, partially offset by approximately $139 million in debt repayments. Cash used in financing activities for fiscal year 2023 was primarily comprised of debt repayments of $576.5 million and a payment of $30.0 million by our majority-owned subsidiary, TrellisWare Technologies, Inc., to repurchase shares of its common stock from its stockholders in the second quarter of fiscal year 2023 (see Note 1 - The Company and a Summary of Its Significant Accounting Policies - Noncontrolling interests to our consolidated financial statements for further information), partially offset by proceeds from debt borrowings of $540.0 million.
Capital Expenditures and IR&D Investments
Capital expenditures in fiscal year 2024 of $1.5 billion were 32% higher than fiscal year 2023, primarily due to the inclusion of Inmarsat's expenditures for the period following the closing of the Inmarsat Acquisition. Our total capital expenditures in fiscal year 2025 are expected to decline compared to fiscal year 2024 as the majority of the capital expenditures related to the ViaSat-3 constellation have been completed. We remain committed to meaningfully reducing aggregate capital expenditures as part of our Inmarsat integration strategy and as satellites currently under construction are completed. See Note 14 - Commitments to our consolidated financial statements for information as of March 31, 2024 regarding our future minimum payments under our satellite construction contracts and other satellite-related purchase commitments (including satellite performance incentive obligations relating to the ViaSat-1 and ViaSat-2 satellites) for the next five fiscal years and thereafter.
We also incur IR&D expenses, which are not directly funded by a third party. IR&D expenses consist primarily of salaries and other personnel-related expenses, supplies, prototype materials, testing and certification related to R&D projects. Our IR&D investments are expected to continue through fiscal year 2025 and beyond to support our growth, acceleration of new opportunities and entry into new markets (for example direct-to-device). IR&D expenses were approximately 4%, 5% and 6% of total revenues in fiscal years 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively. As a government contractor, we are able to recover a portion of our IR&D expenses pursuant to our government contracts.
Long-Term Debt
As of March 31, 2024, the aggregate principal amount of our total outstanding indebtedness was $7.5 billion, which was comprised of (1) $700.0 million in aggregate principal amount of Viasat's 5.625% Senior Notes due 2025 (the 2025 Notes), $600.0 million in aggregate principal amount of Viasat's 5.625% Senior Secured Notes due 2027 (the 2027 Notes), $400.0 million in aggregate principal amount of Viasat's 6.500% Senior Notes due 2028 (the 2028 Notes), $733.4 million in aggregate principal amount of Viasat's 7.500% Senior Secured Notes due 2031 (the 2031 Notes) and $2.08 billion in aggregate principal amount of Inmarsat's 6.750% Senior Secured Notes due 2026 (the Inmarsat 2026 Notes), (2) $687.8 million in principal amount of outstanding borrowings under Viasat's $700.0 million senior secured term loan facility (the 2022 Term Loan Facility), $613.6 million in principal amount of outstanding borrowings under Viasat's $616.7 million senior secured term loan facility (the 2023 Term Loan Facility), $1.6 billion in principal amount of outstanding borrowings under Inmarsat's $1.6 billion senior secured term loan facilities (the Inmarsat Term Loan Facilities and, together with the Inmarsat Revolving Credit Facility, the Inmarsat Secured Credit Facilities), no outstanding borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facilities, and $39.3 million in principal amount of outstanding borrowings under the Ex-Im Credit Facility, and (3) $26.8 million of finance lease obligations. For information regarding our outstanding indebtedness, refer to Note 8 - Senior Notes and Other Long-Term Debt to our consolidated financial statements.
Contractual Obligations
The following table sets forth a summary of certain material cash requirements for known contractual obligations and commitments at March 31, 2024:
(In thousands, including interest where applicable)
Next 12 months
Thereafter
Operating leases
$
115,777
$
857,760
Senior notes and other long-term debt (1)
646,651
9,457,788
Purchase commitments including satellite-
related agreements
1,210,729
1,013,832
Total
$
1,973,157
$
11,329,380
(1)	To the extent that the interest rate on any long-term debt is variable, amounts reflected represent estimated interest payments on the applicable current outstanding balance based on the interest rate at March 31, 2024 until the applicable maturity date, net of interest rate cap contracts (maturing in February 2025) set up to hedge the variable interest rates under the Inmarsat Term Loan Facilities. The interest rate cap contracts provide protection from Compound SOFR rates over 2% and covered the total nominal amount of the Inmarsat Term Loan Facilities of $1.6 billion.
We purchase components from a variety of suppliers and use several subcontractors and contract manufacturers to provide design and manufacturing services for our products. During the normal course of business, we enter into agreements with subcontractors, contract manufacturers and suppliers that either allow them to procure inventory based upon criteria defined by us or that establish the parameters defining our requirements. We also enter into agreements and purchase commitments with suppliers for the construction, launch, and operation of our satellites. In certain instances, these agreements allow us the option to cancel, reschedule and adjust our requirements based on our business needs prior to firm orders being placed. Consequently, only a portion of our reported purchase commitments arising from these agreements are firm, non-cancelable and unconditional commitments. We may also cancel, reschedule or adjust our requirements based on business needs after firm orders are placed at a cost, which may be material.
Our consolidated balance sheets included $2.5 billion and $218.5 million of “other liabilities” as of March 31, 2024 and March 31, 2023, respectively, which primarily consisted of deferred income taxes and the long-term portion of deferred revenues. These remaining liabilities have been excluded from the above table as the timing and/or the amount of any cash payment is uncertain.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We had no material off-balance sheet arrangements at March 31, 2024 as defined in Regulation S-K Item 303(b) other than as discussed under “Contractual Obligations” above or disclosed in the notes to our consolidated financial statements included in this report.
Recent Authoritative Guidance
For information regarding recently adopted and issued accounting pronouncements, see Note 1 - The Company and a Summary of Its Significant Accounting Policies to the consolidated financial statements.

---

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Interest Rate Risk
Our financial instruments consist of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable and short-term and long-term obligations (including the Credit Facilities and the Notes), and interest rate cap contracts. We consider investments in highly liquid instruments purchased with a remaining maturity of three months or less at the date of purchase to be cash equivalents. Our indebtedness for borrowed money comprises borrowings under our Credit Facilities and the aggregate principal amount outstanding under our Notes. The Notes and borrowings under our Ex-Im Credit Facility bear interest at a fixed rate and therefore our exposure to market risk for changes in interest rates relates primarily to borrowings under our remaining Credit Facilities, cash equivalents and short-term obligations.
The primary objectives of our investment activities are to preserve principal and maximize the income we receive from our investments without significantly increasing risk. To minimize this risk, we maintain a significant amount of our cash balance in money market accounts, with a significant portion held in U.S. government-backed qualified money-market securities. In general, money market accounts are not subject to interest rate risk because the interest paid on such funds fluctuates with the prevailing interest rate. Our cash and cash equivalents earn interest at variable rates. Our interest income has been and may continue to be negatively impacted by low market interest rates. Fixed rate securities may have their fair market value adversely impacted due to a rise in interest rates, while floating rate securities may produce less income than expected if interest rates fall. Because our investment policy restricts us to invest in conservative, interest-bearing investments and because our business strategy does not rely on generating material returns from our investment portfolio, we do not expect our market risk exposure on our investment portfolio to be material. Due to the short-term nature of our investment portfolio, we do not believe an immediate 10% increase or decrease in interest rates would have a material effect on the fair market value of our portfolio. We therefore do not expect our operating results or cash flows to be materially affected by a sudden change in market interest rates.
Our primary interest rate under our variable rate Credit Facilities is the forward-looking term SOFR rate plus an applicable margin. As of March 31, 2024, the effective interest rate on our outstanding borrowings under the 2022 Term Loan Facility was 10.36% and under the 2023 Term Loan Facility was 10.91%. As of March 31, 2024, the weighted average effective interest rate under the Inmarsat Term Loan Facilities was approximately 9.59%. As of March 31, 2024, the effective interest rate that would have been applied to any new SOFR-based borrowings under the Viasat Revolving Credit Facility was approximately 7.89%, and under the Inmarsat Revolving Credit Facility was approximately 8.31%. As of March 31, 2024, we had no outstanding borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facilities. Accordingly, assuming the outstanding balance under the 2022 Term Loan Facility, the 2023 Term Loan Facility and the Inmarsat Term Loan Facilities remained constant over a year and we continued to have no outstanding borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facilities, a 10% increase in the interest rates would increase interest incurred, prior to effects of capitalized interest but taking into account Inmarsat's interest rate cap contracts with respect to the Inmarsat Term Loan Facilities, by approximately $13.0 million over a 12-month period.
We have entered into interest rate cap contracts to hedge the variable interest rates under the Inmarsat Term Loan Facilities. The interest rate cap contracts provide protection from Compound SOFR rates over 2% and covered the total nominal amount of the Inmarsat Term Loan Facilities of $1.6 billion. As of March 31, 2024, a 100 basis point increase or decrease in interest rates would increase or decrease the carrying and fair values of the interest rate cap contract by approximately $14.6 million.
Foreign Exchange Risk
We generally conduct our business in U.S. dollars. However, as our international business is conducted in a variety of foreign currencies, we are exposed to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. A five percent variance in foreign currencies in which our international business is conducted would change our income (loss) before income taxes by an insignificant amount and $1.8 million for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Our objective in managing our exposure to foreign currency risk is to reduce earnings and cash flow volatility associated with foreign exchange rate fluctuations. Accordingly, from time to time, we may enter into foreign currency forward contracts to mitigate risks associated with foreign currency denominated assets, liabilities, commitments and anticipated foreign currency transactions.

---

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Our consolidated financial statements at March 31, 2024 and March 31, 2023 and for each of the three fiscal years in the period ended March 31, 2024, and the Report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID 238), are included in this report on pages through.
Summarized Quarterly Data (Unaudited)
The following financial information reflects all normal recurring adjustments which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for the fair statement of the results for the interim periods. Summarized quarterly data for fiscal years 2024 and 2023 are as follows:
1st Quarter
2nd Quarter
3rd Quarter
4th Quarter
(In thousands, except per share data)
Total revenues
$
779,791
$
1,225,415
$
1,128,539
$
1,150,013
Income (loss) from operations
(41,516
)
(804,667
)
(43,918
)
Net income (loss) from continuing operations
(76,902
)
(765,763
)
(119,349
)
(85,483
)
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax
-
-
-
(10,422
)
Net income (loss)
(76,902
)
(765,763
)
(119,349
)
(95,905
)
Net income (loss) attributable to Viasat, Inc.
(77,004
)
(767,238
)
(124,399
)
(100,263
)
Income (loss) per share attributable
to Viasat, Inc. common stockholders - basic:
Continuing operations
$
(0.83
)
$
(6.16
)
$
(0.99
)
$
(0.71
)
Discontinued operations
-
-
-
(0.08
)
Income (loss)
$
(0.83
)
$
(6.16
)
$
(0.99
)
$
(0.80
)
Income (loss) per share attributable
to Viasat, Inc. common stockholders - diluted:
Continuing operations
$
(0.83
)
$
(6.16
)
$
(0.99
)
$
(0.71
)
Discontinued operations
-
-
-
(0.08
)
Income (loss)
$
(0.83
)
$
(6.16
)
$
(0.99
)
$
(0.80
)
Total revenues*
$
575,056
$
663,559
$
651,444
$
666,099
Income (loss) from operations*
(56,638
)
4,685
(31,311
)
(72,692
)
Net income (loss) from continuing operations*
(38,564
)
(69,743
)
(44,758
)
(58,574
)
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax*
17,525
22,187
4,333
1,258,342
Net income (loss)
(21,039
)
(47,556
)
(40,425
)
1,199,768
Net income (loss) attributable to Viasat, Inc.*
(21,564
)
(48,240
)
(42,228
)
1,196,838
Income (loss) per share attributable
to Viasat, Inc. common stockholders - basic:
Continuing operations
$
(0.52
)
$
(0.93
)
$
(0.61
)
$
(0.80
)
Discontinued operations*
0.23
0.29
0.06
16.36
Income (loss)
$
(0.29
)
$
(0.64
)
$
(0.55
)
$
15.56
Income (loss) per share attributable
to Viasat, Inc. common stockholders - diluted:
Continuing operations
$
(0.52
)
$
(0.93
)
$
(0.61
)
$
(0.80
)
Discontinued operations*
0.23
0.29
0.06
16.36
Income (loss)
$
(0.29
)
$
(0.64
)
$
(0.55
)
$
15.56
* Certain prior period quarterly amounts have been adjusted by an insignificant amount from the amounts previously reported in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2022, due to the determination that certain contracts could not be novated in connection with the closing of the Link-16 TDL Sale.
In the second quarter of fiscal year 2024 and second quarter of fiscal year 2023, we recorded a one-time benefit from a litigation settlement of $95.3 million and $55.8 million, respectively, in revenues. See Note 15 - Contingencies to our consolidated financial statements for more information.
The summarized quarterly data above includes the operating results of Inmarsat from the date of acquisition on May 30, 2023. Therefore the first quarter of fiscal year 2024 only includes one month of Inmarsat's operating results, whereas the remaining quarters of fiscal year 2024 include a full quarter of Inmarsat's operating results.
On January 3, 2023, we completed the Link-16 TDL Sale, and as a result the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2023 included the impact of the gain of approximately $1.66 billion (net of costs to sell of $40.8 million) within net income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax on the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) for fiscal year 2023.
Basic and diluted net income (loss) per share are computed independently for each of the quarters presented. Therefore, the sum of quarterly basic and diluted per share information may not equal annual basic and diluted net income per share.

---

ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.

---

ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures designed to provide reasonable assurance of achieving the objective that information in our Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified and pursuant to the requirements of the SEC’s rules and forms and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow for timely decisions regarding required disclosures. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives, and management is required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures.
As required by SEC Rule 13a-15(b), we carried out an evaluation, with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of March 31, 2024, the end of the period covered by this report. Based upon the foregoing, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at a reasonable assurance level as of March 31, 2024.
Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
The Company’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act. Under the supervision and with the participation of the company’s management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, the company conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting based on criteria established in the framework in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on this evaluation, the Company’s management concluded that its internal control over financial reporting was effective as of March 31, 2024.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risks that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
We completed the acquisition of Inmarsat on May 30, 2023. SEC guidance permits management to omit an assessment of an acquired business’ internal control over financial reporting from management’s assessments of internal control over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures for a period not to exceed one year from the date of the acquisition. Accordingly, we have excluded Inmarsat from our assessment of internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2024. We have reported the operating results of Inmarsat in our consolidated statements of operations and cash flows from the acquisition date through March 31, 2024. Inmarsat is a wholly-owned subsidiary whose total assets and total revenues represent approximately 54% of our total assets and approximately 34% of our total revenues, as of and for the year ended March 31, 2024.
The Company’s independent registered public accounting firm has audited the effectiveness of the company’s internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2024, as stated in their report which appears on page.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
We regularly review our system of internal control over financial reporting and make changes to our processes and systems to improve controls and increase efficiency, while ensuring that we maintain an effective internal control environment. Changes may include such activities as implementing new, more efficient systems, consolidating activities, and migrating processes. During the quarter ended March 31, 2024, there were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

---

ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
During the three months ended March 31, 2024, no director or officer, as defined in Rule 16a-1(f), adopted or terminated any contract, instruction or written plan for the purchase or sale of our securities that was intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c) or any “non Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement” as defined in Item 408 of Regulation S-K.

---

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
The information required by this item is included in our definitive Proxy Statement to be filed with the SEC in connection with our 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the Proxy Statement) under the headings “Corporate Governance Principles and Board Matters,” “Election of Directors” and “Ownership of Securities,” and is incorporated herein by reference.
The information required by this item relating to our executive officers is included under the caption “Executive Officers” in Part I of this Form 10-K and is incorporated herein by reference into this section.
We have adopted a code of ethics applicable to all of our employees (including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer and controller). The code of ethics is designed to deter wrongdoing and to promote honest and ethical conduct and compliance with applicable laws and regulations. The full text of our code of ethics is published on our website at www.viasat.com. We intend to disclose future amendments to certain provisions of our code of ethics, or waivers of such provisions granted to executive officers and directors, on our website within four business days following the date of such amendment or waiver.

---

ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The information required by this item is included in the Proxy Statement under the heading “Executive Compensation” and is incorporated herein by reference.

---

ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
The information required by this item is included in the Proxy Statement under the headings “Ownership of Securities” and “Executive Compensation - Equity Compensation Plan Information,” and is incorporated herein by reference.

---

ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
The information required by this item is included in the Proxy Statement under the headings “Corporate Governance Principles and Board Matters” and “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions,” and is incorporated herein by reference.

---

ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
The information required by this item is included in the Proxy Statement under the heading “Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” and is incorporated herein by reference.
PART IV

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ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
(a)The following documents are filed as part of this report:
(1)Consolidated Financial Statements
Page Number
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2024 and March 31, 2023
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2024, March 31, 2023 and March 31, 2022
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2024, March 31, 2023 and March 31, 2022
Consolidated Statements of Equity for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2024, March 31, 2023 and March 31, 2022
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(2)
Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts for the three fiscal years ended March 31, 2024
II-1
All other schedules are omitted because they are not applicable or the required information is shown in the financial statements or notes thereto.
(3)Exhibits
Exhibit
Number
Incorporated by Reference
Filed or
Furnished
Herewith
Exhibit Description
Form
File No.
Exhibit
Filing Date
2.1*
Share Purchase Agreement, dated as of November 8, 2021, by and among Viasat, Inc. and the shareholders of Connect Topco Limited party thereto
8-K
000-21767
2.1
11/08/2021
2.1(A)
Letter agreement, dated as of April 11, 2023, by and among Viasat, Inc. and the shareholders of Connect Topco Limited party thereto
10-K
000-21767
2.1(A)
05/22/2023
2.2*
Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of October 1, 2022, by and between Viasat, Inc. and L3Harris Technologies, Inc.
8-K
000-21767
2.1
10/03/2022
3.1
Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of ViaSat, Inc.
10-Q
000-21767
3.1
11/14/2000
3.1.2
Certificate of Amendment to the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Viasat, Inc.
8-K
000-21767
3.1
06/02/2023
3.2
Amended and Restated Bylaws of ViaSat, Inc.
10-Q
000-21767
3.1
11/09/2023
4.1
Form of Common Stock Certificate (p)
S-1/A
333-13183
4.1
11/05/1996
4.2
Indenture dated as of September 21, 2017, between ViaSat, Inc. and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee
8-K
000-21767
4.1
09/21/2017
4.2.1
Form of 5.625% Senior Note due 2025 of ViaSat, Inc. (attached as Exhibit A to the Indenture filed as Exhibit 4.2 hereto)
8-K
000-21767
4.1
09/21/2017
4.3
Indenture, dated as of March 27, 2019, between Viasat, Inc. and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee and as collateral trustee
8-K
000-21767
4.1
03/27/2019
4.3.1
Form of 5.625% Senior Secured Note due 2027 of Viasat, Inc. (attached as Exhibit A to the Indenture filed as Exhibit 4.3 hereto)
8-K
000-21767
4.1
03/27/2019
4.4
Indenture, dated as of June 24, 2020, between Viasat, Inc. and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee
8-K
000-21767
4.1
06/24/2020
4.4.1
Form of 6.500% Senior Note due 2028 of Viasat, Inc. (attached as Exhibit A to the Indenture filed as Exhibit 4.4 hereto)
8-K
000-21767
4.1
06/24/2020
4.5
Indenture, dated as of September 28, 2023, between Viasat, Inc. and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee
8-K
000-21767
4.1
09/28/2023
4.5.1
Form of 7.500% Senior Notes due 2031 of Viasat, Inc. (attached as Exhibit A to the Indenture filed as Exhibit 4.5 hereto)
8-K
000-21767
4.1
09/28/2023
4.6
Indenture, dated as of October 7, 2019, by and among Connect Finco SARL, Connect U.S. Finco LLC and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee
10-Q
000-21767
4.1
08/09/2023
4.6.1
Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November 15, 2023, among Connect Finco SARL, Connect U.S. FINCO LLC, the guarantors party thereto and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee
10-Q
000-21767
4.1
02/08/2024
4.7
Description of Registered Securities
X
10.1*
Stockholders Agreement, dated as of November 8, 2021, by and among Viasat, Inc. and the shareholders of Connect Topco Limited party thereto
8-K
000-21767
10.3
11/08/2021
10.2
Form of Indemnification Agreement between ViaSat, Inc. and each of its directors and officers
8-K
000-21767
99.1
03/07/2008
10.3**
Viasat, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan (As Amended and Restated Effective September 7, 2023)
8-K
000-21767
10.2
09/08/2023
10.4**
1996 Equity Participation Plan of Viasat, Inc. (As Amended and Restated Effective September 7, 2023)
8-K
000-21767
10.1
09/08/2023
10.5**
Form of Stock Option Agreement for the 1996 Equity Participation Plan of ViaSat, Inc.
10-K
000-21767
10.4
05/26/2015
10.6**
Form of Stock Option Agreement for the 1996 Equity Participation Plan of ViaSat, Inc. - Independent Director
10-Q
000-21767
10.4
11/09/2023
10.7**
Form of Performance Stock Option Agreement for the Viasat Inc. 1996 Equity Participation Plan (Stock Price)
10-Q
000-21767
10.1
02/08/2024
10.8**
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement for the 1996 Equity Participation Plan of ViaSat, Inc.-Global
10-K
000-21767
10.5
05/25/2017
10.9**
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement for the 1996 Equity Participation Plan of ViaSat, Inc.-Independent Director
10-K
000-21767
10.6
05/26/2015
10.10**
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement for the 1996 Equity Participation Plan of ViaSat, Inc.-Executive
10-K
000-21767
10.7
05/26/2015
10.11**
Form of Change in Control Severance Agreement between ViaSat, Inc. and each of its executive officers
8-K
000-21767
10.1
08/04/2010
10.11.1**
Form of First Amendment to Change in Control Severance Agreement between ViaSat, Inc. and each of its executive officers
10-K
000-21767
10.12.1
5/31/2022
10.12**
Severance Agreement, dated as of April 13, 2023, by and between Viasat, Inc. and K. Guru Gowrappan
10-K
000-21767
10.11
05/22/2023
10.13**
RigNet, Inc. 2010 Omnibus Incentive Plan
S-8
333-255690
10.3
04/30/2021
10.13.1**
Amendment to RigNet, Inc. 2010 Omnibus Incentive Plan
S-8
333-255690
10.4
04/30/2021
10.14**
RigNet, Inc. 2019 Omnibus Incentive Plan
S-8
333-255690
10.5
04/30/2021
10.14.1**
Amendment to RigNet, Inc. 2019 Omnibus Incentive Plan
S-8
333-255690
10.6
04/30/2021
10.15
Credit Agreement dated as of November 26, 2013, by and among ViaSat, Inc., Union Bank, N.A. (as agent) and the other lenders party thereto
8-K
000-21767
10.1
11/26/2013
10.15.1
First Amendment to Credit Agreement and Other Loan Documents dated as of March 12, 2015, by and among ViaSat, Inc., Union Bank, N.A. (as agent) and the other lenders party thereto
8-K
000-21767
10.2
03/13/2015
10.15.2
Second Amendment to Credit Agreement and Other Loan Documents dated as of May 24, 2016, by and among Viasat, Inc., MUFG Union Bank, N.A. (as agent) and the other lenders party thereto
8-K
000-21767
10.1
05/24/2016
10.15.3
Third Amendment to Credit Agreement dated as of May 24, 2018 by and among Viasat, Inc., MUFG Union Bank, N.A. (as agent) and the other lenders party thereto
10-K
000-21767
10.10.3
05/30/2018
10.15.4
Fourth Amendment to Credit Agreement dated as of January 18, 2019, by and among Viasat, Inc., MUFG Union Bank, N.A. (as administrative agent and collateral agent) and the other lenders party thereto
8-K
000-21767
10.1
01/22/2019
10.15.5
Fifth Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of November 23, 2021, by and among Viasat, Inc., MUFG Union Bank, N.A. (as administrative agent and collateral agent), and the other lenders party thereto
8-K
000-21767
10.1
11/30/2021
10.15.6
Sixth Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of March 4, 2022, by and among Viasat, Inc., MUFG Union Bank, N.A. (as administrative agent and collateral agent), and the other lenders party thereto
8-K
000-21767
10.2
03/04/2022
10.15.7
Seventh Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of August 24, 2023, by and among Viasat, Inc., MUFG Bank, Ltd. (as successor-in-interest to MUFG Union Bank, N.A.), as administrative agent and collateral agent, and the other lenders party thereto
8-K
000-21767
10.1
08/25/2023
10.15.8
Joinder Agreement, dated as of September 6, 2023, by and among Viasat, Inc. as borrower, MUFG Bank, Ltd. (as successor in interest to MUFG Union Bank, N.A.), as administrative agent and collateral agent, and the lender party thereto.
8-K
000-21767
10.1
09/07/2023
10.16
Credit Agreement dated as of March 12, 2015, by and among ViaSat Technologies Limited, ViaSat, Inc., JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association
8-K
000-21767
10.1
03/13/2015
(as Ex-Im facility agent) and the Export-Import Bank of the United States
10.16.1
First Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of June 12, 2015, by and among ViaSat Technologies Limited, ViaSat, Inc., JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association (as Ex-Im Facility Agent) and the Export-Import Bank of the United States
10-Q
000-21767
10.1
08/10/2015
10.16.2
Second Amendment Agreement, dated as of March 23, 2016, by and among ViaSat Technologies Limited, ViaSat, Inc., JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association (as Ex-Im Facility Agent) and the Export-Import Bank of the United States
8-K
000-21767
10.1
03/24/2016
10.16.3
Third Amendment Agreement, dated as of October 11, 2016, by and among ViaSat Technologies Limited, ViaSat, Inc., JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association (as Ex-Im Facility Agent) and the Export-Import Bank of the United States
8-K
000-21767
10.1
10/12/2016
10.16.4
Fourth Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of July 17, 2018, by and among Viasat Technologies Limited, Viasat, Inc., JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association (as Ex-Im Facility Agent) and the Export-Import Bank of the United States
8-K
000-21767
10.1
07/23/2018
10.16.5
Fifth Amendment Agreement, dated as of February 28, 2019, by and among Viasat Technologies Limited, Viasat, Inc., JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association (as Ex-Im Facility Agent) and the Export-Import Bank of the United States
8-K
000-21767
10.1
02/28/2019
10.16.6
Sixth Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of August 3, 2022, among Viasat Technologies Limited, Viasat, Inc., JP Morgan Chase Bank, National Association, and the Export-Import Bank of the United States
10-Q
000-21767
10.2
08/09/2022
10.16.7
Seventh Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of April 14, 2023, among Viasat Technologies Limited, Viasat, Inc., JP Morgan Chase Bank, National Association, and the Export-Import Bank of the United States
10-Q
000-21767
10.9
11/09/2023
10.16.8
Eighth Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of September 27, 2023, among Viasat Technologies Limited, Viasat, Inc., JP Morgan Chase Bank, National Association, and the Export-Import Bank of the United States
10-Q
000-21767
10.10
11/09/2023
10.17
Credit Agreement, dated as of March 4, 2022, by and among Viasat, Inc., Bank of America, N.A. (as administrative agent and collateral agent), and the other lenders party thereto
8-K
000-21767
10.1
03/04/2022
10.18
Amendment and Restatement Agreement, dated as of September 22, 2023, by and among Viasat, Inc., Bank of America, N.A. (as administrative agent and collateral agent), and the other lenders party thereto
8-K
000-21767
10.1
09/25/2023
10.19
Credit Agreement, dated as of December 12, 2019, by and among Connect Midco Limited, Connect Bidco Limited, Connect Finco SARL, Connect U.S. Finco LLC, Barclays Bank PLC (as administrative agent and collateral agent), and the other lenders party thereto
10-Q
000-21767
10.4
08/09/2023
10.19.1
Amendment No.1 to Credit Agreement, dated as of January 25, 2021, by and among Connect Midco Limited, Connect Bidco Limited, Connect Finco SARL, Connect U.S. Finco LLC, Barclays Bank PLC (as administrative agent and collateral agent), and the other lenders party thereto
10-Q
000-21767
10.4.1
08/09/2023
10.19.2
Amendment No. 2 to Credit Agreement, dated as of December 17, 2021, by and among Connect Midco Limited, Connect Bidco Limited, Connect Finco SARL, Connect U.S. Finco LLC, Barclays Bank PLC (as administrative agent and collateral agent), and the other lenders party thereto
10-Q
000-21767
10.4.2
08/09/2023
10.19.3
Amendment No. 3 to Credit Agreement, dated as of December 2, 2022, by and among Connect Midco Limited, Connect Bidco Limited, Connect Finco SARL, Connect U.S. Finco LLC, Barclays Bank PLC (as administrative agent and collateral agent), and the other lenders party thereto
10-Q
000-21767
10.4.3
08/09/2023
10.19.4
Amendment No. 4 to Credit Agreement, dated as of March 28, 2024 by and among Connect Finco SARL, Connect U.S. Finco LLC, the subsidiary loan parties party thereto, Barclays Bank PLC, as existing administrative agent and collateral agent, Bank of America, N.A., as successor administrative agent and collateral agent, and the lenders party thereto
8-K
000-21767
10.1
03/28/2024
Viasat, Inc. Insider Trading Compliance Policies and Procedures
X
21.1
Subsidiaries
X
23.1
Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
X
24.1
Power of Attorney (see signature page)
X
31.1
Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 of Chief Executive Officer
X
31.2
Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 of Chief Financial Officer
X
32.1
Certifications Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
X
Viasat, Inc. Compensation Recovery Policy Adopted Under Section 10Q of the Exchange Act and the NASDAQ Listing Rules
X
101.INS
Inline XBRL Instance Document - the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File as its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document.
X
101.SCH
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema with Embedded Linkbases Document
X
Cover Page (formatted as inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)
X
* Certain schedules to this Exhibit omitted pursuant to Regulation S-K Item 601(b)(2) or 601(a)(5) (as applicable). Viasat agrees to furnish a supplemental copy of any omitted schedule to the SEC upon request; provided, however, that Viasat may request confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 24b-2 of the Exchange Act for any document so furnished.
** Indicates management contract, compensatory plan or arrangement.
(p)Filed in paper.