Our returning guest on the show today was Mark Dankberg, the co-founder and Executive Chairman of Viasat<\/strong> (Ticker: VSAT<\/a>). Viasat is $3.1 billion dollar market cap company that provides broadband and communication products and services worldwide. Viasat started off as a defense-oriented company but has since layered on consumer and business-facing offerings by developing the world\u2019s leading high throughput geostationary satellites.<\/p>\n

Subsequent to our first interview<\/a> with Mark, Viasat announced its intent to merge with Inmarsat, a UK-based company that provides mobile satellite communications services on land, at sea, and in the air worldwide. Without question, the size and the timing of the deal were a surprise to many of the people in the industry, especially because Viasat was in the middle of preparing to launch 3 new satellites over a short period of time. Given all of that, I was very curious to hear from Mark about:<\/p>\n

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• Why Viasat decided to acquire Inmarsat versus other potential targets;<\/li>\n
• Why Viasat is the right owner of Inmarsat versus other potential buyers;<\/li>\n
• Why do the deal now versus waiting until the 3 new satellites had been launched;<\/li>\n
• How Inmarsat fits into Viasat\u2019s hybrid network philosophy; and<\/li>\n
• How Viasat plans to integrate Inmarsat employees culturally.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

  Just a few disclosures to note:<\/p>\n

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  • First, Cove Street owns Viasat shares<\/li>\n
  • Second, Cove Street has done a number of podcasts and interviews specifically on our position in Viasat<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Please enjoy the interview at the following sites:<\/p>\n

    YouTube: https:\/\/youtu.be\/HTIOiKKP15I<\/a>
    \nPodbean: https:\/\/compounders.podbean.com\/e\/why-viasat-why-inmarsat-why-now-with-mark-dankberg-co-founder-and-executive-chairman-of-viasat-inc-nasdaq-vsat\/<\/a>
    \nSpotify: https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/episode\/4phom9Jjm3OkhiVuYOYKYt<\/a>
    \nApple: https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/why-viasat-why-inmarsat-why-now-with-mark-dankberg-co\/id1579124518?i=1000551854527<\/a><\/p>\n