8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of

The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): October 3, 2018

VIASAT, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Delaware	000-21767	33-0174996
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)	(Commission File No.)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

6155 El Camino Real

Carlsbad, California 92009

(Address of Principal Executive Offices, Including Zip Code)

(760) 476-2200

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company  ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ☐

Item 8.01 Other Events.

On October 3, 2018, Viasat, Inc. (the “Company”) issued a press release announcing that it has invited The Baupost Group, L.L.C. to participate in meetings of the Company’s Board of Directors in a non-voting observer capacity. A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

Exhibit Number	Description of Exhibit
99.1	Press release dated October 3, 2018 issued by Viasat, Inc.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Date: October 3, 2018	Viasat, Inc.
	By:	/s/ Brett Church
		Brett Church
		Associate General Counsel

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

Viasat Welcomes The Baupost Group as Board Observer

CARLSBAD, Calif., October 3, 2018 – Viasat Inc., (Nasdaq: VSAT), a global communications company, announced today it has invited The Baupost Group, L.L.C. (“Baupost”) to participate in meetings of Viasat’s Board of Directors in a non-voting observer capacity.

“As a decade-long investor in Viasat, we remain excited about the Company’s growth potential in both its defense and commercial businesses,” said Greg Ciongoli, partner, The Baupost Group. “We appreciate this opportunity to contribute to boardroom discussions.”

“Baupost has a successful long-term philosophy of value investing,” said Mark Dankberg, chairman and CEO, Viasat. “Inviting Baupost to participate as a Board observer provides us with an opportunity to capitalize on their strategic insight, as well as their valuable financial and investment expertise.”

About Viasat

Viasat is a global communications company that believes everyone and everything in the world can be connected. For more than 30 years, Viasat has helped shape how consumers, businesses, governments and militaries around the world communicate. Today, the Company is developing the ultimate global communications network to power high-quality, secure, affordable, fast connections to impact people’s lives anywhere they are—on the ground, in the air or at sea. To learn more about Viasat, visit: www.viasat.com, go to Viasat’s Corporate Blog, or follow the Company on social media at: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter or YouTube.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that are entitled to the protection of the safe harbors created under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements include statements about Viasat’s ability to capitalize on the strategic insight, and financial and investment expertise of Baupost. Readers are cautioned that actual results could differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ include: the ability to realize the anticipated benefits of Baupost’s participation as an observer; interests that may be different from, or in addition to, those of Viasat stockholders generally; regulatory constraints in the communications industry; Viasat’s response to technological changes, increased competition and shifting market demand; contractual problems, product defects, manufacturing issues or delays, regulatory issues, and technologies not being developed according to anticipated schedules, or that do not perform according to expectations. In addition, please refer to the risk factors contained in Viasat’s SEC filings available at www.sec.gov, including Viasat’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. Viasat undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements for any reason.

Copyright ^© 2018 Viasat, Inc. All rights reserved. All other product or company names mentioned are used for identification purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective owners. Viasat is a registered trademark of Viasat, Inc.

Viasat, Inc. Contacts:

Chris Phillips, Corporate Communications & PR, +1 760-476-2322, chris.phillips@viasat.com

June Harrison, Investor Relations, +1-760-476-2633, IR@viasat.com

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