ViaSat (VSAT) Risk Factors

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.

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.

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 F2 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 F1 and I6 F2 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.

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.

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 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 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.

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.

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.

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.