Thursday, October 1, 2009

ViaSat Buys WildBlue Communications

Carlsbad-based ViaSat, a developer of wireless and satellite communications systems, announced this morning that it has acquired WildBlue Communications, a provider of satellite broadband services. ViaSat said it will pay $568M in cash and stock for WildBlue, as part of bid to accelerate the firm's growth. As part of the acquisition, ViaSat said that Liberty Media will add a representative to the board, and Intelsat, Tennenbaum Capital Partners, the National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative, and Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers will also become shareholders. ViaSat was advised by Credit Suisse Securities and Latham & Watkins in the deal; WildBlue was advised by Morgan Stanley and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom.

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