Activist Carronade spots a hidden gem in Viasat's business. How the firm may unlock value

Company Overview - Viasat is a global communications and defense technology company operating in two segments: Communication Services and Defense and Advanced Technologies (DAT) [1] - The Communications Services segment includes fixed broadband, government, maritime, and inflight communications, while the DAT segment focuses on defense-technology platforms for information security, cyber defense, and tactical networking [1] Activist Involvement - Carronade Capital Management LP, an activist investment firm, owns 2.60% of Viasat and has called for the separation of the DAT business through a spin-off or IPO [2][3] Financial Performance - Viasat's revenue breakdown shows Communications contributing 73% of revenue and 80% of EBITDA, while DAT accounts for 27% of revenue and 20% of EBITDA [4] - The Communications segment is experiencing a decline in broadband revenue, down over 27% year over year, but other areas like Government and Inflight Communications (IFC) are growing at approximately 25% and 22% respectively [5] - Viasat's share price has significantly underperformed, down 21.12%, 51.56%, and 57.98% over the past 1, 3, and 5 years [4] Market Perception and Misunderstanding - Carronade argues that Viasat is misunderstood by the market, perceived as a small-cap legacy satellite company overshadowed by competitors like Starlink [5] - The DAT business is highlighted as a hidden gem with best-in-class EBITDA margins of 28% and significant growth potential in next-generation defense technologies [6][7] Valuation Analysis - Carronade estimates the DAT business could be valued between $6.3 billion to $16.2 billion based on a 20-times to 51-times EBITDA multiple, while the entire company has an enterprise value of approximately $8 billion [8] - The Communications segment is valued at $4.9 billion, with an additional $1 billion from a legal settlement, leading to a total valuation range for Viasat of $48.93 to $112.49 per share, representing a potential return of 76% to 304% [8] Strategic Direction - Carronade's proposal to spin-off or IPO the DAT business aims to unlock intrinsic value and mitigate negative market sentiment surrounding the satellite business [8] - Viasat management has indicated consideration of selling parts of the DAT business, suggesting alignment with Carronade's value proposition [9]