One Regulatory Hurdle Left After FCC OK of Viasat/Inmarsat

With the European Commission's competition review being the last major regulatory hurdles, Viasat said Friday it expects its $7.3 billion Inmarsat acquisition (see 2111080038) to close by month's end. The FCC Space Bureau and Office of International Affairs, in an order issued Friday signing off on the transaction, said existing and new entrant competitors said a combined Viasat/Inmarsat won't significantly hurt competition in the satellite-supplied government services sector and said competition is growing in the aviation and maritime sectors. The agency approval includes conditions on foreign-ownership monitoring.