Rocket Lab USA Inc. announced Monday it will be going public through an acquisition by special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) Vector Acquisition Corp. VACQ, -0.68%, in a deal that values the launch and space systems company at $4.1 billion. Vector Acquisition’s stock soared 20.5% in premarket trading. After the merger closes, which is expected to occur in the second quarter of 2021, the company will be named Rocket Lab USA Inc. and the stock will trade on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol “RKLB.” The companies expect to have a cash balance of $750 million after the deal closes. Separately, Rocket Lab unveiled its medium-lift Neutron rocket, a reusable launch vehicle with an 8-ton payload lift capacity, to be used for mega constellations, deep space missions and human spaceflight. “Not only are we the leader in small launch, we are the second most frequently launched rocket in the U.S. annually and the fourth most frequent launcher globally,” said Chief Executive Peter Beck. Vector Acquisition’s stock, which went public in November, has gained 2.8% over the past three months, while shares of spaceflight services company Virgin Galactic Holdings Inc. SPCE, -11.86% have run up 31.3% and the S&P 500 SPX, -0.48% has gained 4.1%.
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