Rocket Lab Corporation, a global leader in launch services and space systems, announced substantial milestones in connection with its previously announced proposed acquisition of Iridium Communications Inc.
Regulatory Clearance and Filings
Rocket Lab announced today that the waiting period under the U.S. Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (“HSR”), in connection with its pending acquisition of Iridium expired at 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on August 12, 2026.
Rocket Lab also today filed its Registration Statement on Form S-4 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission related to the Iridium acquisition to register the Rocket Lab securities to be delivered to Iridium shareholders to satisfy the equity consideration at the closing of the transaction. The filing of the registration statement represents a substantial step in the process toward completing the proposed transaction. The registration statement has not yet become effective, and the securities described in it may not be sold, nor may offers to buy be accepted, prior to the time the registration statement becomes effective.
Rocket Lab further announced that on August 10, 2026, Rocket Lab and Iridium filed with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) applications seeking its consent to transfer control of Iridium’s licenses and authorizations to Rocket Lab.
Sir Peter Beck, founder and CEO of Rocket Lab, says: “Filing the Form S-4 and the FCC applications and receiving U.S. antitrust clearance are all major steps for us in the execution timeline for the Iridium acquisition. These milestones continue to pave the way toward the completion of this transformative transaction that will position Rocket Lab to accelerate our future into space applications.”
Capital Strategy
As previously reported, in connection with signing the definitive merger agreement to acquire Iridium, Rocket Lab entered into a commitment letter with Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Wells Fargo Bank, National Association and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch for a 364-day senior secured bridge term loan facility in an aggregate principal amount of $3.6 billion.
The Company intends to replace the commitments for the bridge facility through a combination of permanent debt and equity financing sources.
As part of its financing strategy, Rocket Lab announced today that, together with Iridium, it intends to seek certain amendments to Iridium’s existing term loan credit facility with an aggregate amount of $1.775 billion outstanding as of June 30, 2026, which would allow the Iridium facility to remain in place following Rocket Lab’s acquisition, and which would reduce the Company’s debt commitments correspondingly at much more attractive rates than the bridge facility terms. Such amendments, if completed, will require the consent of lenders under Iridium’s facility, and there is no assurance at this time that the Company will obtain such consents.
The Company also separately announced today a new at the market program that replaces the Company’s May 2026 program and carries forward the unsold offering amount under that prior program. Amounts raised under the new program are intended to reduce the remaining commitments under the bridge loan through equity transactions.
