Branson's Virgin Orbit to go public through US$3.2b Spac merger

[BENGALURU] Billionaire Richard Branson's Virgin Orbit, a small satellite launch service provider, is going public through a merger with a blank-check vehicle that values it at about US$3.2 billion.

The deal with NextGen Acquisition Corp II, announced on Monday, includes US$100 million in funding from Boeing, AE Industrial Partners and others in the form of private investment in public equity, or PIPE.

Virgin Orbit and rivals Firefly and Rocket Lab are among firms building miniaturised launch systems to capitalise on an expected boom in demand for compact satellites. They offer a unique "air-launch" method of sending satellites to orbit.

"We can turn any runway across the globe, from an airport into a spaceport, because we fly a (Boeing) 747," said chief executive officer Dan Hart, a former executive of the US planemaker.

The rocket has to "start work" when it is already at 35,000 feet, reducing carbon use by 90 per cent, Mr Hart said in an interview.

He added the company was pursuing US$4 billion in opportunities and had US$300 million in backlogs across contract and launch service deals, among others. It won a US$35 million contract in 2020 from the US Space Force for three missions.

Spun-off from Mr Branson's space tourism company Virgin Galactic Holdings Inc in 2017, Virgin Orbit reached space for the first time in January when it delivered ten Nasa satellites to orbit, after a failed attempt last year.

The deal is expected to provide US$483 million in proceeds to the combined company, which will list on the Nasdaq under the symbol "VORB" after the merger.

REUTERS