Rocket Lab to acquire Iridium in $8 billion cash‑and‑stock deal

Rocket Lab announced an agreement to buy Iridium Communications in a transaction valued at roughly $8 billion. The deal will be executed as a cash‑and‑stock purchase at $54 per Iridium share, with shareholders receiving $27 in cash and the balance in Rocket Lab stock. Closing is expected in mid‑2027 pending shareholder approval and regulatory clearance. The acquisition combines Rocket Lab’s launch services and satellite‑manufacturing capability with Iridium’s 66‑satellite low‑Earth‑orbit L‑band network, which serves more than 2.5 million voice, data, IoT, direct‑to‑device and positioning‑navigation‑timing customers worldwide. By integrating Iridium’s spectrum licences and global customer base, Rocket Lab aims to become a vertically‑integrated space company that designs, builds, launches and operates its own communications constellations, positioning itself as a direct competitor to SpaceX’s Starlink and other emerging satellite operators. The company has secured a $3.6 billion bridge loan from Deutsche Bank and Wells Fargo to finance the cash portion. Boards of both companies have unanimously approved the transaction.