Rocket Lab Completes Merger with Vector Acquisition Corporation

Rocket Lab USA, Inc. Acquires Planetary Systems Corporation

November 15, 2021

Aerospace & Defense

Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) completed the acquisition of Planetary Systems Corporation (PSC), a Maryland-based spacecraft separation systems and satellite dispenser manufacturer, for $42 million in cash plus 1,720,841 shares of common stock and a potential earnout of up to 956,023 additional shares. The deal (expected/closed in Q4 2021 per announcements) brings PSC's flight-proven separation hardware and its 25-person team into Rocket Lab's Space Systems division to expand Rocket Lab's end-to-end launch, spacecraft, and space-hardware capabilities.

Rocket Lab Acquires SolAero Holdings for $80 Million

December 13, 2021

Aerospace & Defense

Rocket Lab (Nasdaq: RKLB) has acquired SolAero Holdings, Inc., a leading supplier of space solar cells, solar panels and precision aerospace structures, for $80 million in cash. The acquisition (announced in December 2021 and subsequently closed) adds SolAero’s ~425 employees and the world’s largest production line of high-performance space solar cells to Rocket Lab’s vertically integrated space systems business, expanding its manufacturing capabilities for civil, defense and commercial space customers.

Rocket Lab Acquires Geost, LLC from ATL Partners / LightRidge Solutions

August 12, 2025

Aerospace & Defense

Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (a subsidiary of Rocket Lab Corporation) is acquiring Geost, LLC, a LightRidge Solutions subsidiary, in a deal that represents a successful exit for ATL Partners. Following the sale ATL will combine its remaining LightRidge businesses, Trident Systems and Ophir Corporation, into a new defense electronics platform called Trident Solutions; the transaction strengthens Rocket Lab's EO/IR payload and mission-capability offerings for defense and intelligence customers and is subject to regulatory approval.

Rocket Lab Acquires Geost

August 12, 2025

Aerospace & Defense

Rocket Lab Corporation has completed the acquisition of the parent holding company of Geost, LLC from Lightridge Solutions (a portfolio company of ATL Partners) for $275 million before closing adjustments — comprising approximately $125 million in cash and 3,057,588 shares of Rocket Lab common stock, plus a potential earnout of up to $50 million. The deal brings Geost's electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) sensor payload capabilities and manufacturing facilities into Rocket Lab, expanding its national security space capabilities and U.S. footprint (Arizona and Virginia).

L3Harris to Acquire Aerojet Rocketdyne

December 18, 2022

Aerospace & Defense

L3Harris Technologies has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings, Inc. for $58 per share in an all-cash transaction valued at $4.7 billion inclusive of net debt. The deal, financed with cash and new debt, will combine Aerojet Rocketdyne’s propulsion and energetics capabilities (about $2.3 billion in revenue and ~5,200 employees) with L3Harris to strengthen defense propulsion, hypersonics and missile-defense offerings; the transaction is expected to close subject to regulatory approvals in 2023.

Rocket Companies Acquires Mr. Cooper Group

March 31, 2025

Financial Services

Rocket Companies (NYSE: RKT) announced a definitive all‑stock agreement to acquire Mr. Cooper Group Inc. and bring together Rocket's origination capabilities with Mr. Cooper's servicing platform to create an end‑to‑end homeownership platform. The deal was announced as an all‑stock transaction with $9.4 billion in equity value and later reported closed as a $14.2 billion acquisition; the combination is expected to drive significant recapture, data/AI synergies and roughly $500 million of annual run‑rate revenue and cost benefits.