This strategic acquisition will allow Rocket Lab to add the world's largest high-performance aerospace solar cell production line to the company's growing aerospace systems business

Long Beach, California--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (NASDAQ: RKLB) ("Rocket Lab" or "Company"), a global leader in launch services and space systems ”) announced today that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire SolAero Holdings, Inc. (SolAero) for US$80 million in cash, which is a major supplier of space solar products and precision aerospace structures in the global aerospace market. The acquisition is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2022.

This acquisition is in line with Rocket Lab's vertically integrated growth strategy to provide comprehensive space solutions covering spacecraft manufacturing, satellite subsystems, flight software, ground operations and launch. As one of the only two companies in the United States that produce high-efficiency space-grade solar cells, SolAero's space solar cells are one of the highest performance companies in the world, supporting civil space exploration, science, defense and intelligence, and commercial markets. Through the combination with Rocket Lab, SolAero will use the company's resources and manufacturing capabilities to promote mass production, thereby providing high-performance space power technology on a large scale.

"SolAero is a highly complementary to Rocket Lab's vertically integrated business model and enhances our ability to simplify space for our customers by providing complete space mission solutions," said Rocket Lab founder and CEO Peter Beck. "SolAero has become a major supplier of solar energy technology, able to achieve pioneering tasks, expand scientific horizons and advanced commercial space. By combining our innovative team, industry-leading technology and strong resources, we can advance space exploration, and Enable our customers to break through the possibilities on track. We are very pleased to welcome the SolAero team to the Rocket Lab family."

"We are very happy to join Rocket Lab's outstanding team and contribute to their innovation and track record of success," said Brad Clevenger, President and CEO of SolAero. "As Rocket Lab builds on its ability to provide complete mission solutions, SolAero is a perfect fit for Rocket Lab. We look forward to becoming an integral part of Rocket Lab's space system business, while continuing to provide first-class capabilities to all our customers And value."

SolAero was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Albuquerque, New Mexico. So far, SolAero's solar cells, solar panels and composite structure products have supported more than 1,000 successful space missions with 100% reliability and mission success rate . Over the past two decades, SolAero’s products have played a key role in some of the most ambitious space missions in the industry, including powering NASA’s Parker Solar Probe and Mars Insight Lander, which have been deployed on Mars in history. The largest solar array on the surface, and several Cygnus cargo replenishment missions to the International Space Station. SolAero also led the development and manufacturing of Ingenuity solar panels. This helicopter successfully flew on Mars in April this year, marking the first power-controlled flight on a planet other than Earth in history.

SolAero technology also makes commercial constellations possible, powering OneWeb's broadband constellations. Recently, as part of NASA's Artemis lunar exploration program, SolAero was selected to provide solar modules for the power and propulsion elements of the NASA Gateway, which will make future Mars missions possible.

The addition of SolAero’s 425-person team brings Rocket Lab’s total staff to more than 1,100. It has aerospace manufacturing complexes and testing facilities in California, Virginia, Colorado, Maryland, Toronto, New Mexico and now Albuquerque, New Mexico. Facilities and launch sites. The SolAero team will continue to be led by President and CEO Brad Clevenger at SolAero's 154,696 square foot (14,372 square meter) production facility in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

The SolAero merger is the third proposed acquisition announced by Rocket Lab this year following the acquisition of the aerospace software company ASI Aerospace LLC and the spacecraft separation system company Planetary Systems Corporation in October 2021. The latter will be completed in December 2021.

Rocket Lab will hold a conference call for investors at 2:00 pm Pacific Standard Time (5:00 pm Eastern Standard Time) today to discuss the agreement. The webcast and webcast replays will be available on Rocket Lab’s investor relations website: https://investors.rocketlabusa.com/events-and-presentations/events

Founded in 2006, Rocket Lab is an end-to-end aerospace company with a track record of successful missions. We provide reliable launch services, spacecraft components, satellites and other spacecraft, and on-orbit management solutions to make entering space faster, easier, and more affordable. Rocket Lab, headquartered in Long Beach, California, designs and manufactures electronic small orbital launch vehicles and photonic satellite platforms, and is developing a neutron 8-ton payload class launch vehicle. Since its first orbital launch in January 2018, Rocket Lab’s electronic launch vehicle has become the second most frequently launched rocket in the United States each year, and has launched 109 satellites for private and public sector organizations. Debris mitigation provides support, earth observation, climate monitoring and communications. Rocket Lab's Photon spacecraft platform has been selected to support NASA's moon and Mars missions, as well as its first private commercial mission to Venus. Rocket Lab has three launch pads at two launch sites, two of which are located in a private orbital launch site in New Zealand, one of which is currently in operation, and the second launch pad is located in Virginia, USA. It is expected to be put into use at the beginning of 2022 . For more information, please visit www.rocketlabusa.com.

This press release may contain certain "forward-looking statements" as referred to in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 (as amended) and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such as correction. These forward-looking statements, including but not limited to expectations about the timing, completion and benefits of the SolAero acquisition, are based on Rocket Lab's current expectations and beliefs about future development and its potential impact. These forward-looking statements involve many risks, uncertainties (many of which are beyond Rocket Lab's control) or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements. Many factors may cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this press release, including the risks associated with the global COVID-19 pandemic, including the risk that the SolAero acquisition may not be completed on our expected timetable or all of the risks. Financial and operating results may not meet our expectations, or we may not be able to realize the benefits of the proposed acquisition or be able to successfully integrate into our business without substantial additional costs, or to have a negative impact on our business or operations The result of the method; the risks associated with government restrictions and blockades in New Zealand and other countries/regions where we operate, which may delay or suspend our operations; delays and interruptions in expansion work; we rely on a limited number of customers; our products The harsh and unpredictable space environment operating in it may adversely affect our launch vehicles and spacecraft; the proliferation of low-Earth orbit constellations leads to increased congestion, which may greatly increase the potential for collisions with space debris or other spacecraft Risks, and limit or impair our launch flexibility and/or access to our own orbital position; competition in our industry is intensified, partly due to the rapid development of technology and cost reduction; in our industry we may not be able to keep up or may use Our services are uncompetitive technological changes; average selling price trends; our launch vehicles, satellites and components fail to operate as expected due to design errors in our production or not our own fault; launch plans are disrupted; supply chains are disrupted , Product delays or malfunctions; design and engineering defects; launch failures; natural disasters and epidemics or epidemics; changes in government regulations, including changes in trade and export restrictions, or changes in our regulatory approval or application status; or other Events that force us to cancel or reschedule releases, including client contract rescheduling and termination rights; the risk that the acquisition may not be completed within the expected time frame or at all or the expected benefits and results will not be achieved; and Rocket Lab’s trading in U.S. securities from time to time Other risks detailed in the documents submitted by the Commission ("SEC"), including other risks related to our registration statement on Form S under the heading "Risk Factors" in the prospectus dated October 7, 2021-1 (Document No. 333-259757), submitted to the US Securities and Exchange Commission on October 7, 2021 and elsewhere in accordance with Rule 424(b) (including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic may also exacerbate risks discussed therein). There is no guarantee that the future development of Rocket Lab will be what we expected. Except as required by law, Rocket Lab assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements due to new information, future events or other reasons.

+ Rocket Lab media contact Morgan Bailey media@rocketlabusa.com

Rocket Lab will acquire SolAero Holdings, Inc., a global leader in space solar products

+ Rocket Lab media contact Morgan Bailey media@rocketlabusa.com