Musk's SpaceX Preparing to Launch Tender Offer in Dec at $135/share, FT Reports

Elon Musk, chief executive officer of SpaceX and Tesla, attends the launch of SpaceX's Starlink internet service in Indonesia at a sub district community health center in Denpasar, Bali, May 19, 2024. (Reuters)
Elon Musk, chief executive officer of SpaceX and Tesla, attends the launch of SpaceX's Starlink internet service in Indonesia at a sub district community health center in Denpasar, Bali, May 19, 2024. (Reuters)
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Musk's SpaceX Preparing to Launch Tender Offer in Dec at $135/share, FT Reports

Elon Musk, chief executive officer of SpaceX and Tesla, attends the launch of SpaceX's Starlink internet service in Indonesia at a sub district community health center in Denpasar, Bali, May 19, 2024. (Reuters)
Elon Musk, chief executive officer of SpaceX and Tesla, attends the launch of SpaceX's Starlink internet service in Indonesia at a sub district community health center in Denpasar, Bali, May 19, 2024. (Reuters)

Elon Musk's SpaceX is preparing to launch a tender offer in December to sell existing shares at a price of $135 per share, the Financial Times reported on Friday, citing people with knowledge of the discussions.

The tender offer would value SpaceX at more than $250 billion, according to the report.

SpaceX did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment, according to Reuters.

Musk, the world's richest person, is expected to wield significant influence in Washington to secure favorable government treatment for his companies, including SpaceX, after Donald Trump's victory for a second presidency.

Musk's dream of transporting humans to Mars could also become a bigger national priority under Trump, Reuters reported earlier this month.

NASA's Artemis program, which aims to use SpaceX's Starship rocket to put humans on the moon as a proving ground for later Mars missions, is expected to focus more on the Red Planet under Trump and target uncrewed missions there this decade.

Under Trump, SpaceX is also expected to push for even softer regulations on worker safety and safety of participants in private space flights in orbit.

A Reuters investigation last year documented at least 600 worker injuries at SpaceX facilities across the US, and how SpaceX disregarded safety regulations and standard practices.



Apple Supplier IQE to Launch Strategic Review as It Warns of Flat Revenue This Year

Apple iPhones are seen inside India's first Apple retail store during a media preview, a day ahead of its launch in Mumbai, India, April 17, 2023. (Reuters)
Apple iPhones are seen inside India's first Apple retail store during a media preview, a day ahead of its launch in Mumbai, India, April 17, 2023. (Reuters)
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Apple Supplier IQE to Launch Strategic Review as It Warns of Flat Revenue This Year

Apple iPhones are seen inside India's first Apple retail store during a media preview, a day ahead of its launch in Mumbai, India, April 17, 2023. (Reuters)
Apple iPhones are seen inside India's first Apple retail store during a media preview, a day ahead of its launch in Mumbai, India, April 17, 2023. (Reuters)

British semiconductor wafer maker IQE said on Monday it would start a strategic review of its assets and consider a full sale of its Taiwan operations, as it warned that group revenue would not grow this year due to a weaker-than-expected sector recovery.

The Apple supplier had announced in July plans to launch an initial public offering for its Taiwan business on the local stock exchange, while retaining control of the unit, but said on Monday that it was now looking at all options.

Shares of the company skidded 15% to 9.02 pence in early trading. They have dropped about 54% this year.

"We will continue to further optimize our operations, restructuring and right-sizing our business," an IQE spokesperson said.

The company, which last month announced the immediate departure of CEO Americo Lemos, has been navigating a challenging financial environment with a sluggish recovery in the semiconductor industry and the growing significance of supply chain security over cost, amplified by rising US-China tensions.

Its peers, including US-based Apple supplier Skyworks Solutions and Chipmaker Qorvo, have all reported soft quarters and guidance over the quarter.

IQE had earlier expected both annual revenue and adjusted core profit to grow.

IQE, whose 'epi-wafers' are used in the Apple iPhone's facial recognition sensors, said it expects 2024 revenue to be around 115 million pounds ($145.27 million), or flat year-on-year.

An LSEG poll of three analysts had forecast full-year revenue of 132.59 million pounds.

IQE said it expects full year adjusted core profit of at least 5 million pounds. Analysts, on average, had forecast core profit of about 12.5 million pounds, according to the LSEG poll.