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.



Taiwan May Exports Hit Record on AI Demand and Ahead of US Tariffs

A man rides a motobike on the street with wind turbines in the background, in Changhua, Taiwan May 9, 2025. REUTERS/Ann Wang
A man rides a motobike on the street with wind turbines in the background, in Changhua, Taiwan May 9, 2025. REUTERS/Ann Wang
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Taiwan May Exports Hit Record on AI Demand and Ahead of US Tariffs

A man rides a motobike on the street with wind turbines in the background, in Changhua, Taiwan May 9, 2025. REUTERS/Ann Wang
A man rides a motobike on the street with wind turbines in the background, in Changhua, Taiwan May 9, 2025. REUTERS/Ann Wang

Taiwan's exports surged to a record in May on booming demand for artificial intelligence and as customers placed orders ahead of US tariffs which could take effect next month after a suspension period expires.

Exports increased 38.6% from the same month a year ago - the fastest pace in almost 15 years - to $51.74 billion, a record high and the first time the value of exports has exceeded $50 billion, the finance ministry said on Monday.

The expansion, the 19th consecutive monthly gain, was higher than the 25% expected by economists in a Reuters poll and surpassed April's 29.9% rise.

Taiwan companies such as TSMC , the world's largest contract chipmaker, are major suppliers to Apple , Nvidia and other tech giants.

May exports benefited from continued strong AI demand and customers bringing forward orders to hedge against the possibility of increased U.S. tariffs, the ministry said in a statement.

US President Donald Trump planned a 32% import levy on goods from Taiwan under his global tariff regime, until he announced a 90-day pause in April to allow for trade negotiations.

While AI and other new technologies should continue to support Taiwan's exports, the uncertainty surrounding the US tariffs and geopolitical risks could undermine the global economic outlook, the ministry said.

For June, the ministry expects exports to rise between 15% and 25% year-on-year.

In May, Taiwan's exports to the United States soared 87.4% year-on-year to $15.52 billion, a record in terms of growth and value, versus a 29.5% surge in the prior month.

Exports to China, Taiwan's biggest trading partner, climbed 16.6%, after rising 22.3% in April.

Taiwan's total exports of electronic components gained 28.4% in May on the year to $17.2 billion, with semiconductor exports up 30.1%.

Imports rose 25% to $39.13 billion, lower than economists' forecasts of 30.2%.