During February, American launch services provider Spaceflight Inc. – part of Spaceflight Industries Inc – announced that it would be sold to a pair of Japanese companies. The companies buying Spaceflight are; Mitsui & Co., Ltd, and Yamasa Co., Ltd. Following the transaction Spaceflight will be owned jointly 50 per cent each by the two companies.
The transaction will have to be approved by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). It is anticipated that approval will be received during Q2 2020.
In order to maintain its position in the market and US-status, the company once bought will remain based in the USA. It will also have a new board of directors with a “majority of US-based persons”. Curt Blake is expected to remain as CEO and president of the new company. The capital generated from this sale is expected to the benefit of Mr Blakes other companies. These are the remaining Spaceflight Industries and the Earth-Imaging subsidiary BlackSky Global.
