SpaceX has informed investors and representatives of financial institutions that it plans to pursue an initial public offering in the second half of next year, the Information reported, citing two people familiar with the discussions.
The rocket-maker, founded by Elon Musk, is considering a public listing of the entire company, including Starlink, its internet satellite service, according to the report.
Musk had said in 2020 that SpaceX planned to list Starlink several years in the future, once its revenue growth became smooth and predictable.
SpaceX did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
The news of the potential IPO follows a media report that said SpaceX is kicking off a secondary share sale that would value the rocket-maker at US$800 billion (HK$6.2 trillion), pitting it against OpenAI for the title of the most valuable private company.
SpaceX’s finance chief, Bret Johnsen, told investors about the sale in recent days, the Wall Street Journal reported earlier on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter. The new potential valuation is double the $400 billion value it fetched in a recent secondary share sale.
However, Elon Musk dismissed media reports that SpaceX is raising funds at an US$800 billion valuation, calling them inaccurate.
"SpaceX has been cash flow positive for many years and does periodic stock buybacks twice a year to provide liquidity for employees and investors," Musk said in a post on X.
The $800 billion valuation would put SpaceX ahead of ChatGPT-parent OpenAI, which is valued at US$500 billion as of October, making it the most valuable privately held company in the world, according to Crunchbase data.
Separately, Bloomberg News on Friday reported that SpaceX is preparing to sell insider shares that could include a per-share price of around $300, which would value the company at roughly US$560 billion.
Several billionaires and private firms, including SpaceX and Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin, are fueling a new space race in the US, pouring money into rockets, satellites and lunar missions.
Reuters and staff reporter
