Rocket Factory Augsburg AG (RFA) has raised a 30 million euros investment from KKR, a leading, global, investment firm.
The fresh funding is a vote of confidence for RFA, as global demand for access to space continues to increase. The investment will facilitate RFA’s upcoming, integrated, first stage test and will also complete the company’s launch pad at SaxaVord Spaceport in Scotland that will eventually bring the RFA ONE microlauncher to the launchpad.
The first flight is scheduled for Q2 2024. With its 30 million euros convertible bond investment, KKR will become a leading investor in RFA alongside the existing strategic investor, OHB.
As global demand for cost-effective and flexible launch services to access space rises, RFA’s launch service offering is ideally positioned to benefit from this market opportunity. KKR’s investment follows the company’s successful completion of its upper stage hot fire test in May 2023, the first of its kind in Europe. This underlines investors’ trust in the business model of RFA, which prioritizes speedy and sustainable growth and maintains strong investment value for existing and new investors, and extends RFA’s technology and cost leadership.
KKR’s investment comes from a holding company owned by private equity fund KKR European Fund VI.
“We aim to provide cost-effective access to space and data-generating business models in space for monitoring, connecting, and protecting our planet. This new financing reflects confidence in RFA and validates our cost-efficient approach and technical achievements. Partnering with KKR as a long-term investor makes us proud – their financial resources, global network and industrial expertise will accelerate our mission, and support RFA towards our first launch next year and beyond.” — Stefan Tweraser, CEO, RFA
“KKR is excited to support RFA in its efforts to revolutionize access to space, which is crucial for emerging technologies that will shape our future. The team’s exceptional track record of achieving technical milestones and their unwavering focus on cost leadership are precisely the right strategy for future success in the global marketplace. We look forward to supporting RFA on its growth path.” — Christian Ollig, Partner and Head of the DACH (Germany, Austria and Switzerland) region, KKR