Laser Focus World is an industry bedrock—first published in 1965 and still going strong. We publish original articles about cutting-edge advances in lasers, optics, photonics, sensors, and quantum technologies, as well as test and measurement, and the shift currently underway to usher in the photonic integrated circuits, optical interconnects, and copackaged electronics and photonics to deliver the speed and efficiency essential for data centers of the future.

Our 80,000 qualified print subscribers—and 130,000 12-month engaged online audience—trust us to dive in and provide original journalism you won’t find elsewhere covering key emerging areas such as laser-driven inertial confinement fusion, lasers in space, integrated photonics, chipscale lasers, LiDAR, metasurfaces, high-energy laser weaponry, photonic crystals, and quantum computing/sensors/communications. We cover the innovations driving these markets.

Laser Focus World is part of Endeavor Business Media, a division of EndeavorB2B.

Laser Focus World Membership

Never miss any articles, videos, podcasts, or webinars by signing up for membership access to Laser Focus World online. You can manage your preferences all in one place—and provide our editorial team with your valued feedback.

Magazine Subscription

Can you subscribe to receive our print issue for free? Yes, you sure can!

Newsletter Subscription

Laser Focus World newsletter subscription is free to qualified professionals:

The Daily Beam

Showcases the newest content from Laser Focus World, including photonics- and optics-based applications, components, research, and trends. (Daily)

Product Watch

The latest in products within the photonics industry. (9x per year)

Bio & Life Sciences Product Watch

The latest in products within the biophotonics industry. (4x per year)

Laser Processing Product Watch

The latest in products within the laser processing industry. (3x per year)

Get Published!

If you’d like to write an article for us, reach out with a short pitch to Sally Cole Johnson: [email protected]. We love to hear from you.

Photonics Hot List

Laser Focus World produces a video newscast that gives a peek into what’s happening in the world of photonics.

Following the Photons: A Photonics Podcast

Following the Photons: A Photonics Podcast dives deep into the fascinating world of photonics. Our weekly episodes feature interviews and discussions with industry and research experts, providing valuable perspectives on the issues, technologies, and trends shaping the photonics community.

Editorial Advisory Board

  • Professor Andrea M. Armani, University of Southern California
  • Ruti Ben-Shlomi, Ph.D., LightSolver
  • James Butler, Ph.D., Hamamatsu
  • Natalie Fardian-Melamed, Ph.D., Columbia University
  • Justin Sigley, Ph.D., AmeriCOM
  • Professor Birgit Stiller, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, and Leibniz University of Hannover
  • Professor Stephen Sweeney, University of Glasgow
  • Mohan Wang, Ph.D., University of Oxford
  • Professor Xuchen Wang, Harbin Engineering University
  • Professor Stefan Witte, Delft University of Technology

AST SpaceMobile Announces Closing of Private Offering of $460.0 Million of Convertible Senior Notes Due 2032

Strengthens balance sheet with nearly $1 billion in pro forma cash to accelerate company manufacturing plan

Structured efficiently with seven-year maturity and $44.98 effective conversion price

AST SpaceMobile, Inc. (“AST SpaceMobile”) (NASDAQ: ASTS), the company building the first and only space-based cellular broadband network accessible directly by everyday smartphones, designed for both commercial and government applications, today announced the closing of $460.0 million aggregate principal amount of convertible senior notes due 2032 (the “notes”) including the exercise in full of the option granted to the initial purchasers to purchase up to $60.0 million aggregate principal amount of notes.

“This successful financing enables us to accelerate our mission of delivering the world’s first space-based cellular broadband network," said Abel Avellan, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of AST SpaceMobile. “With nearly $1 billion in cash on our balance sheet, we are now equipped to fast-track the production and launch of our revolutionary network.”

Scott Wisniewski, AST SpaceMobile President, added “The convertible offering was structured with an attractive 4.25% interest rate, significantly lower than previous debt funding, a seven-year maturity and an effective conversion price of $44.98 per share designed to minimize shareholder impact.”

As part of the transaction, AST SpaceMobile purchased a capped call hedge to increase the effective conversion premium to 100% of AST SpaceMobile’s share price on January 22, 2025. As a result of the related capped call transactions, dilution or cash obligations upon a conversion of the notes should be mitigated by the increase in the effective conversion price of the notes to $44.98 per share of AST SpaceMobile’s Class A common stock, which represents a premium of 100% over the last reported sale price of the AST SpaceMobile’s Class A common stock of $22.49 per share on January 22, 2025. As a result, the effective dilution to existing shareholders would be approximately 3% at the effective conversion price.

AST SpaceMobile has the optionality to settle any conversions in cash, shares of its Class A common stock, or a combination of cash and shares to further influence potential dilution or cash obligations upon any future conversion of the notes.

About AST SpaceMobile

AST SpaceMobile is building the first and only global cellular broadband network in space to operate directly with standard, unmodified mobile devices based on our extensive IP and patent portfolio, and designed for both commercial and government applications. Our engineers and space scientists are on a mission to eliminate the connectivity gaps faced by today’s five billion mobile subscribers and finally bring broadband to the billions who remain unconnected. For more information, follow AST SpaceMobile on YouTube, X (Formerly Twitter), LinkedIn and Facebook.

Forward-Looking Statements

This communication contains “forward-looking statements” that are not historical facts, including statements regarding AST SpaceMobile’s plans for growth, the potential dilution or cash obligations relating to the conversion of the notes, the use of the net proceeds from the sale of the notes, and the future settlement of the conversion of the notes. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the words “believes,” “estimates,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “may,” “will,” “would,” “potential,” “projects,” “predicts,” “continue,” or “should,” or, in each case, their negative or other variations or comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from the expected results.

AST SpaceMobile cautions that the foregoing list of factors is not exclusive. AST SpaceMobile cautions readers not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. For information identifying important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements, please refer to the Risk Factors in AST SpaceMobile’s Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on November 14, 2024, and Form 10-K filed with the SEC on April 1, 2024. AST SpaceMobile’s securities filings can be accessed on the EDGAR section of the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Except as expressly required by applicable securities law, AST SpaceMobile disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contacts

Stock Quote API & Stock News API supplied by www.cloudquote.io
Quotes delayed at least 20 minutes.
By accessing this page, you agree to the following
Privacy Policy and Terms Of Service.