CM Group and Cheetah Digital Merge to Define Next Era of Customer-Centric Marketing

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Oct. 21, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CM Group, a portfolio of martech companies focused on multichannel digital marketing, today announced its merger with Cheetah Digital under the CM Group name. The merger expands and enhances both CM Group’s and Cheetah Digital’s ability to deliver innovative email, omnichannel, personalization, and loyalty solutions. The combined company will own a broad array of technologies referenced in the 2021 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Multichannel Marketing Hubs, which orchestrate marketer communications with client segments across multiple channels.

Vector Capital Makes Co-Investment in McGraw Hill Education

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Vector Capital, a leading private equity firm specializing in transformational investments in established technology businesses, announced today it has made a co-investment in McGraw Hill Education (“McGraw Hill” or the “Company”), a global leader in educational content and digital platforms, in partnership with Platinum Equity. Platinum Equity originally acquired McGraw Hill in July of 2021.

Mood Media Acquires PlayNetwork

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mood Media (the “Company”), the world's leading in-store media solutions company driving elevated Customer Experiences, today announced it has acquired PlayNetwork, a global music technology partner and audiovisual systems provider supporting customer experience for brands worldwide from Octave Group. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Rocket Lab Completes Merger with Vector Acquisition Corporation to Become Publicly Traded End-to-End Space Company

LONG BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) (“Rocket Lab” or the “Company”), a global leader in launch services and space systems, today announced that it completed its previously announced merger with Vector Acquisition Corporation (Nasdaq: VACQ) (“Vector”) to take Rocket Lab public. Vector’s shareholders approved the merger at an annual general meeting of Vector’s shareholders on August 20, 2021. The combined company will retain the Rocket Lab USA, Inc. name and will commence trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market on August 25, 2021, with its common stock and warrants trading under the new ticker symbols, “RKLB” and “RKLBW”, respectively.

Vector Acquisition Corporation Shareholders Approve Proposed Merger With Rocket Lab

LONG BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Vector Acquisition Corporation (Nasdaq: VACQ) (“Vector”), a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company backed by leading technology investor Vector Capital, today announced that Vector’s shareholders voted to approve its proposed merger with Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (“Rocket Lab” or the “Company”), a global leader in launch and space systems, at its annual general meeting of shareholders held on August 20, 2021. Vector also announced that holders of less than 3% of its Class A ordinary shares have properly exercised their right to redeem their shares in connection with the proposed merger. As a result, the gross amount of cash that that the combined company will receive from Vector’s trust account and concurrent PIPE financing upon the closing of these transactions, before transaction expenses, will equal approximately $777 million.

Vector Capital Strengthens Investment and Investor Relations Teams With Five Promotions and New Senior Hire

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Vector Capital, a leading private equity firm specializing in transformational investments in established technology businesses, today announced it has promoted five individuals across its investment and value creation teams. Sandy Gill has been promoted to Managing Director, and Stephen Goodman, Amir Ravandoust, Gabriel Shields-Estrada, and Tom Smith have been promoted to Principal.

Vector Acquisition Corporation Announces Effectiveness of Registration Statement and Annual Meeting

LONG BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Vector Acquisition Corporation (Nasdaq: VACQ) (“Vector”), a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company backed by leading technology investor Vector Capital, today announced that its Annual Meeting of the Company’s shareholders (“Annual Meeting”) to consider the previously announced business combination (“Business Combination”) with Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (“Rocket Lab”), a global leader in launch and space systems, has been set for August 20, 2021. Shareholders of record as of the close of business on June 30, 2021 (“Record Date”) are eligible to vote at the Annual Meeting.

Rocket Lab wins NASA contract for Mars spacecraft as interplanetary missions become less costly

Rocket Lab, which is nearing the close of its SPAC deal to go public, announced Tuesday it won an early contract that may send two of its Photon spacecraft on a mission to Mars in 2024.

Aspect Software Announces Merger With Noble Systems

WESTFORD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, Aspect Software will merge with Noble Systems of Atlanta Georgia, to form Alvaria™, (pronounced: ahl-vahr-ee-uh), a new global company delivering optimized customer experience and workforce engagement software and cloud services technology solutions.

The Next Space Race—and How to Play It

Like many kids, Luca Rossettini wanted to go to space.

His wasn’t a typical childhood dream—one that fades away with age. Today, Rossettini, who was born in Vicenza, Italy, is an aerospace engineer with a doctorate in advanced space propulsion and a master’s in strategic leadership toward sustainability. He also served in Italy’s Folgore, an army paratrooper brigade.