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Latest Business Updates: Rocket Lab, Ubisoft, and Nippon Steel

In recent developments from the aerospace and gaming sectors, Rocket Lab has made headlines after being selected by the US Space Force to compete for high-priority National Security Missions under the Department of Defense’s National Security Space launch program. The company is one of five launch providers chosen for this initiative, which features a five-year ordering period extending through June 2029, with a potential maximum contract value of $5.6 billion. Analysts view this selection as a significant boost for Rocket Lab, suggesting that the Space Force could emerge as a key client for the company, resulting in an uptick in its stock performance.

In the gaming industry, Ubisoft has announced the establishment of a new subsidiary dedicated to managing three of its flagship franchises: Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six. This new entity is valued at approximately $4.3 billion, with Tencent preparing to invest around $1.25 billion for a minority stake. As part of the arrangement, the subsidiary will acquire the intellectual property licenses for these games in exchange for royalty payments to Ubisoft. This strategic partnership comes as a reassuring sign from Tencent, reflecting its confidence in the enduring popularity of these franchises following a challenging period in the gaming market that ensued post-pandemic. The agreement is anticipated to be finalized by the end of 2025.

In another major move, Nippon Steel has reportedly proposed a significant investment of $7 billion aimed at upgrading the facilities of US Steel Corp, contingent upon receiving the green light for its planned $14 billion acquisition. This updated proposal represents a substantial increase from its prior offer of approximately $2.7 billion. According to reports from Semaphore, this enhanced investment plan arises as Nippon Steel and US Steel engage in discussions with officials from the Trump administration to salvage the acquisition deal. While President Trump initially expressed concerns regarding the sale of US Steel, he indicated in February that he might be open to a strategic partnership with Nippon Steel.

Source
finance.yahoo.com