Boeing-Backed Aerion reportedly in talks for SPAC listing

The deal, it it proceeds, would value the combined firm at up to $3bn

An Aerion AS2 plane. Aerion had planned to finalise the design of its first supersonic business jet model last year Courtesy Aerion

Aerion, which designs supersonic planes, is in talks to go public through a merger with Altitude Acquisition, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

The companies are discussing a deal that would value the combined firm at up to $3 billion, said the people, who asked to not be identified because the matter isn’t public. A deal could be announced as soon as this month, the people said.

The talks could still fall apart and end without an agreement, they said.

Altitude Acquisition rose 13 per cent to $12.07 at 10.22 am in New York, giving the company a market value of about $453 million.

A spokesperson for Aerion, based in Reno, Nevada, declined to comment. A representative for Altitude Acquisition didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Aviation giant Boeing announced a partnership with Aerion in 2019, along with a significant investment in the company, according to a statement at the time.

Aerion had planned to finalise the design of its first supersonic business jet model last year, according to its website. Manufacture of the AS2 will start in 2023 with plans for it to be in service in 2027.

Altitude Acquisition, a special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC, raised $300m in an initial public offering in December to pursue acquisitions in travel-related businesses, its prospectus shows. Its sponsors have since filed for two more SPAC listings seeking to raise a combined $550m, according to filings.