Rigetti Computing And Supernova Partners Acquisition Company II Announce Additional $45M PIPE Investment
Rigetti Computing ("Rigetti"), a pioneer in hybrid quantum-classical computing, and Supernova Partners Acquisition Company II, Ltd. ("Supernova II") (NYSE:SNII), a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company, today announced $45 million in additional commitments for a private placement of Supernova II common stock in connection with their proposed business combination. The commitments include a new investment from Lansdowne Partners (UK) LLP and from an existing PIPE investor.
Supernova II previously entered into subscription agreements for a private placement of approximately $103 million of common stock at $10.00 per share in connection with the announcement of the proposed business combination in October 2021. With the additional commitments, the aggregate amount of PIPE commitments is approximately $148 million. The additional commitments are at a premium to the previously announced PIPE, with a price per share of $10.25. All other terms are the same as the previously announced PIPE.
Rigetti plans to use the proceeds from the merger to accelerate its development of multiple generations of quantum processors and grow its commercial business. Last week, the company introduced its next-generation 'Aspen-M' 80-qubit quantum computer into private beta. As the world's first commercial multi-chip quantum processor, Rigetti believes Aspen-M is a key development milestone that solves a critical scaling challenge toward fault-tolerant quantum computing.
Lansdowne Partners joins other leading investors participating in the private placements by purchasing shares of Supernova II common stock. The PIPE investment is subscribed to by funds and accounts advised by T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.; Bessemer Venture Partners; Franklin Templeton, among others.
The proposed business combination is subject to the approval of Supernova II stockholders and other closing conditions. Following completion of the proposed business combination, the combined company will be named Rigetti Computing, Inc.