The consolidated financial statements are presented in conformity with accounting standards generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) and include the accounts of Rocket Lab USA, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries after elimination of intercompany accounts and transactions. Certain amounts in the Company’s prior period consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.

On an ongoing basis, our management evaluates estimates and assumptions including those related to revenue recognition, contract costs, loss reserves, valuation of warrants and stock-based compensation and deferred tax valuation allowances. We based our estimates on historical data and experience, as well as various other factors that our management believes to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities. Actual results could differ from these estimates and assumptions.

The Company considers cash and cash equivalents to be only those investments which are highly liquid, readily convertible to cash and which have a maturity date within ninety days from the date of purchase. The carrying amounts for the Company’s cash equivalents approximate fair value due to their short maturities. Cash equivalents are recorded at fair value and consist primarily of money market funds.

The Company considers restricted cash to include any cash that is legally restricted as to withdrawal or usage. The Company had $4,260 and $3,916 as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The balance relates to collateral for letters of credit and money market accounts and is presented in restricted cash in the consolidated balance sheets.

Marketable securities consist of investments in commercial paper, corporate debt securities, bank certificates of deposit, U.S. Treasury bills and notes and asset backed securities. The Company’s investment policy requires the selection of high-quality issuers. The Company's marketable securities are classified as available-for-sale and are carried at fair value. The Company classifies all available-for-sale marketable securities with maturities greater than one year from the balance sheet date as non-current assets. Interest receivable on marketable securities is presented in prepaids and other current assets on the consolidated balance sheets.

Any unrealized holding gains or losses on debt securities, including their tax effect, are reported as components of other comprehensive income (loss) in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. Realized gains and losses are included in other income, net in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss, are determined using the specific identification method for determining the cost of securities sold. Interest and dividend income is recorded when earned and included in interest expense, net on the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. Premiums and discounts on marketable securities are amortized and accreted, respectively, to earliest call date and maturity, respectively, and included in other income, net on the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.

At each balance sheet date, the Company assesses available-for-sale marketable securities in an unrealized loss position to determine whether it intends to sell or if it is more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis. If either of the criteria regarding intent or requirement to sell is met, the available-for-sale security with a fair value below amortized cost is written down to fair value through current period earnings. The Company also reviews its available-for-sale securities in an unrealized loss position to determine whether the unrealized loss is the result of a change in creditworthiness or other factors. If declines in the value of available for-sale securities are determined to be credit-related, a loss is recorded in earnings in the current period.

Accounts receivables represent amounts billed and currently due from customers. The amounts are stated at their net estimated realizable value. The Company monitors collections and payments from its customers and maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts, which is based upon applying an expected credit loss rate to receivables based on the historical loss rate from similar high-risk customers adjusted for current conditions, including any specific customer collection issues identified, and forecasts of economic conditions. Delinquent account balances are written off after management has determined that the likelihood of collection is remote. The allowance for credit losses as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, and the activity in this account, including the current-period provision for expected credit losses for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, were not material.

Inventories consist of components and subassemblies, spare parts and consumable goods. Inventories are recorded at actual acquisition costs and adjusted to the lower of cost or estimated net realizable value. Costs include direct material, direct labor, applicable manufacturing and engineering overhead, and other direct costs.

The Company records customer financing receivables net of any unamortized discounts and deferred incremental direct costs. Interest income and amortization of any discounts are recorded ratably over the related term of the note to interest income in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.

Interest income recognition is generally suspended for customer financing receivables that are uncollectible. The Company measures and records expected credit losses related to its customer financing in accordance with the current expected credit losses (“CECL”) standard. The CECL standard requires an entity to consider historical loss experience, current conditions, and a reasonable and supportable forecast of the economic environment.

The Company generally considers assets to be held for sale when the following criteria are met: (i) management commits to a plan to sell the property, (ii) the property is available for sale immediately, (iii) the property is actively being marketed for sale at a price that is reasonable in relation to its current fair value, (iv) the sale of the property within one year is considered probable and (v) significant changes to the plan to sell are not expected. Property classified as held for sale is no longer depreciated and is reported at the lower of its carrying value or its estimated fair value less estimated costs to sell.


Asset Category						Estimated Useful Lives
Buildings and improvements						15 to 30 years
Machinery, equipment, vehicles and office furniture						2 to 12 years
Computer equipment, hardware and software						3 to 5 years
Launch site assets						3 to 15 years
Leasehold improvements						Shorter of remaining lease term or estimated useful life

The results of businesses acquired in a business combination are included in our consolidated financial statements from the date of the acquisition. The Company uses the acquisition method of accounting for business combinations and recognizes assets acquired and liabilities assumed measured at their fair values on the date acquired. Goodwill is measured as of the acquisition date as the excess of consideration transferred over the net acquisition date fair value of the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed.

The Company performs valuations of assets acquired and liabilities assumed and allocates the purchase price to its respective assets and liabilities. Determining the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed requires us to use significant judgment and estimates, including the selection of valuation methodologies, estimates of future revenue, costs and cash flows, discount rates and selection of comparable companies. The Company engages the assistance of valuation specialists in concluding on fair value measurements in connection with determining fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination.

Intangible assets consist of purchased intangible assets including developed technology, in-process research and development, customer relationships, backlog, trademarks and tradenames, non-compete agreements, capitalized software and capitalized intellectual property and are amortized over their useful lives ranging from one to twenty years using the straight-line method of amortization. The Company evaluates the recoverability of intangible assets periodically by considering events or circumstances that may warrant revised estimates of useful lives or that indicate the asset may be impaired.

Long-lived assets consist of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets with estimable useful lives subject to depreciation and amortization. The Company reviews long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset or asset group may not be recoverable. Recoverability of an asset or asset group to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset or asset group to the estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset or asset group. If the carrying amount of the asset or asset group exceeds its estimated future cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized in the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset or asset group exceeds the fair value of the asset or asset group. There was no impairment of long-lived assets during the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022.

Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of net assets acquired in business combination. We test goodwill for impairment at least annually during the fourth fiscal quarter, or more frequently if indicators of impairment exist during the fiscal year. Events or circumstances which could trigger an impairment review include a significant adverse change in legal factors or in the business climate, loss of key customers, an adverse action or assessment by a regulator, unanticipated competition, a loss of key personnel, significant changes in the manner of the Company’s use of the acquired assets or the strategy for the Company’s overall business, significant negative industry or economic trends or significant underperformance relative to expected historical or projected future results of operations.

When testing goodwill for impairment, the Company first performs a qualitative assessment. If the Company determines it is more likely than not that a reporting unit’s fair value is less than its carrying amount, then a one-step impairment test is required. If the Company determines it is not more likely than not a reporting unit’s fair value is less than its carrying amount, then no further analysis is necessary. To identify whether a potential impairment exists, the Company compares the estimated fair value of the reporting unit with its carrying amount, including goodwill. If the estimated fair value of the reporting unit exceeds its carrying amount, goodwill is not considered to be impaired. If, however, the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, then such balance would be recorded as an impairment loss.

We utilize valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs to the extent possible. We estimate fair value based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability in the principal or most advantageous market. When considering market participant assumptions in fair value measurements, the following fair value hierarchy distinguishes between observable and unobservable inputs, which is categorized in one of the following levels:

•Level 2—Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1, such as quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data.

•Level 3—Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities. This includes certain pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies and similar techniques that use significant unobservable inputs. The inputs to the determination of fair value are based upon the best information in the circumstances and may require significant management judgment or estimation.

The Company generates revenue from launch services and space systems. Launch services may be provided as a mission dedicated to a single customer or as a rideshare arrangement with multiple spacecraft from multiple customers. Space systems revenue is comprised of space engineering, program management, spacecraft components, spacecraft manufacturing, space software and mission operations.

Revenue is recognized when control of the promised product or service is transferred to our customers at an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for those products or services. The Company’s revenue contracts are generally fixed-price contracts or time and materials contracts depending upon the nature of the contract. In fixed-price contracts, to the extent actual costs vary from the cost upon which the price was negotiated, the Company will generate variable levels of profit or could incur a loss.

The Company enters into contracts that can include various combinations of products and services, including contracts that contain both launch services and space systems products and services. In general, each launch and space system product or service is capable of being distinct and accounted for as separate performance obligations. Where contracts contain a single performance obligation, the entirety of the transaction price is allocated to this one performance obligation. For contracts with multiple performance obligations, the transaction price is allocated to each performance obligation based on the estimated standalone selling price of the product or service underlying each performance obligation. The standalone selling price represents the amount the Company would sell the product or service to a customer on a standalone basis.

The transaction price represents the amount of consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled in exchange for transferring the promised services to its customers. The consideration promised within a contract may include fixed amounts and variable amounts. Variable consideration may consist of final milestone payments, mission success fees or liquidating damages that are earned or penalized if certain contractual milestones are achieved or are not achieved.

Revenue for space systems is recognized at a point-in-time or over-time depending upon the nature of the contract with customer. For contracts to provide space engineering, program management and mission operations, the Company recognizes revenues over-time as the customer simultaneously receives and consumes the benefits as the Company performs. Similarly, spacecraft manufacturing is recognized over-time when it is determined that there is no alternative use for the spacecraft, due to contractual or practical limitations, and where the Company has an enforceable right to payment for the services performed to date including a reasonable profit. Contracts to provide components for spacecraft that do not qualify for over-time recognition are recognized at a point-in-time when control is transferred.

For revenue recognized over-time, the Company uses either an input method, based on costs incurred relative to total estimated costs at completion, to estimate the percentage of completion, or an output method, based upon days of service, depending upon the nature of the performance obligation. For revenues measured utilizing an input method, the costs incurred are determined by assessing the physical and technical progress on the performance obligation applied to the standard costs. Due to the nature of the work performed under spacecraft construction contracts, the estimation of physical and technical progress requires judgment and is subject to many variables including but not limited to actual progress and costs incurred, labor productivity, changes in cost and availability of materials.

Contracts for space software provide the customer with a right to use the software as it exists when made available to the customer. Customers may purchase perpetual entity-wide licenses or mission-based licenses, which provide customers with the same functionality and differ primarily in the number of spacecraft into which the software may be integrated. Revenue from space software is recognized upfront at the point-in-time when the software is made available to the customer. Revenue from software maintenance is recognized ratably over the maintenance period.

Due to their nature, time and materials contracts contain variable consideration; however, in general, the Company’s performance obligations under time and materials contracts qualify for the “right to invoice” practical expedient. Under this practical expedient, the Company recognizes revenue, over time, in the amount to which the Company has a right to invoice. In addition, the Company is not required to estimate such variable consideration upon inception of the contract and reassess the estimate each reporting period. The Company determined that this method best represents the transfer of services as, upon billing, the Company has a right to consideration from a customer in an amount that directly corresponds with the value to the customer of the Company’s performance completed to date.

Contract assets include unbilled amounts under contracts when revenue recognized exceeds the amount billed to the customer. Contract assets are transferred to accounts receivable when the right to invoice becomes unconditional and the invoice is issued. Contract assets are classified as current assets consistent with our operating cycle. These contract assets are not considered a significant financing component of the Company’s contracts as the payment terms are intended to protect the customer in the event the Company does not perform on its obligations under the contract. Contract liabilities primarily consists of customer billings in advance of revenues being recognized. Contract liabilities are not a significant financing component as they are generally utilized to pay for contract costs within a one-year period or are used to ensure the customer meets contractual requirements.

If our actual costs exceed our estimates, our margins and profits are reduced and we could incur a provision for contract loss. A provision for contract loss is when estimates of total costs to be incurred on a contract exceed total estimates of the transaction price. When this occurs, a provision for the entire loss is determined at the contract level and is recorded in the period in which the loss is evident.

Cost of revenues, for both products and services, consists primarily of direct material and labor costs, manufacturing overhead, freight expense, depreciation and amortization and other personnel-related expenses, which include salaries, bonuses, benefits and stock-based compensation expense, directly associated with generating revenues.

Research and development, net consists of labor, prototype, professional services, materials, facilities and depreciation expense related to the development of our Neutron launch vehicle, space system platforms and components. These costs are based on a cost model for research and development relating to internal product development programs not associated with customer contractual arrangements. These costs are presented net of government grants on the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.

Selling, general and administrative expenses consist of indirect costs, including management and executive compensation, corporate costs related to finance, accounting, human resources, information technology, legal, administrative, safety, professional services, rent, advertising costs and other general expenses.

The Company receives government assistance from various domestic and foreign governments in the form of cash grants or refundable tax credits. These arrangements incentivize us to continue growing our capital investments and research and development activities. Government incentives generally contain conditions that must be met in order for the assistance to be earned. We recognize the incentives when there is reasonable assurance that we will comply with all conditions specified in the incentive arrangement and the incentive will be received.

The Company records incentives related to operating activities as a reduction to expense in the same line item on the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss as the expenditure for which the grant is intended to compensate. The Company records capital expenditure related incentives as an offset to the associated property, plant and equipment, net within our consolidated balance sheets and recognize a reduction to depreciation expense over the useful life of the corresponding acquired asset.

The Company has applied for tax credits related to a research and development tax incentive program with the New Zealand government effective from January 1, 2021. This tax incentive will reimburse up to 15% of the Company’s qualifying research and development costs incurred. The Company has various research government assistance awards which includes the Air Force Research Laboratory and the U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command. The Company applied for the employee retention credit under the CARES Act during the year ended December 31, 2023. On November 22, 2024, the Company entered into a direct funding agreement with the U.S. Department of Commerce to receive direct funding for the procurement, installation and qualification of new manufacturing equipment and will also receive funding by claiming the refundable Advanced Manufacturing Investment Credit under the United States CHIPS and Science Act of 2022.

The Company recorded $2,130 of government assistance as a reduction of cost of revenues during the year ended December 31, 2023.The Company recorded $12,983, $27,385 and $15,049 of government assistance as a reduction of research and development, net during the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The Company recorded $250 and $1,080 of government assistance as a reduction of selling, general and administrative during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company recorded capital expenditure incentive of $2,186 as an offset to property, plant and equipment, net.

As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, prepaids and other current assets includes government assistance receivables of $7,783 and $9,940, respectively. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, other non-current assets includes government assistance receivables of $5,863 and $4,739, respectively.

The Company’s stock compensation plan is classified as an equity plan which permits stock awards in the form of employee stock options and restricted stock awards. For awards that vest solely based on continued service, the fair value of an award is recognized as an expense over the requisite service period on a straight-line basis.

The fair value of stock options under the Company’s employee equity incentive plan are estimated as of the grant date using the Black-Scholes option valuation model, which is affected by the fair value per share of common stock, the expected share price volatility of its common shares over the expected term, expected term, risk-free interest rate and expected dividend yield, which are estimated as follows:

•Expected volatility. The Company’s shares have actively traded for a short period of time subsequent to the Business Combination, the volatility is based on the weighted average historical volatilities of the Company and a pool of public companies that are comparable to the Company. Expected volatility represents the estimated volatility of the shares over the expected life of the options.

Forfeitures are recognized as incurred. Unless otherwise approved, options must be exercised while the individual is an employee or within 90-days of termination when applicable. The expiration date of newly issued options is ten years after grant date unless earlier terminated as provided for in the Rocket Lab 2021 Stock Option and Incentive Plan.

The assumptions used in calculating the fair value of stock-based awards represent our best estimates, however, these estimates involve inherent uncertainties and the application of judgment. As a result, if factors change or we use different assumptions, stock-based compensation expense could be materially different in the future.

The Company uses the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized by applying the statutory tax rates in effect in the years in which the differences between the financial reporting and tax filing bases of existing assets and liabilities are expected to reverse. Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amounts expected to be realized.

The Company utilizes a two-step approach to recognizing and measuring uncertain income tax positions (tax contingencies). The first step is to evaluate the tax position for recognition by determining if the weight of available evidence indicates it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained on audit, including resolution of related appeals or litigation processes. The second step is to measure the tax benefit as the largest amount which is more than 50% likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. The Company makes estimates, assumptions and judgments to determine its provision for income taxes and also for deferred tax assets and liabilities and any valuation allowances recorded against deferred tax assets. Actual future operating results and the underlying amount and type of income could differ materially from the Company’s estimates, assumptions and judgments thereby impacting its consolidated financial position and results of operations.

Operating segments are defined as components of an entity for which separate financial information is available and that is regularly reviewed by the Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”) in deciding how to allocate resources to an individual segment and in assessing performance. The Company’s CODM is its Chief Executive Officer. The Company has determined that it operates in two reportable segments: launch services and space systems.

The functional currency of certain of the Company’s wholly owned subsidiaries is the currency of the primary economic environment in which they operate. Assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the functional currency are remeasured at the exchange rate in effect on the balance sheet date, with exchange differences or remeasurement included in other income, net on the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss. Revenue and expenses are translated at average rates of exchange prevailing during the respective period. Translation adjustments resulting from this process are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in the consolidated statements of changes in stockholders’ equity.

Right of use (“ROU”) assets represent the right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent the obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. ROU assets and lease liabilities are recognized at commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. As the Company’s leases do not provide an implicit rate, it uses the incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at commencement date in determining the present value of lease payments. The ROU asset also includes any lease prepayments made and excludes lease incentives. The Company’s lease terms include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that it will exercise that option. Lease expense for operating lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Finance leases result in the recognition of depreciation expense, which is recognized on a straight-line basis over the expected life of the leased asset, and interest expense, which is recognized following an effective interest rate method.

The Company accounts for convertible senior notes under Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) ASC 470-20 - Debt with Conversion and Other Options and Derivatives and Hedging—Contracts in Entity's Own Equity (“ASU 2020-06”). The Company records the convertible senior notes as a long-term liability at face value net of debt issuance costs. If any of the conditions to the convertibility of the convertible senior notes is satisfied, or the convertible senior notes become due within one year, then the Company may be required under applicable accounting standards to reclassify the carrying value of the convertible senior notes as a current, rather than a long-term liability.

Debt issuance costs related to the convertible senior notes were capitalized and recorded as a contra-liability and are presented net against the convertible senior notes balance on the consolidated balance sheets. Debt issuance costs consist of underwriting, legal and other direct costs related to the issuance of the convertible senior notes and are amortized to interest expense over the term of the convertible senior notes using the effective interest method.

Capped call transactions cover the aggregate number of shares of the Company’s common stock that will initially underlie the convertible senior notes. The Company determined that the freestanding capped call option contracts qualify as equity under the accounting guidance on indexation and equity classification, and recognized the contract by recording an entry to Additional paid-in capital in stockholders’ equity in the consolidated balance sheets and not remeasured.

The Company accounts for warrants as either equity-classified or liability-classified instruments based on an assessment of the warrant’s specific terms and applicable authoritative guidance in ASC 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity, and ASC 815, Derivative and Hedging. For warrants that meet all the criteria for equity classification, the warrants are recorded as a component of additional paid-in capital at the time of issuance. Warrants classified as liabilities are recognized at fair value and remeasured at fair value at each reporting period with any change in fair value recognized in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.

In December 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures (“ASU 2023-09”), which focuses on the rate reconciliation and income taxes paid. ASU 2023-09 requires a public business entity (PBE) to disclose, on an annual basis, a tabular rate reconciliation using both percentages and currency amounts, broken out into specified categories with certain reconciling items further broken out by nature and jurisdiction to the extent those items exceed a specified threshold. In addition, all entities are required to disclose income taxes paid, net of refunds received disaggregated by federal, state/local, and foreign and by jurisdiction if the amount is at least 5% of total income tax payments, net of refunds received. For PBEs, the new standard is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. An entity may apply the amendments in ASU 2023-09 prospectively by providing the revised disclosures for the period ending December 31, 2025 and continuing to provide the pre-ASU 2023-09 disclosures for the prior periods, or may apply the amendments retrospectively by providing the revised disclosures for all period presented. The Company is assessing the potential impact of adopting ASU 2023-09 on its financial statements.

In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU No. 2024-03, Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses (DISE) (“ASU 2024-03”), which requires disclosures about specific types of expenses included in the expense captions presented on the face of the income statement as well as disclosures about selling expenses. The new guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2026, and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2027. The amendments in ASU 2024-03 will be applied prospectively with the option for retrospective application and early adoption is permitted. The Company is assessing the potential impact of adopting ASU 2024-03 on its financial statements.