IonQ To Become The First Publicly Traded Pure-Play Quantum Computing Company

(BusinessWire) IonQ, Inc., (“IonQ”) announced today that it has entered into a merger agreement with dMY Technology Group, Inc. III (NYSE: DMYI.U), a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company (“dMY III”). Upon closing of the transaction, IonQ shares will trade on the NYSE under the symbol “IONQ” as the first publicly traded pure-play hardware and software company in the quantum computing space.
IonQ is building quantum computers to tackle fundamental challenges facing society today. In addition to producing the first and only quantum computer available via the cloud on both Amazon Braket and Microsoft Azure, IonQ has defined what it believes to be the best path forward to scaling quantum computing power. By 2023, IonQ plans to develop modular quantum computers small enough to be networked together, which could pave the way for broad quantum advantage by 2025.
“This transaction advances IonQ’s mission, to solve critical problems that impact nearly every aspect of society,” said Peter Chapman, CEO & President of IonQ. “With our key strategic partners, such as Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Corporation, we look forward to leveraging the power of quantum computing in the fight against climate change and to solve vexing problems from materials design to logistics that impact the transportation industry.”
The transaction has been unanimously approved by the Board of Directors of dMY III, as well as the Board of Directors of IonQ, and is subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including the approval of the stockholders of dMY III.
The combined entity will receive approximately $300 million from dMY III’s trust account, assuming no redemptions by dMY III’s public stockholders, as well as $350 million in gross proceeds from a group of strategic and institutional investors participating in the transaction via a committed private placement investment (“PIPE”). In addition to Fidelity Management & Research Company LLC, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Corporation, new investors include Silver Lake, MSD Partners, L.P., and TIME Ventures, the investment fund for Marc Benioff. The PIPE includes additional investment by existing investors including, New Enterprise Associates, GV, and Mubadala Capital.
Additional information about the proposed transaction, including a copy of the merger agreement and investor presentation, will be provided in a Current Report on Form 8-K and in dMY III’s registration statement on Form S-4, which will include a document that serves as a prospectus and proxy statement of dMY III, referred to as a proxy statement/prospectus, each of which will be filed by dMY III with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and available at www.sec.gov.