IonQ Shareholders Approve Acquisition of SkyWater, Advancing Deal to FTC Review

IonQ cleared a major hurdle in its bid to bring semiconductor manufacturing in house after SkyWater Technology shareholders voted in favor of the planned acquisition, setting the stage for the deal to move to regulatory review and final closing conditions. The approval, granted at a special meeting of SkyWater shareholders, removed the last significant obstacle before the transaction can be completed, with IonQ expecting a close in the second or third quarter of 2026, pending approvals.

The transaction is designed to strengthen IonQ’s manufacturing capabilities and deepen its quantum hardware platform by adding chip fabrication and advanced packaging capacity based in the United States. SkyWater operates facilities in Minnesota, Florida and Texas, and the deal would position SkyWater as a wholly owned unit of IonQ, while keeping SkyWater’s CEO, Thomas Sonderman, in place under the acquisition structure described in company filings. IonQ has said its strategy is aimed at improving control over its supply chain and supporting customers that place value on domestic production and military-grade standards.

IonQ’s stock jumped following the shareholder vote. On Monday, shares rose to...