Merlin Expands Executive Team Ahead of Public Listing
Leslie Ravestein joins as Chief Legal Officer, David Lasater as Chief People Officer, and Pablo Gonzalez as Senior Vice President of Engineering
Merlin Labs, Inc. ("Merlin"), a leading developer of assured, autonomous flight technology for defense customers, today announced key additions to its executive leadership team to optimize the organization in advance of its public listing via a Business Combination with Inflection Point Acquisition Corp. IV (NASDAQ:BACQ). The hires include two C-Suite additions, Leslie Ravestein as Chief Legal Officer and David Lasater as Chief People Officer, to strengthen corporate governance, drive operational excellence, and elevate talent strategy. Merlin also recently announced the appointment of Ryan Carrithers as Chief Financial Officer, reflecting Merlin's investment in a leadership team that can support the market scale and demand of a public company.
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Merlin Expands Executive Team Ahead of Public Listing
Ravestein brings over 20 years of experience as a trusted legal advisor to public companies in the technology, autonomy, aerospace, and defense industries. She joins Merlin from Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT), a multi-industry company known for its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial, and finance businesses. As Chief Legal Officer, she will oversee Merlin's legal, corporate governance, regulatory, and compliance functions and support public company readiness.
As Chief People Officer, Lasater will lead Merlin's talent strategy, people operations, and corporate culture to ensure top company performance. His track record in building high performance teams at scaling technology companies, such as Vecna Robotics, Akamai Technologies (NASDAQ:AKAM), Dell (NYSE:DELL), and Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), will be critical as Merlin attracts and retains exceptional talent ahead of, and post, going public.
Merlin also brought on Pablo Gonzalez as its Senior Vice President of Engineering to accelerate the technical development and anticipated certification of the Merlin Pilot, which is an active Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) program on its Cessna Grand Caravan 208B. Gonzalez brings extensive aerospace and defense experience from his role at Sierra Space as Vice President and Program Manager of the Dream Chaser Cargo System, along with nearly two decades at Northrop Grumman, where he served as Program Director for the F/A-18, F-5, and Navy Unmanned Combat Air System (N-UCAS) programs. At Merlin, he will lead the planned development and integration of the Merlin Pilot across a growing portfolio of aircraft platforms, including the KC-135, C-130J, Scaled Composites' Model 437 Vanguard aircraft in partnership with Northrop Grumman, and more.
"As we prepare to go public next year, these executive appointments deepen our leadership bench and bring industry-specific expertise across legal, people, and engineering," said Matt George, CEO and founder of Merlin. "Leslie, David, and Pablo all bring the operational rigor required to scale responsibly as a public company, which will enable us to accelerate autonomy in defense and civil aviation much more efficiently."
"Merlin is defining the future of autonomy in aviation, and I'm thrilled to be a part of its next phase of growth. Ensuring transparency, integrity, and compliance will be central to our transition to the public markets, and I'm looking forward to leading the team during and after the public listing process," said Ravestein.
"Merlin's mission and momentum create an incredible opportunity to attract and develop top aerospace and defense talent. I'm excited to help shape a culture that empowers innovation and drives long-term impact as we continue to scale," said Lasater.
"Merlin's technology is poised to redefine what's possible in aviation autonomy, and it's an exciting time to be part of that journey. My focus is on accelerating engineering efforts and advancing the Merlin Pilot to meet the needs of both military and civil aviation, driving toward certification and operational deployment across multiple platforms," said Gonzalez.
About Merlin
Merlin is the leading U.S.-based developer of cost-effective, takeoff-to-touchdown autonomy for both legacy and next-generation airborne systems. Our aircraft-agnostic, AI-powered software is purpose-built for military and civil programs, and is powering an expanding range of missions and aircraft, proven through hundreds of autonomous flights from test facilities across the globe. With $100M+ total in awarded contracts from military customers, Merlin is helping to solve national security challenges through safe, reliable autonomy. To learn more, visit www.merlinlabs.com or follow us on X @merlinaero.
About Inflection Point Acquisition Corp. IV
Inflection Point Acquisition Corp. IV is a blank check company formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, amalgamation, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements made herein are not historical facts but may be considered "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements generally are accompanied by words such as "believe," "may," "will," "estimate," "continue," "anticipate," "intend," "expect," "should," "would," "plan," "predict," "potential," "seem," "seek," "future," "outlook" or the negatives of these terms or variations of them or similar terminology or expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding future events, the proposed business combination between Inflection Point Acquisition Corp. IV ("Inflection Point") and Merlin Labs, Inc. ("Merlin"), the estimated or anticipated future results and benefits of the combined company following the business combination, including the likelihood and ability of the parties to successfully consummate the business combination, future opportunities for the combined company and other statements that are not historical facts.
These statements are based on the current expectations of Inflection Point and/or Merlin's management and are not predictions of actual performance. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on, by any investor as a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the control of Inflection Point and Merlin. These statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties regarding Merlin's business and the business combination, and actual results may differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: general economic, political and business conditions; the inability of the parties to consummate the business combination or the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the business combination agreement; the number of redemption requests made by Inflection Point's shareholders in connection with the business combination; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against the parties following the announcement of the business combination; the risk that the approval of the shareholders of Merlin or Inflection Point for the potential transaction is not obtained; failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the business combination, including as a result of a delay in consummating the potential transaction; the risk that the business combination disrupts current plans and operations as a result of the announcement and consummation of the business combination; the risks related to the rollout of Merlin's business and the timing of expected business milestones; the effects of competition on Merlin's business; the ability of the combined company to execute its growth strategy, manage growth profitably and retain its key employees; the ability of the combined company to obtain or maintain the listing of its securities on a U.S. national securities exchange following the business combination; costs related to the business combination; and other risks that will be detailed from time to time in filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). The foregoing list of risk factors is not exhaustive. There may be additional risks that Merlin and Inflection Point presently do not know or that Merlin and Inflection Point currently believe are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements provide Merlin's and/or Inflection Point's expectations, plans or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this communication. Merlin and Inflection Point anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause their assessments to change. However, while Merlin and/or Inflection Point may elect to update these forward-looking statements in the future, Merlin and Inflection Point specifically disclaim any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Merlin's or Inflection Point's assessments as of any date subsequent to the date of this communication. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed upon the forward-looking statements. Nothing herein should be regarded as a representation by any person that the forward-looking statements set forth herein will be achieved or results of such forward-looking statements will be achieved.
Additional Information and Where to Find It
The business combination will be submitted to shareholders of Inflection Point for their consideration. In connection with the business combination, Inflection Point intends to file a registration statement on Form S-4 (the "Registration Statement") with the SEC, which will include a proxy statement/prospectus and certain other related documents, which will serve as both the proxy statement to be distributed to its shareholders in connection with its solicitation for proxies for the vote by its shareholders in connection with the business combination and other matters to be described in the Registration Statement, as well as the prospectus relating to the offer and sale of the securities to be issued to Merlin's equityholders in connection with the completion of the business combination. After the Registration Statement is declared effective, Inflection Point will mail a definitive proxy statement and other relevant documents to its shareholders as of the record date established for voting on the business combination. This communication is not a substitute for the Registration Statement, the definitive proxy statement/prospectus or any other document that Inflection Point will send to its shareholders in connection with the business combination.
INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE ADVISED TO READ, WHEN AVAILABLE, THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT, PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY IF AND WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE BUSINESS COMBINATION AND THE PARTIES TO THE BUSINESS COMBINATION. Investors and security holders will be able to obtain copies of these documents (if and when available) and other documents filed with the SEC free of charge at www.sec.gov. The definitive proxy statement/final prospectus (if and when available) will be mailed to shareholders of Inflection Point as of a record date to be established for voting on the business combination. Shareholders of Inflection Point will also be able to obtain copies of the proxy statement/prospectus without charge, once available, at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.
Participants in the Solicitation
Inflection Point and its directors, executive officers, and other members of management, and consultants, under SEC rules, may be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies from Inflection Point's shareholders with respect to the business combination. A list of the names of those directors and executive officers and a description of their interests in Inflection Point is contained in the sections entitled "Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Shareholder Matters" and "Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance — Conflicts of Interest" of Inflection Point's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, filed with the SEC on March 10, 2025, and which is available free of charge at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov, and supplemented by the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 11, 2025, and which is available free of charge at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Additional information regarding the interests of such participants will be contained in the Registration Statement when available.
Merlin, its directors, executive officers, other members of management, and employees, under SEC rules, may be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies of Inflection Point's shareholders in connection with the business combination. A list of the names of such directors and executive officers and information regarding their interests in the business combination will be included in the Registration Statement when available.
No Offer or Solicitation
This communication is for informational purposes only and is not (i) an offer to purchase, nor a solicitation of an offer to sell, subscribe for or buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law nor (ii) the solicitation of any vote in any jurisdiction pursuant to the business combination or otherwise. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act. No securities commission or securities regulatory authority in the United States or any other jurisdiction has in any way passed upon the merits of the business combination or the accuracy or adequacy of this communication.
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merlin@pluckpr.com
