Urban heli-taxi Blade to go public via merger by The Associated Press Last Updated Dec 15, 2020 at 12:42 pm EDT NEW YORK — Urban helicopter taxi company Blade will become public company after a merger with Nasdaq-listed Experience Investment Corp., the companies announced Tuesday. The deal, expected to close in the first half of 2021, will give the company an equity value of $825 million. Proceeds from the deal total $400 million, which includes cash from Experience and $125 million from private investment. Other investors include entertainment moguls Barry Diller and David Geffen. Upon closing, Experience will change its name to Blade Urban Air Mobility. Its stock trading symbol will also change from “EXPC” to “BLDE.”