Cambridge Business Association
What Is A SPAC?
Report

What Is A SPAC?

CB Insights
CB Insights, 2020
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Editorial Rating

9

Qualities

  • Applicable
  • Overview
  • Background

Recommendation

New firms are looking for a less cumbersome means of capital raising than the traditional IPO. Enter the special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), which can fast-track a start-up’s public listing but carries disadvantages as well as advantages. In this thorough and straightforward report, market intelligence consultants at CB Insights provide would-be investors with a useful primer on what a SPAC does, its pros and cons, and its future prospects.

Summary

The special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) may be a palatable alternative to what can be a fickle IPO market.

The SPAC is a type of firm that debuts on public markets prior to acquiring a target company. It is a holding company, “a ‘blank check’ shell corporation.” SPACs are not new but are arousing renewed interest. In times when the IPO market is volatile, entrepreneurs envisaging a quicker exit may find the SPAC an attractive option.

The mechanics of a SPAC are relatively straightforward: An individual or a firm forms a SPAC and files to go public, attracting the interest of investors...

About the Author

CB Insights is a technology market-intelligence consulting firm.

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