At the SPAC of Dawn
A largely positive week is coming to end with a summit that appears to have brought an autumn chill to simmering tensions between the US and China.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden each offered olive branches and offhand “dictator” comments aside, both appeared to want to strike a more productive tone heading into 2024. The pandas are coming back, some sanctions will be eased and both sides projected confidence that nothing dramatic would happen over Taiwan in the near future.
Interestingly, Xi appears to have displayed the greater desire of the two for reversing several years of raising tension. Foreign investment in China has been dropping and the combination of a real estate slump and punitive measures by two successive US administrations have contributed.
But, while the photo ops may not persuade major companies to go back on their decisions to pull back from China, SPACs are increasingly playing a role in pulling other foreign capital in. Eight of the 14 new SPACs to file for IPOs so far in the second half of 2023 have been led by Asia-based teams leading Asia-focused search processes with most of them hailing from and searching within China specifically.
Three of these vehicles have since completed their IPOs and are now on the hunt – Global Lights (NASDAQ:GLAC), Quetta (NASDAQ:QETA), and Spark I (NASDAQ:SPKL).
Deals
- Bellevue Life Sciences Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ:BLAC) has signed a definitive agreement to combine with Korean healthcare holding company OSR. The two parties initially announced a letter of intent in July.
News and Rumors
- UK Tech: Embattled mobility startup Arrival, which terminated a second SPAC combination with Kensington Capital V (NYSE:KCGI) after initially going public with CIIG, has secured a $50m (£40.3m) loan from its existing investors for a “potential sale or strategic alternative transaction.”
Sponsor Economics Sales
- International Media Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ:IMAQ) entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement with JC Unify Capital and its sponsor to sell its 4,125,000 promote shares (75%) and 597,675 private placement units (25%) for $1.00.
Launch Two (NASDAQ:LPBBU) has filed for a $200 million IPO that shows how the market has shifted for new issuance since its sister SPAC Launch One (NASDAQ:LPAAU) filed just over a month ago. Both SPACs are underwritten by Cantor Fitzgerald and seeking nominally the same raise at IPO, but Launch Two is overfunding its trust...
FTAC Emerald (NASDAQ:EMLD) has entered into a definitive agreement to combine with crypto fintech firm Fold at an enterprise value of $381 million. Phoenix, Arizona-based Fold provides digital banking services backed by a treasury of Bitcoin that includes FDIC-secured checking accounts as well Bitcoin trading and awards. The combined company is expected to trade on...
At the SPAC of Dawn Dealmakers remain confident that AI is going to play a big role in their M&A processes, but feel unprepared for some the changes, according to a new survey of 225 corporate and 75 private equity transactions professionals. SS&C subsidiary Mergermarket generated the report that found more than half of respondents...
Trailblazer Merger I (NASDAQ:TBMC) has entered into a definitive agreement to combine with data intelligence firm Cyabra at an enterprise value of $70 million. Tel Aviv-based Cyabra provides tools to corporations and governments to identify fake accounts and combat social media disinformation. The combined company is expected to trade on the Nasdaq once the deal...
Chain Bridge I (NASDAQ:CBRG) has entered into a definitive agreement to combine with cannabinoid pharmaceuticals firm Phytanix Bio at a pre-deal valuation of $58 million. Santa Barbara, California-based Phytanix is working to develop bladder and seizure treatments using cannabis-based substances. The combined company is expected to trade on the Nasdaq under the symbol “PHYX” once...