- A + A (May 18): Asian sponsors of blank-check firms are facing a tough market for initial public offerings wherever they turn, as a combination of increasing regulatory scrutiny and fading investor demand shutters the window for new listings from the US to Asia. In the past three months, at least six Asia-related special purpose acquisition companies seeking a combined $1.3 billion from US IPOs have been scrapped, according to data provider SPAC Research. Of 12 blank-check firms that have filed to go public in Hong Kong, only one has actually started trading. It’s a similar pattern in Singapore, where SPACs have stalled after three inaugural IPOs in January. “The global IPO market has obviously been very quiet so far this year,” Paul Uren, JPMorgan Chase and Co.’s Asia Pacific head of investment banking, said in an interview with Bloomberg TV. “What we need to see for that to change is lower volatility and investors with more of a risk-on mentality.” Asia was … [Read more...] about Asia’s SPAC Hopefuls Have Nowhere to Turn As IPO Market Shuts
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Asia’s SPAC hopefuls have nowhere to turn as IPO market shuts
- A + A (May 18): Asian sponsors of blank-check firms are facing a tough market for initial public offerings wherever they turn, as a combination of increasing regulatory scrutiny and fading investor demand shutters the window for new listings from the US to Asia. In the past three months, at least six Asia-related special purpose acquisition companies seeking a combined US$1.3 billion from US IPOs have been scrapped, according to data provider SPAC Research. Of 12 blank-check firms that have filed to go public in Hong Kong, only one has actually started trading. It’s a similar pattern in Singapore, where SPACs have stalled after three inaugural IPOs in January. “The global IPO market has obviously been very quiet so far this year,” Paul Uren, JPMorgan Chase and Co’s Asia Pacific head of investment banking, said in an interview with Bloomberg TV. “What we need to see for that to change is lower volatility and investors with more of a risk-on mentality.” Asia was … [Read more...] about Asia’s SPAC hopefuls have nowhere to turn as IPO market shuts
Carousell, L Catterton SPAC merger talks end amid rout
- A + A (May 18): Carousell Pte Ltd, a Singapore-based online classifieds marketplace operator, has recently ended talks to go public through a merger with blank-cheque company L Catterton Asia Acquisition Corp amid market volatility, according to people familiar with the matter. The special purpose acquisition company, which has been conducting due diligence on Carousell over the past few months, has not been able to reach a merger agreement with the Southeast Asian business, the people said, asking not to be identified because the matter is private. The stock market rout has made it difficult to arrange a private investment in public equity, or PIPE, the people said, where typically other investors chip in funds alongside those contributed by the SPAC itself to the merged entity. Macroeconomic uncertainty and valuation concerns are also among the factors weighing on a potential deal, they added. A representative for Carousell declined to comment, while a … [Read more...] about Carousell, L Catterton SPAC merger talks end amid rout