This paper analyzes Special Purpose Acquisition Companies (SPACs) in Europe. We document various aspects associated with European SPACs by using a unique and hand-collected data sample encompassing all 19 SPACs which have been listed on European stock exchanges since 2005. The paper shows that...

Special Purpose Acquisition Companies (“SPACs”) are shell companies formed for the purpose of acquiring an existing operating company. A typical characteristic of a SPAC is that it has no specific business plan at the time of establishment or that it is still unclear of its target company. A...

Special Purpose Acquisition Company (SPAC) IPOs boomed starting in 2020. While SPAC IPO investors have earned 12.0% per year, returns for investors in merged companies are more complex. They have earned -7.3% in the first year on common shares but 64.4% on warrants. We rationalize why certain...