Answered By: Austin Haley
Last Updated: Aug 03, 2023     Views: 1993

Q.
Special purpose acquisition companies

Where can I get an overview of special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs)?


A.

Search for articles on SPACs from an article database such as Business Source Complete. Also see the HBS Background Note: SPAC Space and Harvard Business Review article: SPACs: what you need to know

Additionally, Refinitiv Workspace, Pitchbook, Bloomberg, and and Capital IQ provide data on SPACs: 

In Refinitiv Workspace:

  • Type 'screener' into the main search bar to load the Screener App.
  • Change the Universe to Deals and the Asset Class should be M&A.
  • In the text box where it says Add Filter, start typing in 'special' and select Is a Special Purpose Acquisition Vehicle, then select True, and click Done.
  • Add other criteria as desired.

In Pitchbook, go to: 

  • Screeners
  • Investors & Funds
  • Build a custom investors & fund screen
  • Investor Types > Other investor types > Special purpose acquisition company (SPAC)

In Bloomberg, go to:

  • IPO
  • Advanced Search
  • Offer Type
  • Special Purpose Acquisition Company (SPAC)
  • If downloading from Bloomberg is problematic, try cutting and pasting the results from the search, after adding a few relevant columns to the results table.

In Capital IQ, go to:

  • Screening
    • All Idea Generation Screens
    • Enter SPAC in the Screens search bar to find their canned screen
  • Notice that the logic in the Capital IQ screen is similar to that in the Refinitiv screen: look for issues that are to be used to finance acquisitions.