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All Posts Term: SPAC
14 post(s) found
Technology

The Truth About Truth Social Stock

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Social media platforms may be full of family photos and internet memes, but today's social media platforms also display plenty of friendly and not-so-friendly political discussions. One recent addition to social media has been Truth Social. Truth Social brands itself as a "'Big Tent' social media platform" that purports to promote "discussions without discriminating based on political ideology." (3)

Trump Media and Technology

Media watchers know that Truth Social was founded by former President Donald Trump and launched by his company, Trump Media & Technology (TMT), in February 2021. B Since the middle of 2022, Truth Social has been facing "financial and regulatory issues." (4)

Although the former President admitted he knew it would be challenging to launch a social media platform large enough to compete with Facebook or Twitter, he remains intent on raising over one million dollars (the amount allegedly needed to keep the platform running). (1) Having been banned from Twitter, the former President has used Truth Social as his media outlet for communicating with his followers. (2)

Digital World Acquisition Company

When securing a place for Truth Social on the stock market, TMT decided to opt for a SPAC (Special Purpose Acquisition Company - also called a "shell company) merger with Digital World Acquisition Company (DWAC) which was already listed on the NASDAQ stock index. (4)

The merger (announced in October 2021) was initially met with approval by DWAC stockholders, and DWAC stock rose in value. However, recent inquiries about TMT by the SEC have postponed the completion of the stock offering. During the SEC's investigation into the merger, they determined they needed more information about TMT. The SEC served subpoenas on TMT, but some TMT board members' responses have been delayed because they are involved in giving information to a grand jury for other legal issues. (1)

DWAC Stock Price

DWAC is concerned by the delay because SPAC transactions have a specific timeline. If the timeline cannot be met, DWAC has protested this will prevent the merger's stock listing. DWAC is also upset because SEC has now sent subpoenas to their board members about their communication methods. Executives from DWAC have assured their stockholders they are cooperating with the SEC, but DWAC stock has reportedly now fallen 72% (2) due to SEC inquiries. This stock decrease has reportedly resulted in "a financial loss of 6.5 million dollars to DWAC during the first half of 2022." (1,2)

DWAC has been attempting to get its stockholders' approval to request an extension to the deadline. If the merger's current deadline becomes too close without the needed signatures, Trump Media could infuse DWAC with more money to secure the extension. If this extension works, it will push the deadline forward by three months. If that deadline nears its end, Trump Media could provide more funds to repeat the process. There is a possibility DWAC may withdraw from the merger, but when questioned about this possibility, Trump did not show concern, as he feels certain another company will emerge to provide Truth Social with a stock presence. Despite the ongoing legal challenges by the SEC, TMT may still find another company to merge with. Assistant Law Professor Michael Ohlrogge from NYU has stated the merger could still be completed as long as the potential legal risks are fully disclosed to the other company’s stockholders. (1)

Market NewsTechnology

All You Need To Know About Hypebeast Reverse Merger

Hypebeast

If you love sneakers and streetwear, you might be well-versed with Hypebeast. This is a Hong Kong-based company that manufactures sneakers and streetwear. It is a household name in Hong Kong and the entire East Asia region. The 16-year old company is better-known for setting the standards in the streetwear fashion industry, but it's also involved in technology, sports, art and food. The company prides itself in identifying emerging trends in culture and lifestyle to create an eco-system that promotes cultural discovery and connection.

Hypebeast Reverse Merger

The company is planning to list on the Nasdaq by merging a SPAC with an already-listed company Iron Spark. The merger will see the new entity listed on the Nasdaq with an already-identified ticker "HYPE". Merging a profitable or high-potential company with a public company that is not doing so well is the cheapest way of taking a company public. This is because the cost of taking a company public through an IPO is beyond the reach of many businesses. Through the merging of the SPAC and the public company, Hypebeast will become a publicly-listed company. It is important to note that the company is already listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, so it will be dual listed on the two major exchanges.

What Products and Services Does the Company Offer?

Founded by Kevin Ma in 2005, Hypebeast was originally just a sneaker blog. The company has now grown to be an e-commerce and digital media company that focuses on lifestyle, culture and fashion. It mainly focuses on streetwear fashion. The company has grown to become one of the trend-setters in Hong Kong.

Who is Involved in the SPAC?

The Hypebeast Reverse merger deal is backed by a star-studded pool of investors, including Naomi Osaka - the tennis star, Tom Brady - the famous quarterback, Kevin Durant - NBA star, Rich Kleiman, Adam Levine, Joe Gebbia and Tony Hawk among other stars.

Market NewsTechnology

Vacasa: Standing Out In The Vacation Rental Sector

Vacasa

The travel industry was booming before the pandemic began. Everything slowed down due to health concerns but many are still bullish about industry prospects. Vacasa is a startup that is betting on a big industry rebound once the pandemic subsides. It is a rental management company from Portland, Oregon launched back in 2009. With more than 30,000 vacation homes and 6,500 employees, Vacasa is a major player that turned heads with its IPO.

Vacasa SPAC

Vacasa took the unconventional route of merging with a SPAC called TPG Pace Solutions Corp for about $4 billion. The executives behind TPG have already completed several successful transactions before this deal. This should boost the confidence of prospective investors, although risk remains due to the volatile environment. People are eager to go on vacations after spending more than two years mostly at home. Time will tell how quickly they can do so safely.

Vacasa Operating Results

Vacasa isn't profitable yet but it is enjoying increased revenues and reduced losses. In the third quarter of 2021, the company recorded a 77% surge in revenue year-on-year with a total of $330 million. It has revised its forecast by $100 million given better than expected earnings. According to its chief financial officer Jamie Cohen, only 10% of shares are publicly floated with ticker symbol VCSA. Existing shareholders of Vacasa stock are keen on holding on to their equity, showing belief in the company's future.

Vacasa vs AirBnb

Many compare Vacasa and AirBnB but the two have different business models. With AirBnB, homeowners get a platform on which to list their properties and get reservations. However, they will need to manage guest screening, overlapping requests, visitor support, online marketing, and more. On the other hand, Vacasa is a full-service vacation rental management company. It does repairs, maintenance, cleaning, stocking, support, marketing, and everything else necessary to keep the rental units thriving.

AirBnB is good for people who want to be more involved in the daily operations while Vacasa is perfect for property owners who prefer a hands-off investment approach. The latter provides more opportunities to scale up while maintaining a high standard of care for the properties. People do not have to worry about time commitments and the stress of running a hospitality business. They don't even have to live near the rental units so they can just keep adding more wherever they find great spots.

Market NewsTechnology

Perfect Corp Beauty & Fashion Tech Solution at CES 2022

PerfectCorp

Perfect Corp., a leader in augmented reality and artificial intelligence solutions for retail, announced the latest advancements in its digital solutions for beauty and fashion brands at CES 2022. The company's virtual try-on experiences allow consumers to experience products in an immersive way without leaving the comfort of their homes. Its 3D digital booth gives consumers a chance to try on various items and includes a transaction manager and a social commerce platform.

Perfect Corp Products

Its beauty and fashion tech solutions provide a holistic view of the consumer, enabling brands to connect with consumers in a way that's easier to understand and purchase. Developed by a team of augmented reality experts, the AI-powered solution offers hyper-personalized virtual makeup and hair color, along with skin analysis and hair color. Estee Lauder is one of the first brands to use Perfect's virtual try-on services. Its AgileHand technology provides a wide range of textures, skin tones, and hand sizes to help shoppers decide which products to purchase.

A leading AI and augmented reality company, Perfect Corp. empowers consumer-centric brands by transforming the shopping experience. The company is recognized as a top AI powerhouse, with more than 44 granted patents and dozens of pending applications. The firm's enterprise solutions are used by 95% of the world's top 20 beauty groups. Its consumer app, YouCam, has over 950 million downloads globally. The platform's powerful technology enables shopper-based product recommendations.

Whether a retailer wants to sell an apparel item or a cosmetics item, a perfect Corp. beauty, and fashion tech solution can help. The company's solutions will make omnichannel strategies more effective, and dramatically increase sales conversions. Unlike traditional retail stores, augmented reality solutions help customers choose the best products based on their needs, tastes, and preferences. This enables them to make the most informed decisions.

With its 3D digital booth, Perfect Corp. was able to show the latest innovations in its digital solutions for beauty and fashion. Its AR and AI solutions enable brands to create a more immersive shopping experience, while its AR-powered video consultations enable brand owners to engage and retain customers. This type of experience was refreshing for attendees and is still available today. It is the perfect way to interact with consumers and increase sales.

The AI-powered technology behind the Perfect Corp. applications makes it possible for shoppers to virtually try on beauty products. The solutions include AR-powered step-by-step makeup application guides and an AI skin analysis tool that detects 14 common skin concerns in two seconds. In addition, users can also use their mobile devices to shop for beauty and fashion accessories. Ultimately, these solutions will improve their lives and improve the lives of people worldwide.

CEO Alice Chang

In 2015, Alice Chang founded Perfect Corp. after serving as the CEO of CyberLink for nearly two decades. During her tenure at the company, she developed facial recognition technology and a virtual try-on tool for makeup. She wanted to use this technology in consumer products to avoid making mistakes. Today, Perfect operates consumer mobile applications for virtual makeovers and photo editing. Over 950 million downloads worldwide have been recorded, and consumers have used these applications to virtually try on 10 billion products in the past year.

Market NewsTechnology

In New Reverse Merger Circle Doubles Valuation to $9B

Circle

Circle has doubled its valuation after inking a deal with blank-check company Concord. Concord is the latest so-called Special Purpose Acquisition Company (SPAC) - another name for a blank-check company or shell company - to agree a reverse merger with a crypto firm.

Circle, the cryptocurrency startup backed by Goldman Sachs, has agreed to a merger with blank-check company Concord. The deal will value Circle at $3B and the combined market cap of the new entity is expected to be $9B.

Financing of all types has been tough this year, but companies still need to grow. It’s a strange paradox that’s led to explosion of SPACs taking companies public through reverse mergers. TechCrunch understands that one of the latest big private tech companies to ink a deal with a SPAC is Circle, the crypto financial services and stable coin provider that boasts major institutional clients like Goldman Sachs, and is part of the Blockchain Association.

The Unique StableCoin

Circle, a United States-based company, is another popular option for Crypto users in search of a stablecoin. Circle has an especially unique approach to its Stablecoin when compared to other coins, including Tether. Circle takes the stance that transparency helps reassure users that the USD-pegged coin is legitimate. As a result, it opted to undergo frequent third-party audits from regulators and make the results available for public viewing.

Public Auditing by Armanino

After launching a US dollars-backed Stablecoin in September 2019, Circle has partnered with the Florida-based auditing firm Armanino to conduct bi-quarterly audits on its fully reserved dollar tokens.

Market NewsTechnology

SPAC: The Tiger Woods-Backed Company You Should Know

Sports & Health Tech Acquisition Corp

Sports & Health Tech Acquisition Corp (the company), Tiger Woods-Backed SPAC (Special Purpose Acquisition Company), is one of the newest players in the sports data and analytics industry. Tiger Woods first invested in the company back in 2015 when he was still a professional golfer.

Agent Mark Steinberg

Tiger's former agent Mark Steinberg has been instrumental to Tiger's success as an athlete, so it only makes sense that Tiger would want to invest with him again as his advisor. In this article, we'll be discussing 3 main points: what Tiger Woods-Backed SPAC does, how they work with athletes and teams, and why you should know them.

Sports Performance and Analytics Company

What does it do? The company is a sports performance and analytics company. They use data to help athletes and teams improve their performance. Tiger Woods has been quoted as saying, "I have always been fascinated by the application of technology and analytics in sport."

How do they work with athletes? The company works with athletes to help them analyze their performance data. This includes tracking things like shot dispersion, club head speed, and putting strokes. They also look at team stats like offensive efficiency and defensive rebounds.

Why should you know them? Tiger Woods-backed SPAC is one of the newest players in the sports data and analytics industry. They are working with some of the best athletes in the world to improve their performance. And, Tiger Woods is one of the investors in the company.

What's next? The company is working on a number of new projects that will be announced in the coming months. Keep an eye out for their upcoming announcements!

In Tiger Woods' own words, "I have always been fascinated by the application of technology and analytics in sport." That's why it should come as no surprise that Tiger Woods has invested in the SPAC -- a sports data and analytics company.

Tiger Woods-Backed SPAC works with athletes to help them analyze their performance data. This includes tracking things like shot dispersion, club head speed, and putting strokes. They also look at things like weather and course conditions to give athletes an edge.

Sports & Health Tech Acquisition Corp Partnerships

The company has already announced a few new projects that they are working on. They are partnering with the PGA Tour to create a new ShotLink product. This will help players analyze their performance data in even more detail.

The company is also partnering with Microsoft to develop a new cloud platform for sports data analytics. This will make it easier for athletes and coaches to access and use performance data.

Keep an eye out for Tiger Woods-Backed SPAC's upcoming announcements! They are sure to shake up the sports data industry. The company is shaking up the sports data industry, with innovative products and partnerships galore.

Technology

All You Need To Know About Rumble SPAC

Rumble

Rumble is a Canadian company that was formed in 2013 and operates as an online video tube. The founder of the Rumble platform is Chris Pavlovski. The company has been growing rapidly with an ever increasing monthly user count. In July 2020, Rumble had a monthly user count of 1.6 million. In the first quarter of 2021, however, the number of monthly users stood at 31.9 million. Recently, rumors have been doing the rounds regarding the future of Rumble Inc. It has now been confirmed that the company is going public via an SPAC deal. Rumble Inc is merging with a special acquisition company known as CF Acquisition Corp IV.

How Much is the Rumble SPAC Deal Worth?

The Rumble SPAC and CF Acquisition deal is estimated to be worth $2.1 billion. In this merger transaction, Rumble is expected to make about $400 million. This comprises $300 million liquid cash held by CF Acquisition and $100 million from PIPE fundraising. Pipe is short for Private Investment in public Equity. In this lucrative deal, the founder of Rumble Inc is expected to retain voting rights, which means he will have a say on the direction the company is going to take after the merger.

What Does Rumble Offer?

Rumble is an online video service that mainly offers online video hosting services. It is incredibly popular with conservatives. This is where the Trump connection comes in. The former US president loves Rumble and his followers are not any different. That is why stock prices of CF Acquisition IV increased by double digits when the partnership between Truth Social and Rumble Inc was announced.

In this partnership deal, Truth Social is going to use the Rumble video hosting service as its default platform for distribution. This means that any video that's uploaded onto Truth Social or streamed live on Truth Social will use Rumble. It's a big deal, and that explains all the excitement in the stock market.

Market NewsTechnology

All You Need To Know About The Trump SPAC

TruthSocial

There is no doubt that former president Donald J. Trump is a real estate mogul. He is a multi billionaire with many real estate holdings around the world, key among them being the iconic Trump Tower in New York. After vacating the office of the POTUS, not much has been heard from Trump except reposting of his press releases. Recently, however, major media outlets around the world have been flooded with stories and interviews about the Trump SPAC. This is one of Trump's major successes and is bound to make him a lot of money. Read further to learn more about the company.

Trump SPAC Explained

A special acquisition company (SPAC) is a type of blank check company, more closely related to an exchange traded fund than it is to a traditional company. A blank check company contains several types of securities that can be structured to fit the investment goals of the shareholders. One of these types of securities is called an "unit". A unit can be viewed as similar to a share of stock, except that instead of giving you ownership in an actual company, it gives you limited rights to certain assets of the company. These rights are limited because they are usually restricted to receiving proceeds from certain sale transactions of the company.

The Trump SPAC was created with the intent to use the proceeds from the sale of units to buy up portions of other companies by buying large numbers of their shares on the market. The Trump SPAC will also use the proceeds from sale of units on other transactions like acquisitions or paying down debt.

Trumps new venture is a special acquisition company known as Digital World Acquisition Corp. The SPAC trades under the ticker - DWAC - on Nasdaq and other major exchanges. All the frenzy about the Trump SPAC emanates from the recent announcement of DWAC acquisition of TMTG. After the announcement the company stock grew by more than 800% in the first two days of the announcement. So far, the stock has grown by over 1,000% and has been compared to the AMC and GameStop stock by Reddit's WallStreetBets. It is interesting to note that it's not just DWAC stock that is rising fast at the moment. Phunware, a software startup massively involved in the Trump campaign also saw a rapid rise in stock prices due to the Trump effect.

How He is Backing the SPAC

Trump has gone public to dismiss major social media companies for banning him, noting that while the Taliban thrives on social media, major companies have banned him from their platforms. His goal was to acquire TRUTH social, a social media giant that can take on big tech. Going public with his statements is what attracted tech investors and his followers and convinced them to purchase this meme stock. DWAC announced that it would be acquiring the Trump Media & Technology Group popular for its Miss Universe Pageant rights.

In a press conference at the White House Rose Garden, Donald Trump stated that this issue is a matter of life and death. “You would think a company like Facebook would understand the seriousness of a threat like ISIS. The fact remains that Facebook banned me from their platform.”

“I have been calling for a major investigation into these companies that have been silencing so many voices,” Trump said. “They are controlling what we can and cannot see. It’s a dangerous thing when they are controlling your information.

Market NewsMedia

What You Need To Know About Forbes Reverse Merger

forbes-924140_1280

The reverse merger of the Forbes magazine with Magnum Opus Acquisition Ltd is the freshest example of media companies catching SPACs. It is a lucrative deal that seeks to allow one of the oldest media publishers, Forbes, to invest further in consumer-focused products while reducing dependence on media revenue. The profit projection resulting from Forbes reverse merger is expected to go high by the end of 2021.

Why is the Reverse Merger Happening?

The next question that anyone is likely to ask themselves is why the merger is necessary. While it will be incorrect to say that the reverse merger does not have any demerits, the truth is that the advantages always outweigh the disadvantages. The typical benefit of a reverse merger that everyone knows is that it saves the private company from the complex and expensive process of becoming a public company. However, that is not all, as many other reasons make private companies choose this path. For instance, it helps in saving the taxes of a private company.

Another benefit of a reverse merger is that it does not negatively impact the competition in the market. It is rare to see the reverse merger on hold because of the negative impact of its implementation. In other words, there is more to celebrate about the merger.

What will the company look like after the Forbes Reverse Merger?

Once the merger between Forbes and Magnum Opus Acquisition Ltd is complete, you do not expect things to remain the same. It is most likely that things will change in one or the other. Although the profits may increase as projected, some disadvantages might come with the entire process. For example, the employees from both sides will be affected. Some may lose their livelihoods, and those lucky enough to survive should expect lots of things. Shifting of roles and confusion among employees is inevitable. Also, the struggle for power among employees may affect the growth and the development of the business. The great news is that this is not likely to last for an extended period before things shape stars to shape up.

Market NewsTechnology

Self-Driving Startup Aurora To Go Public In Reverse Merger

AuroraTrucks

Self-driving technology startup Aurora announced that it will go public through a reverse merger transaction with Reinvent Technology Partners Y (Reinvent), a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), that will provide the company with a cash injection to help continue its development of autonomous truck driving technology and, in the future, for self-driving passenger vehicles as well.

What is a Reverse Merger?

Reverse mergers, and the SPACs that enable them, have become a somewhat controversial method for companies to go public without having to otherwise meet the strict requirements for listing. Going public is not usually an option for companies such as Aurora that do not have a profitable business model in place (and that have not, in fact, made any profits). In addition, this move comes at a time when the overall self-driving car industry is struggling with failed deadlines, still unreliable technology, high cash burn rates, a loss of public trust and the failure of many similar companies. The move to invest more money into self-driving startups either indicates confidence in a forthcoming technological breakthrough or a desperate attempt to keep companies afloat until this major challenge to artificial intelligence applications is overcome, analysts have opined.

Aurora Founders

The Aurora SPAC funded by Reinvent will result in an injection of more than $2 billion into Aurora so that it can continue its (expensive and unprofitable to date) operations for several more years. Reinvent was launched by Reid Hoffman (the co-founder of LinkedIn), Mark Pincus (Zynga founder) and investor Michael Thompson. Other investors include various other Aurora funders as well as other partners including T. Rowe Price and Associates, Sequoia Capital, Uber, Index Ventures, PACCAR and Volvo, among others.

Aurora’s Products and Competitors

If Aurora's plan is successful investors are likely to see huge returns for their backing but the road ahead is risky and uncertain according to industry analysts. The move to focus on self-driving trucks makes sense from a business perspective but other moves, such as autonomous ride-hailing, have been found to be much more difficult to implement with both Uber and Lyft abandoning their efforts. If Aurora manages to deliver its self-driving truck technology it will give it access to a huge and profitable market the income from which could fund their continued research and development to reach their ultimate goal. This is necessary to overcome the accelerating losses the company has experienced with losses of over $214 million in 2020 and $94 million in 2021.

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