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SPACs · Aug 18, 2026

SPAC Market Update August 18, 2026: NorthStrive and Karman Line Debut 2 SPAC IPOs for $300M

Karman Line Acquisition Corp. (XTER) and NorthStrive Acquisition Corp I. (TBD) priced 2 SPAC IPOs for $300M on August 18, 2026. Separately, Bleichroeder Acquisition Corp II (BBCQ) won approval to extend its deadline to May 18, 2027.

SPAC IPO Update — August 18, 2026

2 SPAC IPOs priced on August 18, 2026, raising $300M; August MTD now stands at 8 IPOs totaling $1.24B over 18 sessions.

SPAC IPO Count

Monthly IPOs (last 13 months)
Latest: 8Prior: 18MoM: -10
8
Aug ’25
14
Sep ’25
14
Oct ’25
10
Nov ’25
22
Dec ’25
24
Jan ’26
27Peak
Feb ’26
11
Mar ’26
16
Apr ’26
20
May ’26
19
Jun ’26
18
Jul ’26
8
Aug ’26
Source: Boardroom Alpha
IPO Activity Snapshot2 SPAC IPOs today raising $300M · XTER ($200M), TBD ($100M)
Month-to-date: 8 IPOs ($1.24B) vs. first 18 days of last month 11 ($2.49B) · 12-mo avg: 17/mo
$ totals include underwriter over-allotment.
Size
$100M
Ticker
NSAI / NSAIU
Sponsor
NorthStrive Sponsor I LLC

Northstrive Acquisition Corp I plans a $100M IPO targeting the manufacturing sector, with a focus on U.S.-based companies in aerospace, defense, and industrial technology. The SPAC aims to leverage its experienced M&A sponsor team and broad transaction network.

Leadership
Dane MayDirector
Co-founder and Principal of DePaolo & May Strategic Wealth, specializing in investment management and financial planning.
David GoertzDirector
Partner at DMCL LLP, providing accounting and advisory services to public and private companies since 2005.
George KovalyovDirector
CFO of Finx Group Inc. and independent director at PMGC Holdings Inc.
Gust KeplerDirector
Founder and CEO of Blackboxstocks, Inc., a Nasdaq-listed financial technology company.
James DawsonCFO
Controller at GB Capital Ltd., with a background in Big Four audit and advisory at KPMG.
Jeffrey ParryDirector
Partner at Mystic Marine Advisors, LLC, and non-executive director at Globus Maritime Limited.
Michel TamerCEO
M&A executive with over 20 years of experience, currently leading NorthStrive Companies, Inc.

Structure: 10 million units at $10.00 each, consisting of one Class A ordinary share, one redeemable warrant, and one right to receive one-fourth of one Class A ordinary share. D. Boral Capital LLC as the book-runner.

Size
$200M
Ticker
XTER / XTERU

Karman Line Acquisition Corp. aims to raise $200M through its IPO, focusing on aerospace, defense, and wireless communications infrastructure sectors. The SPAC leverages its management’s deep industry-specific knowledge and global relationships.

Leadership
Beth MichelsonDirector
President of NorthStar U.S. and Senior Managing Director at Cartesian, with a focus on digital infrastructure and telecommunications.
Keith MasbackDirector
Senior executive in geospatial intelligence and Chairperson of the Board of Earth Daily Federal.
Michael E LeitnerDirector
Partner at Stonepeak, leading the firm’s credit platform and former co-head of Blackrock’s Direct Lending.
Richard C DavisCEO, Director
Founder of ArgoSat and former CEO of Descartes Labs, with extensive experience in corporate finance and the space industry.
Vikas MittalCFO, Director
Managing Member of Meteora Capital, with a background in event-driven investment strategies.

Structure: 20 million units at $10.00 each, consisting of one Class A ordinary share and one-half of one warrant. Listed on Nasdaq under XTERU, XTER, and XTERW.

New SPAC IPOs
Date Ticker Issuer IPO Size Trust Funding
Aug 18 XTER Karman Line Acquisition Corp. $200M 100.0%
Aug 18 TBD NorthStrive Acquisition Corp I. $100M
Aug 13 TBCV THUNDER BRIDGE CAPITAL PARTNERS V LTD $261M  $39M overallotment 100.0%
Source: Boardroom Alpha

Daily SPAC Update — August 18, 2026

SPAC VOTE RESULTS
BLEICHROEDER ACQUISITION CORP II (BBCQ) * Extend to May 18, 2027

SPAC EXTENSIONS
RIBBON ACQUISITION CORP (RIBB) * Extension FilingRibbon Acquisition Corp deposited $125,000 to extend its initial business combination deadline by one month to September 15, 2026.
FUTURE VISION II ACQUISITION CORP (FVN) * Extension FilingFVII extends the deadline to Sept 13, 2026 via sponsor note; conversion into units possible upon a deal.

DeSPACs
August 18 | PLMJF DeSPAC → Tactical Resources Corp. (TREO)Tactical Resources Corp. is a mineral exploration and development company that focuses on U.S.-made rare earth elements. These elements are utilized in semiconductors, electric vehicles, advanced robotics, and national defense. The company is also engaged in developing metallurgical processing techniques to enhance the potential for rare earth element development.
August 17 | IPCX DeSPAC → A1R WATER (WATR)A1R WATER designs and manufactures air-to-water technology that extracts clean water from humidity. It produces systems for both consumers and industrial applications, with capacities up to 3,000 liters per day. The company also operates water farms and bottling sites, providing finished water products to various global brands, including Conrad (Hilton) Abu Dhabi and Fairmont Hotels & Resorts.

SPAC DEAL TERMINATIONS (Last 10 Days)
2026-08-13: DAAQ + Old Glory Holding Co

SPAC LISTING RULE NOTICES
HELIX ACQUISITION CORP III (HLXC) * Listing Rule NoticeNasdaq flags insufficient total holders. Company has 45 days to propose a plan for possible 180-day extension or appeal.

SPAC LIQUIDATIONS
ARTIUS II ACQUISITION INC (AACB) -> Liquidation on August 13
AGRICULTURE & NATURAL SOLUTIONS ACQUISITION CORP (ANSC) -> Liquidation on August 12

SPAC Movers — August 18, 2026

YESTERDAY’S TOP SPAC GAINERS
Company Ticker Change Price Stage
JATT II ACQUISITION CORP TBD 7.0% $ 13.38 Announced
BLUEPORT ACQUISITION LTD BPAC 1.7% $ 10.17 Announced
K2 CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORP KII 1.3% $ 10.06 Pre-Deal
APEX TECH ACQUISITION INC TRAD 1.0% $ 10.04 Pre-Deal
FUTURE VISION II ACQUISITION CORP FVN 0.9% $ 11.70 Announced
YESTERDAY’S TOP SPAC LOSERS
Company Ticker Change Price Stage
STONEBRIDGE ACQUISITION II CORP APAC -24.1% $ 10.21 Pre-Deal
RF ACQUISITION CORP II RFAI -16.2% $ 9.29 Announced
KEEN VISION ACQUISITION CORP KVAC -13.1% $ 11.51 Announced
TCGX ACQUISITION CORP TCGX -5.7% $ 14.02 Pre-Deal
RISING DRAGON ACQUISITION CORP RDAC -5.5% $ 5.81 Announced
Source: Boardroom Alpha market data

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How many SPAC IPOs priced in August 2026 through August 18?
    8 SPAC IPOs raised $1.24B through August 18, 2026, compared with 11 IPOs for $2.49B over the same span in July 2026.
  • How large was the Karman Line Acquisition Corp. IPO?
    Karman Line Acquisition Corp. (XTER) priced a $200M IPO and targets aerospace, defense, and wireless communications infrastructure sectors.
  • What did NorthStrive Acquisition Corp I. target with its IPO?
    NorthStrive Acquisition Corp I. (TBD) priced a $100M IPO targeting manufacturing, with a focus on U.S.-based aerospace, defense, and industrial technology companies.
  • What happened in the Bleichroeder Acquisition Corp II vote?
    Bleichroeder Acquisition Corp II (BBCQ) won extension approval today and extended its business-combination deadline to May 18, 2027.
  • Which companies completed DeSPACs this week?
    Tactical Resources Corp. (TREO) and A1R WATER (WATR) are the 2 DeSPACs this week.


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Published Aug 18, 2026

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