Every U.S. SPAC,
from IPO through deal.

SPAC vocabulary & mechanics

What is a SPAC?

A Special Purpose Acquisition Company — a blank-check shell that raises money in an IPO with the intent of using those proceeds to acquire a private operating company within a set deadline (typically 18–24 months). Shareholders can either approve the eventual deal or redeem their shares at the trust value (usually $10/share).

What is a DeSPAC?

A SPAC that has completed its business combination — the formerly-blank-check shell now trades as the merged operating company. Roughly 80% of recent DeSPACs trade below the SPAC's $10 trust value within a year, per our distribution chart.

What is a SPAC redemption?

Shareholders' right to return their shares to the SPAC trust in exchange for their pro-rata cash share of the trust. They get their money back (typically ~$10 + interest) instead of holding shares in the merged target. Heavy redemptions can leave the sponsor with too little cash to consummate the deal.

What is an extension vote?

When a SPAC can't close a deal before its deadline, it asks shareholders to push the deadline out — typically by 3 or 6 months at a time. Each extension is its own vote and gives holders another redemption opportunity.

How often is this hub updated?

The IPO tracker, vote calendar, and DeSPAC tracker each refresh on independent cadences (hourly to daily). The headline numbers on this page reflect the freshest data from each. For real-time alerts, custom watchlists, and the full data API, see the Boardroom Alpha platform.