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Investment Banking

Banks rake in record $3.4bn in fees as Spac frenzy lures Shaquille O’Neal, Playboy

The money earned in 2020 through Spacs amounts to 48% of total US IPO proceeds

Spac mania has stretched further than big names in finance. Shaquille O'Neal teamed up with others for a Spac launched in October
Spac mania has stretched further than big names in finance. Shaquille O'Neal teamed up with others for a Spac launched in October Photo: Getty Images

The world’s largest investment banks have pulled in over $3.4bn advising on so-called blank cheque companies this year — a record and over five times the amount they made in any year over the past decade.

The surge in special purpose acquisition companies — also dubbed blank cheque firms or Spacs for short — has been a big theme of 2020. Spacs raise money by listing on the stock market and then use the funds from shareholders to fund new acquisitions.

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