Episodes

Derek is a Partner at Centri Business Consulting and the leader of the firm’s SEC, Financial Reporting & SPAC Practice. He has more than 25 years of accounting experience in both public and private industries. He joined Centr...

While the promote is often the most discussed form of compensation for SPAC sponsors, it’s not the only one. In this episode of The SPAC Podcast , we take a closer look at additional forms of sponsor compensation that may exi...

Co-sponsorships are becoming more common in the SPAC world—but are they effective? In this episode of The SPAC Podcast , we explore how co-sponsor structures are being used to combine financial backing with operational depth....

Not every SPAC reaches the finish line, and sponsors face a wide range of challenges along the way. In this episode of The SPAC Podcast , we explore patterns we’re seeing in the market that could impact a sponsor’s ability to...

Launching a SPAC starts long before the IPO hits the market. Sponsors make foundational decisions that shape the deal’s structure—and its reception by investors. In this episode of The SPAC Podcast , we explore the key elemen...

In the SPAC process, securing a PIPE—Private Investment in Public Equity—is a key step in bringing a deal across the finish line. PIPE investors not only provide essential capital but also help validate the target company’s v...

This episode outlines five characteristics frequently seen among SPAC sponsors in the market today. These include having a verifiable track record in M&A, IPOs, or public markets; committing personal capital alongside aligned...

In this episode, we explore the key factors that influence how SPAC sponsors select an acquisition target. Many sponsors focus on sectors where they have deep expertise or meaningful networks, helping them assess opportunitie...

In today’s episode, we break down the role of sponsor lockups in SPAC transactions. Lockups are contractual periods where sponsors are restricted from selling their shares, often ranging from 6 to 24 months post-merger. These...

In today’s SPAC market, we’re seeing more sponsors incorporate performance-based earn-outs into their promote structures. These earn-outs typically delay sponsor equity until certain milestones are reached, such as stock pric...

Backing a SPAC starts with backing the right sponsor team. But how can you tell if something’s off? In this quick episode of The SPAC Podcast , we walk through the top red flags to watch for before trusting a sponsor with you...

Who qualifies to lead a SPAC? It’s a question we hear often—and the answer might surprise you. In this short episode of The SPAC Podcast , we break down who can become a SPAC sponsor and what truly sets successful sponsors ap...

You might think SPAC sponsors just show up and collect a payday. But the good ones? They put real skin in the game. Most sponsors invest millions of dollars in risk capital just to launch the IPO. If they don’t close a deal i...

Let’s talk about the SPAC ‘promote.’ Sponsors typically receive 20% of the company’s post-IPO equity. That’s the reward — or the ‘promote’ — for building the deal. But here’s the controversy: if the deal underperforms, the sp...

Who’s really in charge — the sponsor or the CEO? Before the merger, the sponsor runs the show: raising capital, finding the target, and structuring the deal. But once the merger is complete? The CEO of the acquired company ta...

Let’s break it down — what exactly is a SPAC sponsor? A SPAC sponsor is the mastermind behind the deal. They form the entity, fund the setup, go public, and search for the private company to merge with. Think of them as the a...

“Welcome to the Public Markets” Welcome back to The SPAC Podcast. This is our final episode in the SPECIAL series — a framework covering the seven key stages of the SPAC process. We’ve walked through: S: Sponsor Setup P: Publ...

“Shareholder Vote & Redemption Window” Welcome back to The SPAC Podcast. We’re almost at the final stage of our SPECIAL series. So far, we’ve covered: S: Sponsor Setup P: Public Raise E: Evaluate Targets C: Combination Planni...

Welcome back to The SPAC Podcast. We’re nearly through our walk through the SPECIAL stages of a SPAC. We’ve already covered: S: Sponsor Setup P: Public Raise E: Evaluate Targets C: Combination Planning Today, we focus on I: I...

“Planning the Business Combination” Welcome back to The SPAC Podcast. We’re continuing our SPECIAL series — covering the lifecycle of a SPAC from formation to public company. So far, we’ve explored: S: Sponsor Setup P: Public...

E: Evaluate Targets. Once capital is raised, the search for an acquisition begins. Sponsors typically have 18–24 months to identify and close a deal. During this period, the team evaluates private companies that meet their st...

P: Public Raise (IPO) Welcome back to The SPAC Podcast. We’re continuing our walk through the SPAC process using the SPECIAL framework — seven key stages that define how a SPAC works. Last episode, we covered S for Sponsor Se...

Welcome back to The SPAC Podcast. In this series, we’re breaking down the seven stages of the SPAC process using the mnemonic SPECIAL — one letter at a time. In this first stage, S stands for Sponsor Setup. Every SPAC starts ...

Welcome to The SPAC Podcast. Before we dive into our SPECIAL series, let’s answer the obvious question: what is a SPAC? A SPAC is a Special Purpose Acquisition Company — a publicly traded shell corporation created for the pur...