The SPAC Podcast: Special Purpose Acquisition Company

In this episode of The SPAC Podcast, Machua “Motsch” Millett, Chief Innovation Officer at Lockton Companies, outlines the critical role brokers play in guiding boards through the D&O insurance process before, during, and after a SPAC transaction. Machua shares how his team approaches the role as a true risk advisor, not just an insurance placement firm. From educating boards on lifecycle risks...

In this episode of The SPAC Podcast, James shares how the investor base for de-SPACs has shifted and why sponsors must focus on attracting long-term, fundamental investors. James explains that while redemption risk is always present, the “unicorn” is the fundamental investor who buys in between announcement and closing. He notes that some of the most successful deals he’s worked on, those with min...

In this episode of The SPAC Podcast, Nick Morgan, Partner at Paul Hastings LLP and co-founder of ICAN (Investor Choice Advocates Network), critiques the SEC’s use of regulation by enforcement, particularly in the SPAC context. Nick points to the Momentus Stable Road case of 2021 as a clear example, noting Commissioner Hester Peirce’s concerns about the practice. Instead of transparent rulemaking u...

In this episode of The SPAC Podcast , Patrick Sturgeon, Managing Partner at Brookline Capital Markets, explains what separates strong SPAC sponsors from passive ones. He shares why the best sponsors bring more than just capital, offering industry knowledge, operational experience, and access to networks that can help companies grow. Patrick highlights how valuable sponsors understand the challenge...

In this episode of The SPAC Podcast, Adeel Rouf breaks down the real risk-reward tradeoff that comes with being a serial SPAC sponsor. Drawing on deep experience leading multiple SPACs, Adeel outlines the critical responsibilities and vulnerabilities that sponsors must prepare for if they want to succeed in today’s highly competitive landscape. He emphasizes that sponsors can’t rely solely on bank...

In this episode of The SPAC Podcast, Louis Camhi lays out a candid and nuanced outlook for the SPAC market heading into 2025 and beyond. He explains that while SPACs are simply another tool in the capital markets toolbox, recent macro events, including the 2024 election cycle and early 2025 volatility, have temporarily held back broader recovery. Louis points to signs of momentum returning: an upt...

In this episode of The SPAC Podcast, Louis Camhi breaks down the evolving relationship between SPACs and the crypto space and where investor attention is shifting next. He highlights recent high-profile transactions, including Cantor Fitzgerald’s CEP deal, which gave investors exposure to Bitcoin through a listed equity vehicle. Louis also points out that while digital asset treasury models initia...

In this episode of The SPAC Podcast, Chaz, founder of Churchwell, explains why D&O insurance is highly customizable and why wording matters more than most sponsors realize. He shares real-world examples of how missing a single phrase, like “reverse merger,” has led carriers to deny SPAC-related claims. Chaz also describes how his firm works with clients post-de-SPAC, leveraging top D&O cov...

In this episode of The SPAC Podcast, James outlines what makes the “ideal” SPAC target and why it’s often more about strategic fit and synergies than sector. For James, public-company-ready management is the non-negotiable starting point. But beyond that, he describes scenarios where SPACs create unique value: A company like William Scotsman, with $120M EBITDA and a bolt-on acquisition opportunity...

In this episode of The SPAC Podcast, Nick Morgan, Partner at Paul Hastings LLP and co-founder of ICAN (Investor Choice Advocates Network), critiques the SEC’s practice of regulating by enforcement. Nick cites the Momentus Stable Road case (2021) as a prime example, echoing Commissioner Hester Peirce’s concerns that enforcement actions have been used to make policy in the SPAC space. Instead of cas...

In this episode of The SPAC Podcast, Caitlyn Van Valin, Vice President at Odyssey Trust, shares her outlook for the SPAC market over the remainder of the year. With Odyssey working on half of all active SPACs, Caitlyn provides a unique perspective on the pipeline. She notes that while SEC turnaround times have created a temporary bottleneck, the backlog of filed S-1s points to a very active Q3 and...

In this episode of The SPAC Podcast , Patrick Sturgeon, Managing Partner at Brookline Capital Markets, shares his advice for private company CEOs considering a SPAC merger. He stresses the importance of conducting due diligence on the sponsor team, while also being honest about whether the company is truly prepared to operate as a public entity. Patrick outlines the additional requirements that co...

In this episode of The SPAC Podcast, Chaz, founder of Churchwell, explains what sets his firm apart from the big-name insurance agencies like Lockton, Marsh, and Aon. While large agencies focus their attention on billion-dollar companies, Churchwell specializes in small- to mid-cap public companies, the very clients who often feel overlooked despite spending millions in premiums. Chaz shares how C...

In this episode of The SPAC Podcast , Patrick Sturgeon, Managing Partner at Brookline Capital Markets, explains why some companies may choose a SPAC over a traditional IPO or direct listing. While SPACs are not always the best option, Patrick highlights the unique flexibility they offer for certain situations. He discusses how SPACs allow companies to phase in capital raising through mechanisms li...

In this episode of The SPAC Podcast, we hear from Caitlyn Van Valin, Vice President at Odyssey Trust, on how her team is redefining what it means to be a responsive, scalable partner in the SPAC ecosystem. Caitlyn shares how Odyssey has grown into one of the most trusted firms in the space handling over half of all new SPAC listings in 2024. With roots in both transfer agent and trust services, Od...

In this episode of The SPAC Podcast, Adeel Rouf dives into two of his highest-conviction sectors for upcoming SPAC activity: healthcare (specifically biotech) and FinTech. While AI and crypto dominate the headlines, Adeel makes the case for why some of the most overlooked, and deeply discounted, opportunities exist in these quieter corners of the market. Biotech, he notes, has been heavily discoun...

In this episode of The SPAC Podcast, we sit down with Louis Camhi, who shares the unexpected path that led him from covering fintech at major hedge funds to becoming a focused SPAC investor and fund manager. His story starts in 2014, when a call from a friend working on a SPAC deal sparked his curiosity. What followed was a deep dive into SPAC structures from units and warrants to downside protect...

In this episode of The SPAC Podcast, Adeel Rouf opens up about the biggest lessons he’s learned across more than 10 SPAC transactions. Rather than highlighting wins, Adeel shares candid stories of missteps that taught him what truly matters in successful SPAC sponsorship. From rushing private companies to public markets before they were ready, to underestimating the pressure of quarterly reporting...

In this episode of The SPAC Podcast, Louis Camhi tackles one of the most pressing questions in the capital markets today: What are the biggest misperceptions about SPACs and how do we correct the record? Louis explains the crucial difference between a SPAC and a de-SPAC, outlining why the redemption feature makes pre-deal SPACs more like convertible bonds with downside protection, while post-deal...

In this episode of The SPAC Podcast, Machua “Motsch” Millett, Chief Innovation Officer at Lockton Companies, shares his journey from Harvard-trained securities lawyer to leading expert in management and professional liability insurance for companies transitioning from private to public. With over 15 years as a broker, and prior experience defending insurers in federal and state court, Machua has s...

In this episode of The SPAC Podcast, Adeel Rouf shares what he looks for in an ideal SPAC target and why many companies miss the mark. Drawing from experience across more than 10 SPACs, Adeel explains the key characteristics that indicate a company is truly public-ready. According to Adeel, it’s not just about industry leadership or revenue growth. A solid SPAC target needs to have audited financi...

In this episode of The SPAC Podcast, Claudius Tsang, CEO of A SPAC Holdings Group Corp, discusses the unique challenges and opportunities of raising capital in the U.S. as an Asian SPAC sponsor. Claudius explains the importance of educating U.S.-based investors on the credibility and track record of emerging market sponsors especially when those investors may be unfamiliar with Asian-led SPAC team...

In this episode of The SPAC Podcast, we spotlight Claudius Tsang, CEO of A SPAC Holdings Group Corp, and one of the most active SPAC sponsors in Asia. Claudius shares how he transitioned from private equity into the SPAC world, and what motivated him to launch seven Nasdaq-listed SPACs between 2021 and today. With over two decades of experience in private equity across Greater China and Emerging M...

In this episode of The SPAC Podcast , Mohammad Hasham, Partner and West Region Leader for Capital Markets & IPO at CohnReznick, shares best practices for sponsors and management teams preparing for a SPAC transaction. He explains why engaging experienced advisors early in the process is critical, and how cutting corners can create costly problems later during audits. Mohammad also highlights t...

In this episode of The SPAC Podcast , co-hosts Michael Blankenship and Joshua Bruce Wilson are joined by Cayman Islands attorney Alexandra Low for a deep dive into the evolving landscape of De-SPAC structures. Alexandra shares her on-the-ground experience advising on a wide range of SPAC transactions—from TopCo listings and cross-border mergers to deregistration strategies and post-merger tax plan...