Crypto Exchange Bullish Terminates SPAC Merger Deal (2024)

The cryptocurrency exchange Bullish confirmed on Thursday the termination of its agreement with the special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), Far Peak Acquisition Corporation (NYSE: FPAC), thus ending its ambitions to become a public firm.

The two companies mutually agreed on the deal's termination, which was originally announced on 8 July 2021. It would have made Bullish a publicly traded cryptocurrency exchange on the New York Stock Exchange if it materialized.

"Our quest to become a public company is taking longer than expected, but we respect the SEC's ongoing work to lay new digital asset frameworks and clarify industry-specific disclosure and accounting complexities," said the Chairman and CEO of Bullish, Brendan Blumer.

Prominent angel investors like Peter Thiel and hedge fund giants Alan Howard and Louis Bacon back Bullish. Based and licensed in Gibraltar, the cryptocurrency exchange launched its services in December last year. It offers services to eligible users and institutions in some Asian-Pacific, Europe, African, and Latin American jurisdictions. According to its last investor update, the exchange handled $857 million in average daily volume in June this year.

"We are disappointed that we were unable to present the Bullish transaction to our Far Peak shareholders," said Thomas Farley, the Chairman and CEO of Far Peak. Now, the SPAC will not seek a new merger partner and has decided to wind up by 7 March 2023.

Farley added: "Bullish's accomplishments since its launch have lived up to our expectations, and their daily trading volumes highlight their remarkable growth. I am a big believer in Bullish's talented team, their vertically integrated approach to exchange liquidity, and their unwavering commitment to regulation, and the highest standards of industry transparency."

Check out the FMLS21 session on "Opportunities and Pitfalls in M&As."

No More SPAC Deals?

Several other cryptocurrency and trading companies recently terminated their public-listing ambitions through the SPAC merger. Earlier this year, the stablecoin issuer, Circle ended the deal with its SPAC partner this month following Israel-based eToro backing out of such deals that would have put the stocks of the multi-asset broker on an American exchange.

But, the demand for SPAC mergers was not only going down in the United States. Copenhagen-headquartered Saxo Bank recently announced the termination of its SPAC deal, citing timing, that would have taken it public on an Amsterdam-based stock exchange.

The cryptocurrency exchange Bullish confirmed on Thursday the termination of its agreement with the special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), Far Peak Acquisition Corporation (NYSE: FPAC), thus ending its ambitions to become a public firm.

The two companies mutually agreed on the deal's termination, which was originally announced on 8 July 2021. It would have made Bullish a publicly traded cryptocurrency exchange on the New York Stock Exchange if it materialized.

"Our quest to become a public company is taking longer than expected, but we respect the SEC's ongoing work to lay new digital asset frameworks and clarify industry-specific disclosure and accounting complexities," said the Chairman and CEO of Bullish, Brendan Blumer.

Prominent angel investors like Peter Thiel and hedge fund giants Alan Howard and Louis Bacon back Bullish. Based and licensed in Gibraltar, the cryptocurrency exchange launched its services in December last year. It offers services to eligible users and institutions in some Asian-Pacific, Europe, African, and Latin American jurisdictions. According to its last investor update, the exchange handled $857 million in average daily volume in June this year.

"We are disappointed that we were unable to present the Bullish transaction to our Far Peak shareholders," said Thomas Farley, the Chairman and CEO of Far Peak. Now, the SPAC will not seek a new merger partner and has decided to wind up by 7 March 2023.

Farley added: "Bullish's accomplishments since its launch have lived up to our expectations, and their daily trading volumes highlight their remarkable growth. I am a big believer in Bullish's talented team, their vertically integrated approach to exchange liquidity, and their unwavering commitment to regulation, and the highest standards of industry transparency."

Check out the FMLS21 session on "Opportunities and Pitfalls in M&As."

No More SPAC Deals?

Several other cryptocurrency and trading companies recently terminated their public-listing ambitions through the SPAC merger. Earlier this year, the stablecoin issuer, Circle ended the deal with its SPAC partner this month following Israel-based eToro backing out of such deals that would have put the stocks of the multi-asset broker on an American exchange.

But, the demand for SPAC mergers was not only going down in the United States. Copenhagen-headquartered Saxo Bank recently announced the termination of its SPAC deal, citing timing, that would have taken it public on an Amsterdam-based stock exchange.

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Crypto Exchange Bullish Terminates SPAC Merger Deal (2024)

FAQs

Crypto Exchange Bullish Terminates SPAC Merger Deal? ›

Bullish had planned to go public via a merger with special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) Far Peak Acquisition (FPAC). The most recent amendment to the two firms' original July 2021 merger agreement allowed for the right to terminate the deal if it couldn't be completed by the end of 2022.

What happens to SPAC if there is no merger? ›

If sponsors fail to create a combination within two years, the SPAC must be dissolved and all funds returned to the original investors. The sponsors lose not only their risk capital but also the not-insignificant investment of their own time.

Does Block One own Bullish? ›

Block. one is an indirect majority shareholder of Bullish Group, the parent company of Bullish (GI) Limited which operates the Bullish exchange.

What happens to my money if a SPAC fails? ›

Conversely, SPACs have a finite window to successfully complete a merger (normally 18-24 months). If they fail to do so, the SPAC is liquidated, investor money is returned with interest, and the sponsors lose their initial investment.

How many SPACs fail to merge? ›

As of early November this year, Ritter says, just 75 SPAC mergers had occurred. Given the downturn, Ritter estimates two-thirds of the 613 SPACs that IPO'd in 2021 will never complete a merger and will “end up losing everything.” Many have already liquidated, i.e. dissolved and returned money to investors.

How long does a SPAC have to find a merger? ›

SPACs have a specific time frame in which they need to merge with another company and close a deal. This time frame is usually 18 to 24 months. If a SPAC cannot merge during the allotted time, then it liquidates and all funds are returned to investors.

What happens to my shares in a SPAC? ›

If the SPAC does not complete a merger within that time frame, the SPAC liquidates and the IPO proceeds are returned to the public shareholders. Once a target company is identified and a merger is announced, the SPAC's public shareholders may alternatively vote against the transaction and elect to redeem their shares.

Why do SPACs fall after merger? ›

We find that SPAC costs are not borne by the companies they take public, but instead by the SPAC shareholders who hold shares at the time SPACs merge. These investors experience steep post-merger losses, while SPAC sponsors profit handsomely.

What is the downside of a SPAC? ›

The Cons of SPAC Investing. For most SPACs, founders get to keep 20% of the equity so there is considerable dilution for the company that has been acquired. Also, the SPAC sponsor only gets to keep their 20% if they consummate a deal within two years. Otherwise, they must return the capital.

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