The year 2020 has witnessed several trend reversals due to the pandemic Along with the change in the field of work culture and lifestyle: Law Dissertation, NUS, Singapore

The year 2020 has witnessed several trend reversals due to the pandemic. Along with the change in the field of work culture and lifestyle, a notable shift is palpable in the investment world. A significant change noted in the IPO and M&A field is the rise of Special Purpose Acquisition Companies.

Reportedly, 2020 has been its year for those looking to invest. Should the economy continues to improve, SPACs in 2021 could be as solid as they were in 2020. Although the outlook for these investment vehicles looks rosy, as far as the target companies looking for access to public capital market are concerned a question inevitably arises as to whether a SPAC can be a real contender to traditional IPOs throne or not.

Therefore, the overarching aim of this paper is to revisit the SPAC institute and the regulatory frameworks which govern it. The general overview will be based on an Anglo-European perspective and, where possible, a brief introduction to the SPACs in the Asian context. Nonetheless, this dissertation intends to ultimately engage in critical analysis, from a target company perspective, whether a SPAC could be regarded as a better opportunity than an IPO or it simply serves different interests and scenarios.