2020 has been a record-breaking year for U.S. special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) activity, marked by significant growth in both the size and number of IPOs, novel changes in SPAC terms and the continued development of creative financing arrangements providing SPACs with capital incremental to IPO proceeds. These signs suggest SPACs will be more frequent and formidable bidders in the M&A market, competing for larger deals than they have in the past.

SPACs, also known as blank check companies, are non-operating entities formed to identify and complete a business combination, often in a targeted industry or sector, within a specified period of time after the SPAC's IPO. IPO proceeds are held in a trust until a business combination is identified, then used to fund the transaction together with proceeds raised through other financing agreements.