SPAC Warrants

Merging with a publicly-listed SPAC is a way to navigate some of the difficulties involved in acquisitions. If the acquisition is not completed within two years, the SPAC must return the funds to investors. Those who invest in a SPAC typically buy “units” consisting of shares and warrants, or even fractional warrants, such as a quarter of a whole warrant per unit. The difference between warrants and units is that both warrants and common stock are usually included in a single unit’s package. Traders should investigate the relevant tax treatment to trade or exercise SPAC warrants in their jurisdiction, including the cost basis of the warrants. Private placement SPAC warrants are also available, frequently at a discount and sometimes with cashless exercise. However, these private warrants are more relevant to SPAC sponsors than to standard retail traders.

Private Investment in Public Equity (PIPE) is frequently used by institutional traders to finance SPACs. Once the merger is completed, the unit is divided into shares and warrants in a process known as “De-SPAC-ing.”

Examples of SPAC Companies

Some examples of SPAC companies that have issued warrants include:

• Ajax I
• ACQ Bure AB
• Lakestar SPAC
• Longview Acquisition II
• Thoma Bravo Advantage
• Empower Ltd (EMPW.U)
• KKR Acquisition Holdings
• Altimeter Growth Corp. (AGC)
• dMY Technology Group Inc.

• Churchill Capital Corp.IV (CCIV)
• Fusion Acquisition Corp. (FUSE)
• Reinvent Technology Partners (RTP)
• New Providence Acquisition Corp. (NPA)
• Natural Order Acquisition Corp. (NOAC)
• Cohn Robbins Holdings Corp. (CRHC.U)
• Digital World Acquisition Corp. (DWAC)
• Northern Genesis Acquisition Corp. (NGA)
• Pershing Square Tontine Holdings (PSTH)
• Foley Trasimene Acquisition Corp.II (BFT.U)
• Mudrick Capital Acquisition Corporation (MUDS)
• Vertex Technology Acquisition Corporation (VTAC)

How Do SPAC Warrants Work?

SPAC warrants function similarly to how warrants function in general.They are a contract that promises the buyer that they will receive a certain number of shares (in the SPAC’s own stock) if the share price rises above a given level within a particular period.Much like options trading, the buyer has a right, but not an obligation, to take up this offer.For this right, the buyer will have paid a certain amount for a “unit” as part of the SPAC’s IPO.

The difference between a warrant and a standard option is that warrants are typically issued by the companies themselves, rather than by an exchange.This means warrants are less standardized than options, so you should always check the terms and rules of each one before you invest.

For example, check how many shares you are entitled to for each warrant exercised.

Some warrants will be exchangeable 1:1 with shares, but this is not always the case.

Next, check whether the warrant is detachable i.e. whether the warrants can be sold without also selling the shares.

Furthermore, you should establish whether there are any forced redemption features.

SPAC warrants can often be traded through a broker and sold before their expiry date/maturity.

A commonly-asked question is “why do SPACs issue warrants?” Primarily, it’s because SPAC warrants offer an additional incentive for retail and institutional traders to invest in the company, as they have the potential to make profit if the share price of the SPAC increases following the merger.

Many traders based in the UK, US or Australia often follow finance and investment news stories closely in order to identify the newest and best SPACs and SPAC warrants to buy.

Note, that units are generally not issued without a warrant or a fraction of a warrant.

SPAC Warrants Example

The purchase price of a SPAC unit is initially $10.The warrant issued as part of that unit has an exercise or “strike” price of $11.50 per share.Once the merger has taken place, the price of the warrant rises to $14.50.With the warrant being in-the-money and a 1:1 ratio of warrants to shares exercised, this results in a profit of $3 per warrant on the exercise date.

This potential to profit is what incentivises many traders to invest in SPAC warrants.This is an example of a public warrant: founder warrants are settled slightly differently, but they are less relevant to retail traders.

Do note that in theory, there is no limit to how high SPAC warrants can go, but their value can also go close to zero if the SPAC liquidates.

Key Characteristics of SPAC Warrants

• Warrant holders usually do not have any voting or dividend rights.
• The underlying stock price and warrant price will tend to move in tandem, so markets with high volatility will often have warrants that are also highly volatile.
• If the merger is unsuccessful, the value of the warrant will usually end up being close to zero. Some have quoted a figure of 20% of SPACs failing to find a target.
• SPAC companies have to issue new shares when warrants are exercised, which means that the shares are dilutive.
• Although SPAC warrants theoretically have an expiration date up to five years after the acquisition/post-merger, most will have early redemption clauses e.g. a clause stating that the warrant must be redeemed within thirty days if the stock price remains above a certain level for a set period of time.

History

Warrants became popular during the 1990s in countries such as Germany, France and Italy. SPACs came into existence at a similar time. Since then, their popularity has grown to the extent that SPAC IPOs raised a whopping $162.5 billion in 2021. However, this growth also means that SPACs have begun to draw greater regulatory scrutiny from bodies such as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

In March 2022, the SEC proposed rules to improve disclosures in relation to SPACs.

It’s important to be aware of the risk that a ruling could negatively impact the SPAC market, resulting in fewer companies choosing to go public through this IPO route.

Benefits of SPAC Warrants

• The warrant market is generally very liquid.
• Unlimited profit potential if the performance is strong.
• Can assist with diversification as warrants can be cheaper than buying the underlying asset outright.
• A warrant can generate more profit in a given period than simply buying the underlying asset due to the gearing element.

Drawbacks of SPAC Warrants

• May not be suitable for beginners.
• Limited standardization across SPAC warrants means that investors have to pay close attention to the terms of the contract.
• The gearing element can also work the other way with losses exaggerated compared to investing in the underlying asset.
• SPAC warrants sometimes trade at a discount relative to their equivalent common stock because the merger could fail, which usually renders the warrant completely worthless.

Comparison with Other Types of Warrants and Stocks

The alternative to a SPAC warrant would be to purchase a standard call or put warrant with a stock, commodity, index or currency pair as the underlying asset.

Arguably these standard warrants could be considered less risky than a SPAC warrant because their success is not dependent on a merger being formed.

However, other investors would argue that SPAC warrants represent better value for money.

In one “unit” issued by the SPAC, a warrant (or fraction of a warrant) is given in addition to a share of the company.

This could also be considered “two for the price of one.”

Many SPAC warrants and units will come with early redemption clauses, whereas most standard warrants are open-ended.

These early redemption clauses can limit the profit potential of SPAC warrants and restrict the growth of their valuation.

When it comes to SPAC warrants vs common stocks/shares, which is better?

Trading SPAC warrants is often more accessible to investors with less capital.

Many traders even ask why SPAC warrants are so cheap relative to their potential returns.

SPAC units also come with both warrants and common stock combined in a single unit.

However, SPAC warrants could also be considered riskier than trading common stocks and shares.

Strategies

If you are investing in a SPAC through an IPO, there is no complex strategy involved apart from undertaking due diligence and ensuring that the SPAC is being run by trusted and experienced professionals.

The value of your SPAC investment will largely be determined by whether a merger is possible or not.

If a merger doesn’t occur, investors will not get a return on their money.

Often, SPACs will not identify a specific company they are looking to merge with in advance, which makes the trust element even more important.

Those trading SPAC warrants on the open market can adopt a trading strategy. This may involve a focus on fundamental analysis, and examining the underlying strength and intrinsic value of the SPAC and the company it has merged with. It could also involve looking at earnings reports, company accounts, or a statement the CEO has made to understand how much the company is really worth.

Those who choose to day trade SPAC warrants may want to use a technical analysis trading strategy to execute profitable trades. This could involve identifying a price range that the warrant/stock is fluctuating within, and buying SPAC warrants once it breaks its resistance level at the top of this range. It could also mean using a 200-day moving average to identify the trend, and either buying a SPAC warrant if this trend line begins to slope upwards or selling it if it begins to slope downwards.

How To Get Started

1. Find A Broker

Where can you buy SPAC warrants? Many online trading brokers such as Trading 212 do not offer SPAC warrants. However, brokers such as Webull, Robinhood, Fidelity, and Interactive Brokers do offer these warrants on their platforms.

Research the other features that these brokers offer such as trading platform indicators and charts, demo accounts, and education sections.

Also, check the commissions or spread fees that they charge, as well as any deposit or withdrawal fees, overnight fees and currency conversion charges.

2.Identify An Appropriate SPAC Warrant

Most retail investors acquiring SPAC warrants do so on the open market rather than through an IPO. Check the broker’s platform and any relevant external sites to identify potential opportunities. Ensure that the SPAC is run by trusted professionals. Be wary of the cheapest SPAC warrants: it is important to get a good price, but they also need to be a safe warrant. However, you may find some genuinely undervalued SPAC warrants on websites that have lists of the lowest-priced warrants e.g. those trading under $1.

To understand the theoretical valuation of a warrant, you can use an online price calculator in which various variables are inputted such as implied volatility and the pricing model. This can help identify its fair value. Delta can be used to analyze the connection between the warrant price and the underlying market.

Always read all the terms of SPAC warrants before you buy them, including any clauses regarding early redemption of the warrant.

3.Monitor The Market

Once you have purchased a SPAC warrant, you will need to monitor the market closely to decide when to either sell or redeem the warrant. Look at the fundamentals of the company to see whether there is real growth potential after any merger. A successful SPAC warrant investment will consist of a company evolving into a profit-making machine following the merger, and the company’s share price rising rapidly thereafter.

Check out discussions on sites such as Reddit and Twitter to learn what traders consider to be the best SPAC warrants.

Yahoo Finance, ZoomInfo, and even YouTube may also provide relevant information and tips for new investors.

Where Can I Learn More About SPACs And SPAC Warrants?

Brokers and investment companies such as Degiro, Schwab, and TD Ameritrade have information about SPAC warrants on their websites. Finance, accounting, and investment-related sites and companies such as SoFi, BDO, KPMG, EY, Deloitte, and PwC also offer educational content in which SPAC warrants are explained.

Similar types of websites may be able to provide a list of all new SPAC warrants and their prices. Ultimately, the decision to buy any SPAC warrant will depend on your risk management tolerance and understanding of how SPACs work.

Final Word On Trading SPAC Warrants

This overview should help you improve your understanding of the increased relevance of SPAC warrants in today’s world of investing. Whether you choose to trade on Robinhood, Fidelity, E*TRADE, or Vanguard, SPAC warrants provide traders with an excellent opportunity to make sizable profits. However, ensure that you do your research and only use a trusted SPAC issuer when purchasing this style of warrant.

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