Special purpose acquisition companies are not a new phenomenon. They have existed in various forms since the 1980s. But recently, Spacs have been enjoying a sharp rise in popularity as another avenue to access equity capital markets, particularly in the US.
Spacs are companies which are incorporated solely for making acquisitions of other corporate entities. They often target one particular sector or market, and those who sponsor them will profess industry experience and knowledge of the market to help seal the acquisitions.