The Latest SPAC News and Rumors: July 1, 2021

Below is a daily summary of links to the latest SPAC news and rumors gathered across the web. 

Latest SPAC News: Billionaire Fertitta adds restaurants, aquariums to SPAC deal, TPG eyes transaction with SPAC, and electric-vehicle startup FreeWire is in talks to go public with DHC 

Billionaire Fertitta to Add Restaurants, Aquariums to SPAC Deal

Billionaire Tilman Fertitta’s deal to take much of his Fertitta Entertainment Inc. empire public through a merger with a SPAC has been expanded to include Catch Hospitality Group, Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier and Mastro’s Restaurants.

The transaction with Fast Acquisition Corp. will also add aquarium restaurants and steakhouse chain Vic & Anthony’s. The combined entity will be valued at about $8.6 billion, including debt, up from $6.6 billion in the original deal announced in February.

TPG Considers Options for Going Public

Alternative asset manager TPG is looking at a plan to go public through a conventional IPO or a transaction with a SPAC.

The San Francisco-based firm is more likely to choose an IPO, the source told Bloomberg, asking not to be identified because the matter is private. The company could be valued at around $10 billion, but a decision has yet to be finalized.

EV-Charging Startup FreeWire Is in Blank-Check Merger Talks

Electric-vehicle charging and power startup FreeWire Technologies Inc. is in talks to go public through a merger with blank-check firm DHC Acquisition Corp.

DHC is discussing raising new equity to support a transaction, which is slated to value the combined entity at more than $1 billion.