Special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs) have been around for decades, but in the spring of 2020, they became an extremely popular alternative route for private companies to go public. The subsequent record-breaking surge in SPAC issuance and merger activity that followed was astounding by all measures and led 2020 to be widely dubbed, “the year of the SPAC.
In the October issue of our monthly flagship publication, we feature:On the Record by Chief Investment Officer Tony Roth, who looks back on a nerve-racking month filled with whipsaw market volatility. Plus, weaker consumer activity led his team to revise down its 2021 full-year GDP forecast from 7.5% to 5.8%. He analyzes the four critical risks that continue to be at play and their potential impact on the team’s 9- to 12-month outlook.
Private markets. Sounds like a secret club. And in many ways, it is—but today we are going to lift the veil of secrecy and let light in upon the mystery. To help break down this complex topic, we have Senior Portfolio Manager Jordan Strauss and Senior Research Analyst Julian Freeman. Let’s first lay out the basics. Julian, what exactly is meant by private markets investing—and how does it differ from public markets?Private markets (PM) fits within the alternatives asset class.
