Return of the SPAC

In the second part of our SPAC series, we explore why so many companies are choosing this method of going public via a Special Purpose Acquisition Vehicle. Jefferies’ Storm Duncan discusses the different angles that can make a SPAC the path of interest for a company that’s ready to go public. Plus: we hear from Andrew Paradise, the CEO of the visionary mobile gaming platform Skillz, about why the SPAC route was the best pathway for them.Featuring:Storm Duncan is Jefferies Global Head of Technology Mergers and Acquisitions, and Global Head of Mobility Technology Andrew Paradise is the founder and CEO of Skillz.

With 2020 nearly behind us, we get insights from Cully Davis about the twists, turns and silver linings of a particularly active year for capital markets. How did companies navigate one of the most challenging environments in years - with many turning a crisis into opportunity? And what do their experiences teach us about how to not just survive unprecedented times - but even thrive in them?Featuring: Cully Davis, Jefferies’ Vice Chairman of Equity Capital Markets & Head of West Coast Technology Investment Banking

2020 was a year that felt like a decade. And among many "unprecedented" and "unexpected" turns of events, we dive into two other surprises - the resurgence of active management and the rise of outsourced trading. Leor Shapiro and Paul Covello explain why these themes are best poised to accelerate in the years ahead.Featuring: Leor Shapiro, Jefferies’ Global Head of Capital IntelligencePaul Covello Jefferies’ Global Head of Outsourced Trading

In the second part of our ESG series, we look at the companies trying to score big in the ESG universe. The NHL’s Omar Mitchell gives us the play-by-play on how the pro hockey league is going green, and why that matters so much for the sustainability of their business. Jefferies’ strategist Lauren Puffer talks about the future of ESG investing, and how company leaders can balance the E, S and G in years to come.Featuring: Lauren Puffer is an ESG Strategist at Jefferies.Omar Mitchell is the Vice President of Sustainable Infrastructure and Growth Initiatives at the NHL. 

ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) investing is one of the biggest trends in the investing universe right now. What was previously thought of as a lower return prospect has proven itself in recent years to be making big money for investors and socially responsible companies alike. But can an investment truly be both sustainable and lucrative? And how do investors determine what investments really live up to their ESG values?Jefferies’ research analyst Laurence Alexander and Flat World Partners' Kate Starr connect the dots from ESG ratings to their robust returns, and look to a more  transparent future for ESG ratings.Featuring: Laurence Alexander is an Equity Research Analyst at JefferiesKate Starr is the co-founder and Chief Investment Officer of Flat World Partners

SPAC - Special Purpose Acquisition Company – is one of 2020’s top capital markets headlines. After growing in popularity over the last few years, this year they have skyrocketed as a route for companies to go public – to about half of all U.S. IPO volume. Why is a product that has been around for years something we are reading about weekly now? And how did these SPACs evolve over the past decade? Jefferies’ experts Scott Skidmore and Tina Pappas connect the dots - sharing everything you need to know about how SPACs work, why they’re popular, and whether they’re here to stay.Featuring: - Scott Skidmore is Jefferies Head of US Capital Markets- Tina Pappas is Jefferies Managing director of Equities and Capital Markets

From the team that brought you Invisible Forces comes Connecting the Dots, a brand new podcast to help make sense of the biggest trends in capital markets. Join host Shannon Murphy in conversation with Jefferies top investment experts and business leaders to connect the dots on everything from why SPAC is the word of the day to the importance of capital allocation to why carbon neutrality is the new standard for companies across sectors. Connecting the Dots reaches across the globe to understand the trending deals and transactions shaping the global economy.