Fintech-Focused SPAC Lafayette Digital Prices $250m IPO In Nasdaq Debut

Lafayette Digital Acquisition Corp. I, a newly formed special purpose acquisition company focused on financial technology, said it had priced its initial public offering (IPO) at $250 million, adding to a tentative revival in new SPAC listings in the US.

The Cayman Islands-registered company sold 25 million units at $10 each, with each unit consisting of one Class A ordinary share and one-quarter of a redeemable warrant.

The units are expected to begin trading on Nasdaq on Jan. 9 under the ticker symbol “ZKPU,” the company said. Once the units separate, the Class A shares and warrants are expected to trade under the symbols “ZKP” and “ZKPW,” respectively.

Each whole warrant will be exercisable 30 days after the completion of Lafayette’s initial business combination and will allow holders to purchase one Class A share at $11.50, subject to adjustments.

BTIG acted as sole book-running manager for the offering. Lafayette granted the underwriter a 45-day option to buy up to an additional 3.75 million units to cover over-allotments.

The offering is expected to close on Jan. 12, subject to customary conditions.

Lafayette said its registration statement was declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Jan. 8. As with other blank-check companies, the proceeds of the IPO will be placed in a trust account and used to fund a future acquisition or merger.

The company said it intends to focus primarily on technology businesses, with a particular emphasis on fintech, though it is not restricted to a single subsector.

Its management team is led by Samuel A. Jernigan IV, who serves as chief executive officer and chairman.

SPACs raise capital through IPOs with the aim of later merging with a private company, allowing the target to become publicly listed without a traditional flotation.

After a sharp boom in 2020 and 2021, issuance fell dramatically amid regulatory scrutiny, poor post-merger performance and tighter financial conditions.

Lafayette’s IPO suggests cautious interest is returning to the SPAC market, particularly for vehicles pitching sector focus and disciplined dealmaking.

However, investor appetite remains selective, and fintech-focused SPACs face a narrower pool of targets after years of consolidation and valuation resets.

Success will likely hinge on Lafayette’s ability to secure a credible acquisition within the typical two-year deadline while avoiding the dilution and execution risks that have weighed on earlier SPAC sponsors.