Shares of Digital World Acquisition Corp (DWAC), the special purpose acquisition which plans to take former President Donald Trump's social media venture public slid 10% on Monday afternoon after short-seller Iceberg Research announced it was betting against the stock.
"We are short $DWAC," wrote Iceberg Research in a tweet.
DWAC shares had jumped more than 800% over the span of two sessions last week after Digital World Acquisition announced it was taking Trump Media and Technology Group (TMTG) public. The social media company will create a platform to “standup” against “Big Tech,” according to Trump, chairman of TMTG.
Trump will be receiving a 58% stake in his future public company, according to Bloomberg. Iceberg Research wrote, "Trump will renegotiate, at the expense of $DWAC retail holders," citing the news report.
We are short $DWAC. Now that initial excitement has passed, we see only risks for investors in near future. Based on Trump's track record, at current price, renegotiation is likely to keep more of the merged company for him.
No opinion on the probability of success of TMTG. But SPAC holders don't own a piece of this project yet. Trump has leverage, not them.
The blank check company, which has yet to seek shareholder approval to close on the merger, ballooned to more than $8 billion in valuation on Friday.
The initial press release highlighted the “transaction values Trump Media & Technology Group at an initial enterprise value of $875 Million, with a potential additional earnout of $825 Million in additional shares (at the valuation they are granted) for a cumulative valuation of up to $1.7 Billion depending on the performance of the stock price post-business combination.”
Digital World Acquisition CEO Patrick Orlando told Reuters a regulatory filing with more details on the merger will be published "soon."
Shares of Digital World Acquisition closed at $83.86 on Monday.