Bird Reportedly Explores Going Public via SPAC

Rachel Uranga

Rachel Uranga is dot.LA's Managing Editor, News. She is a former Mexico-based market correspondent at Reuters and has worked for several Southern California news outlets, including the Los Angeles Business Journal and the Los Angeles Daily News. She has covered everything from IPOs to immigration. Uranga is a graduate of the Columbia School of Journalism and California State University Northridge. A Los Angeles native, she lives with her husband, son and their felines.

Bird Reportedly Explores Going Public via SPAC

Bird Rides is looking to go public via a blank-check company, Bloomberg reported Monday. The Santa Monica-based e-scooter unicorn is working with Credit Suisse Group and is in early-stage discussion on a deal with a special acquisition company or SPAC, the news outlet said citing sources close to the matter. Those sources said there is no guarantee a deal will go through.

But, the move could provide a lifeline for venture-backed Bird, which is still not profitable and has been trying to slim down during the pandemic. dot.LA reported last month that the company is looking to offload its headquarters and that Fidelity Investments marked down the company's value by 17% since the beginning of the year.

Credit Suisse declined to comment but Bird released a statement to Bloomberg playing down the report.

"We have no plans to go public this year and remain dedicated to partnering deeply with the cities and neighborhoods we serve during this significant time of need —providing free rides to front line health care workers and discounted rides to community members — and building a sustainable business that is complementary to public transit while continuing our path to profitability."

Bird became the fastest company in history to reach unicorn status in 2018. Shortly after that, it achieved a $2 billion valuation in less than a year. But in March, it abruptly laid off 406 employees via a Zoom call that former employees described as dystopian. Headquarters was particularly hard hit, with the layoffs reducing the staff by more than half.

SPACS have become a popular way to go public this year, providing a quick route to Wall Street without the typical underwriters. But the recent decline of electric car maker Nikola has raised questions about projections companies make as they go out for a SPAC.

https://twitter.com/racheluranga
rachel@dot.la

Subscribe to our newsletter to catch every headline.

How Los Angeles Ports Are Decarbonizing Shipping with Hydrogen Fuel Cells and Battery Electric Tech
Evan Xie

Back in 2017, the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach announced plans to go zero emissions. The pledge, which built on the ports’ 2006 clean air goals, was an ambitious one, and officials estimated the cost of eliminating air pollution could reach $14 billion. Still, the plan, which involves transitioning to zero-emission terminal equipment by 2030 and zero-emission trucks by 2035, represented a critical step in the fight against climate change.

Read moreShow less

Adwoa Beauty Founder Julian Addo On Leaving Corporate To Start Her Textured Hair Care Brand

Yasmin Nouri

Yasmin is the host of the "Behind Her Empire" podcast, focused on highlighting self-made women leaders and entrepreneurs and how they tackle their career, money, family and life.

Each episode covers their unique hero's journey and what it really takes to build an empire with key lessons learned along the way. The goal of the series is to empower you to see what's possible & inspire you to create financial freedom in your own life.

Adwoa Beauty Founder Julian Addo On Leaving Corporate To Start Her Textured Hair Care Brand
Courtesy of BHE

On this episode of Behind Her Empire, Adwoa Beauty founder and CEO Julian Addo explains how her corporate career taught her how to succeed in business and how she landed a partnership with Sephora.

Read moreShow less
RELATEDEDITOR'S PICKS
LA TECH JOBS
interchangeLA
Trending