Highlights of the Week (December 10, 2021)

As we get closer to the cozy end-of-year holidays, there are year-end summaries, future-forward predictions, and a host of headlines that are hauntingly dissimilar to the jolly spirit of the season. Homicides are up, school shootings are on the rise, and disputes over public health directives remain unresolved. While you’re rushing to finish projects or scrambling with travel plans, we here at PrivCo hope you can use this time to spend with loved ones and reflect on your year. Have a great weekend.
 

Let’s look back on the week’s top stories from PrivCo:
 

• Monday we did a deep dive into the number of SPAC mergers and each SPAC's stock price nearly a year after announcement. The results were largely negative. Check out our coverage here.

• For our Tuesday Investor Highlight, we looked at Bain Capital’s latest hire from the startup executive sphere. Many firm partners are would-be or prior founders and executives who wind up on the check signing side of the table. Learn more here.

• When will the world be running on fully electric vehicles? One huge factor is competitive pricing for EV-powering batteries. Learn about the factors contributing to the first price rise (and major setback) for batteries in over a decade. Check it out here.

• Big banks have earned a bad reputation over the last few financial crises. But they’re so ingrained in our lives that we have a better chance of adjusting them than upending them. Find out how banks are protecting their relevance through investments in fintech here.