Update 4:30pm : Updates with closing share prices.
Trump SPAC Digital World Acquisition ( NASDAQ: DWAC ) plunged 17% as a deadline for financing for its plans to take Trump's social media company and app Truth Social public was set to expire on Tuesday.
Investors in the SPAC's $1 billion PIPE financing are in talks with DWAC CEO Patrick Orlando to try to get better terms that would move the risk to Trump and his backers and away from the investors, according to a Financial Times report.
Under a plan being discussed, investors may be allowed to convert preferred stock if the share price falls to as low as $2/share, according to the FT, which cited people familiar. The lower conversion price, down from $56/share, would dilute other shareholders, including Trump.
DWAC and Trump announced the $1 billion PIPE investment i n early December. Under the original agreement the preferred stock had an initial conversion price per share of $33.60/share.
The report comes as DWAC has struggled to get the necessary 65% of shareholders needed to approve the combination with Trump's media company and has adjourned a shareholder vote until Oct. 10 as it attempts to gain more votes. Only about 40% of holders have voted in favor of the transaction, according to the FT report from Saturday.
DWAC has an additional lifeline to survive after SPAC's sponsor deposited $2.88 million to extend the time company needs to complete its deal by three months until Dec. 8. This is the first of two three-month extensions under the company's governing documents. DWAC has warned previously that if the deal isn't extended, the SPAC may be forced to liquidate.
The FT reported on Saturday that DWAC f ailed to pay the proxy firm that has been soliciting votes for its deal to take Trump Media & Technology Group public.
The drop in DWAC, which has plummeted almost 80% from highs in early March, also comes as alternative video platform Rumble ( RUM ) plunged 24% on Tuesday, giving back some of its 40% gain on Monday, its first day of trading after a deSPAC transaction. Rumble, which some consider a conservative competitor to YouTube, announced a partnership with Truth Social in December, where Rumble provides cloud services and delivers video and streaming for Trump's social media platform.
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Trump SPAC Digital World sinks 17% amid deal financing deadline (update)