Will the VTAC de-Spac bring us the hot growth stock we have all been craving?

THIS could be an interesting week for investors lamenting the absence of growth-oriented, technology-enabled companies in the local market.

This Friday (Dec 1), shareholders of Vertex Technology Acquisition Corp (VTAC) will vote on its proposed combination with 17Live – a livestreaming platform with a significant presence in Japan and Taiwan.

Some analysts have said VTAC is paying too much for 17Live. It has also not escaped the notice of sceptical investors that 17Live faces tough competition as well as evolving regulation, and that its user base has shrunk with the easing of Covid-19 restrictions.