Stock Markets January 27, 2026

Helix Acquisition Corp. III Completes $172.5 Million IPO, Lists on Nasdaq

SPAC focuses on healthcare deals after raising $172.5 million and placing proceeds into trust

By Marcus Reed
Helix Acquisition Corp. III Completes $172.5 Million IPO, Lists on Nasdaq

Helix Acquisition Corp. III completed its initial public offering at $10 per share, selling 17.25 million Class A ordinary shares and raising $172.5 million. The offering included the full exercise of the underwriters' over-allotment option and was accompanied by a private placement to the company's sponsor. The company, formed as a special purpose acquisition company with a healthcare focus, listed on the Nasdaq Global Market under the ticker HLXC in late January.

Key Points

  • Helix Acquisition Corp. III sold 17.25 million Class A ordinary shares at $10 each, raising $172.5 million; the offering included 2.25 million shares from the underwriters' full over-allotment exercise.
  • A private placement of 497,500 Class A ordinary shares at $10 per share to Helix Holdings III LLC generated $4.975 million in gross proceeds.
  • The SPAC, sponsored by Helix Holdings III LLC (an affiliate of Cormorant Asset Management) and led by CEO Bihua Chen and CFO Caleb Tripp, will target mergers or business combinations in healthcare-related industries; its shares began trading on Nasdaq under HLXC.

Deal details and timing

Helix Acquisition Corp. III completed its initial public offering on January 26, selling 17.25 million Class A ordinary shares at $10 per share to raise $172.5 million, according to a company statement. The offering incorporated the full exercise of the underwriters' over-allotment option, which accounted for 2.25 million of the shares sold.

Underwriting and placement

Leerink Partners and Oppenheimer & Co. acted as joint bookrunning managers for the transaction. In parallel with the IPO, the special purpose acquisition company carried out a private placement of 497,500 Class A ordinary shares at $10 per share to Helix Holdings III LLC, resulting in additional gross proceeds of $4.975 million.

Listing and regulatory milestone

The company's Class A ordinary shares began trading on the Nasdaq Global Market under the ticker symbol "HLXC" on January 23. The Securities and Exchange Commission declared the registration statement effective on January 22.

Corporate purpose, sponsorship and leadership

Helix Acquisition Corp. III was formed as a special purpose acquisition company to pursue mergers, acquisitions or other business combinations, with a stated focus on healthcare or healthcare-related industries. The company is sponsored by Helix Holdings III LLC, an affiliate of Cormorant Asset Management, and its executive team is led by Chief Executive Officer Bihua Chen and Chief Financial Officer Caleb Tripp.

Proceeds and trust placement

The company placed $172.5 million comprising net proceeds from both the IPO and the private placement into trust, as disclosed in the company statement.


Context and limitations

The filing and transaction details reported by the company include the specific share counts, allocation from the underwriters' over-allotment option, the identities of the joint bookrunners, and the dates when the registration took effect and when trading began on Nasdaq. The company statement also identifies the sponsor and the senior officers who will lead the SPAC as it seeks suitable transactions in the healthcare sector.

Closing note

The transaction structure combined a public offering and a related private placement to the sponsor, with specified dollar amounts and share counts placed into trust as part of the SPAC process.

Risks

  • The company was formed to pursue mergers, acquisitions or business combinations, but the statement does not specify whether or when any particular transaction will be completed - uncertainty that affects prospective business outcomes and the healthcare deals the SPAC may pursue.
  • The firm has placed $172.5 million comprising net proceeds into trust; the future use of those funds depends on successful identification and completion of qualifying business combinations in the healthcare sector.
  • Concentration on healthcare or healthcare-related industries could narrow the pool of potential targets and influence timing or availability of suitable transactions, which may affect the SPAC's prospects.

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