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SPAC American Exceptionalism Acquisition A files for a $250 million IPO, led by Chamath Palihapitiya

August 18, 2025

American Exceptionalism Acquisition A, a blank check company led by Chamath Palihapitiya targeting energy, AI, DeFi, and defense, filed on Monday with the SEC to raise up to $250 million in an initial public offering.

The company plans to raise $250 million by offering 25 million shares at $10. The company is not offering units with warrants or rights attached.

American Exceptionalism Acquisition A is led by Chairman Chamath Palihapitiya, the founder and Managing Partner of Social Capital, and CEO Steven Trieu, who serves as Group CFO of Social Capital. The SPAC plans to companies that operate in sectors that it believes will be instrumental in maintaining US global leadership for the next century, including energy production, artificial intelligence (AI), decentralized finance (DeFi), and defense.

Palihapitiya previously led several 2020- and 2021-era SPACs, some of which completed combinations and some that were liquidated. The most recent to complete combinations include Social Capital Suvretta Holdings I, which merged with cognitive medicine company Akili Interactive in 2022 (and was subsequently acquired in 2024), and Social Capital Hedosophia Holdings V, which merged with SoFi Technologies (Nasdaq: SOFI) in 2021. Palihapitiya's earlier SPAC merged with Virgin Galactic (NYSE: SPCE).

The Menlo Park, CA-based company was founded in 2025 and plans to list on the NYSE under the symbol AEXA. Santander is the sole bookrunner on the deal.