Authentic Equity Acquisition Corp. (AEAC) operates as a blank check company whose sole purpose is to effect a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization, or similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities, with an initial focus on North American consumer sector targets; it has no current operating businesses, products, or revenue-generating activities. Founded in 2020 and headquartered in Rye, New York, the company went public via an initial public offering on January 15, 2021, raising $230 million in proceeds held 100% in trust, led by CEO David M. Hooper and underwritten by Jefferies as left lead. In a major development, AEAC announced on January 9, 2023, that it would redeem all public shares and not pursue an initial business combination, resulting in the liquidation and cancellation of shares effective the close of business on January 20, 2023, after failing to identify a suitable target within its 24-month SPAC tenor; the entity now holds defunct status with no ongoing operations or trading activity.