SPAC timeline
The timeline of a SPAC follows several phases. During the pre-merger phase, the SPAC conducts marketing, raises capital, and finds a target acquisition.
In the next phase, a deal announcement is made. Once announced, the SPAC enters a redemption and vote phase. If shareholders don’t like the deal, they can exchange shares for net asset value, usually $10 plus interest.
SPACs vs. IPOs: Advantages
SPACs provide several advantages over a traditional IPO. Notably, they are faster to execute. The IPO process can be arduous. Hurdles include gaining investor interest and investments, as well as regulatory requirements. A SPAC alleviates these burdens by promoting a faster and less expensive path to public markets. A SPAC acquisition can be closed in a few months, whereas registering an IPO with the SEC can take up to six months.
Another advantage of a SPAC is marketing and pricing. SPACs have a longer window in which to position the company based on forward-looking projections. This extensive and confidential pre-marketing period gives a company and its investors time to gain greater insight into the potential investment and gauge whether the valuation is appropriate. IPOs can share past financials and share addressable market size but cannot get into detailed financial projections.
SPACs also provide access to operational expertise. Sponsors of a SPAC bring industry and financial experience, as well as a network of contacts who can share their knowledge or take a formal role on the board.
SPACs vs. IPOs: The risks
Target companies should assess their financial and reporting condition and requirements. They should also conduct careful due diligence into the SPAC, its management team, board, financial sponsor, and large investors as part of its preparation for a SPAC merger.
Risks to going public with a SPAC versus an IPO include the following:
- Shareholder dilution. SPAC sponsors tend to own a smaller stake in the SPAC, typically 20% in the form of founder shares or warrants to purchase more shares. There is also an earnout component that allows sponsors to receive more shares once the stock price reaches a certain target — potentially leading to further dilution.
- Capital shortfall from redemption. While founding SPAC investors can redeem their shares, should redemptions exceed expectations, the availability of cash becomes uncertain. In these cases, SPACs must raise Private Investment in Public Equity (PIPE) financing to fill the shortfall.
- Investment withdrawal risk. SPACs can be risky due to the fact that investors can withdraw their investments if they’re not happy with the target company. If too many shareholders withdraw capital, the SPAC may pull out of the deal.
- Due diligence risk. Public companies must adhere to stringent compliance and regulatory requirements such as publishing financial reports and periodic disclosures. They must also operate within strict governance and financial control frameworks enforced by the SEC and trade exchanges. SPAC managers don’t have the luxury of trial runs that IPOs do. Any pre-merger mistakes can be costly. As such, it’s a best practice for sponsors to operate publicly before the target company goes public. Consultants can often help with this task.
Entity compliance considerations for the private company
When a SPAC merges with a private company and takes it public, it faces the same state law compliance issues as any statutory merger. These include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Filing the Articles of Merger
- Obtaining necessary documents. A SPAC will likely require access to several documents during the due diligence phase, such as a Certificate of Good Standing or certified copy of the Articles of Incorporation.
- Checking for name availability and reserving the name
- Assumed name filings and updating licenses. If the private company’s name changed and it was qualified pre-merger to do business in foreign states, it must update the name in those states.
- Updating public filings. In some mergers, the target may end up changing its formation state (for example, re-domesticating to Delaware) and/or entity types (for example, if the target was an LLC pre-merger). In these cases, post-merger filings are needed to update public filings where it is listed under the old state and/or entity type.
How CT Corporation can help
With so many steps to take before, during, and after the SPAC merger and tricky timing issues every step of the way, it’s important to have the right support.
Whether at the beginning stages of due diligence, or the high-pressure stages of closing, CT Corporation provides the assistance that companies need to finalize the deal. Count on a one-stop shop and seamless support across local and international jurisdictions. For more information on our SPAC services, please contact a CT Corporation specialist.
