Phases in the lifecycle of a SPAC

In the formation phase, a financial sponsor (or sponsors) assembles a management team and funds an equity stake or founders stock in the SPAC. The equity investment funds initial business operations to launch an initial public offering (IPO) and identify an acquisition target. Although the ratio can vary, the founders stock often represents approximately 20% of the post-offering stock.

At this point the SPAC begins its search in earnest for an acquisition target. SPACs typically have two years from the IPO date to complete an acquisition. This process proceeds in much the same way as any M&A process. The SPAC identifies and conducts due diligence on potential targets. However, because shareholders can redeem shares, the sponsors need to closely monitor cash to ensure there is sufficient funding to acquire the target and manage post-close operations. At this point, often private investment in public equity (PIPE) financing issues convertible debt, which converts to stock at the choice of the private investor, thereby diluting the equity of existing shareholders. The selection process ends with a definitive agreement between the SPAC and an acquisition target.

The de-SPACing process requires the buyer to obtain shareholder approval in accordance with SEC regulations. While these regulations are more complex than can be covered in detail here, typically the process includes the commitment of the founders shares to the acquisition, a redemption offer whereby SPAC shareholders can redeem their shares, and the filing of Form 8-K, which is effectively a registration statement for the transaction. It contains the information that would be filed in a Form 10, or “General Form for Registration of Securities,” which registers securities for trading in U.S. exchanges.