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The IBA’s response to the situation in Ukraine
In this session we will discuss trend in M&A structuring and taxation in the US UK and Europe. While the pandemic initially affected the deal markets after a few months they came roaring back. We will review what has changed, what regulatory developments (including Brexit and a new US administration) are likely to impact transactions and where we think the deal markets are headed.
Special purposes acquisition companies also known as SPACs are listed companies formed by a financial sponsor with the intent to acquire an operating company. The funds needed to acquire the operating company are derived from an IPO of the SPAC from public shareholders and considering the SPAC is newly created and has no track record, investors relay upon the well-known experience of the financial sponsor and its investment thesis. At the time of the IPO, the operating company is yet to be identified. If no operating company is acquired within a set time frame, the SPAC shares are redeemed and investors are entirely reimbursed. Should an operating company be acquired, then this would typically result in such operating company becoming public and the SPAC shareholders becoming a shareholder of such company.
The panel will discuss the use of SPACs in North America and Europe, as well as the tax aspects thereof, whereby they will focus on the tax aspects of SPACs at the level of the SPAC itself, its sponsors/ managers and its shareholders, as well as some recent developments with respect thereto in North America and Europe.