Special Purpose Acquisition Corporation (SPAC)

The Special Purpose Acquisition Corporation (SPAC) program offers an alternative vehicle for listing on TSX.

A SPAC is an investment vehicle allowing the public to invest in companies or industry sectors normally sought by private equity firms. In addition, it can provide an opportunity for individuals unable to buy into hedge or private equity funds the ability to participate in the acquisition of private operating companies traditionally targeted by those funds.

Unlike a traditional IPO, the SPAC program enables seasoned directors and officers to form a corporation that contains no commercial operations or assets other than cash. The SPAC is then listed on TSX via an IPO, raising a minimum of $30 million. 90% of the funds raised are placed in escrow, and must then be used toward the acquisition of an operating company or assets within 36 months of listing, defined as a Qualifying Acquisition.

SPACs become reporting issuers as a result of their IPO, and thus are fully regulated by the relevant provincial securities commissions as well as TSX. And because the SPAC is a publicly traded entity, it also provides access to liquidity for investors, allowing those shareholders to increase or decrease their investment risk profile accordingly.

What are the benefits of a SPAC?

TSX implemented the SPAC program to offer companies flexibility in accessing capital. The SPAC program:

Helps growth-orientated companies raise a minimum of $30 million;
Provides an effective way of creating valuable acquisition currency for multiple M&A transactions;
Offers liquidity and visibility to founder and private company investors;
Incorporates regulatory safeguards that help protect all parties throughout the SPAC process;
Fosters an attractive environment for risk-tolerant investors from the general public to promote the formation of capital; and
Provides access to seasoned management and financiers for a private company.

How does it work?

Phase 1 - Establishing the SPAC

Creating the SPAC

Founder group of sophisticated individuals, with senior-management level business and public company experience, incorporate a shell company (the SPAC)
Founders then put up a minimum amount of seed capital and also prepare an IPO prospectus document
Founders file a SPAC prospectus with the applicable securities regulator and apply for listing on TSX

Selling the shares

Prospectus outlines intention to raise a minimum of $30 million by selling SPAC securities at a minimum price of $2 per share or unit; unit can consist of one common share and no more than two share purchase warrants
At least 1 million securities are to be held by 300 public board-lot shareholders, free of any resale restrictions, with aggregate market value of the securities held by public holders to be at least $30 million
Once distribution has been completed, SPAC securities are listed for trading on TSX
Immediately upon listing, the SPAC places at least 90% of gross proceeds raised in the IPO into escrow, which must include 50% of underwriters' commissions, with a designated party acceptable to TSX to act as a trustee
Founders must hold an equity position between 10% and 20% of the SPAC post-IPO

Phase 2 - The qualifying acquisition

Completing the acquisition

SPAC founders must identify an appropriate business/asset as its qualifying acquisition within 36 months
Business/assets comprising qualifying acquisition must have an aggregate fair market value equal to at least 80% of value of funds in escrow
The SPAC prepares a draft information circular with prospectus-level disclosure on resulting issuer, which is then submitted to TSX for pre-clearance
The SPAC must also file a non-offering prospectus for the resulting issuer with the relevant securities commissions, and obtain a receipt for the prospectus prior to mailing information circular to public shareholders
The SPAC may only complete a qualifying acquisition if a majority of public holders of SPAC securities approve that transaction at a duly called security holder meeting
Founding shareholders are not entitled to vote any of their securities with respect to approval of the qualifying acquisition
The SPAC may impose a condition not to proceed with the proposed qualifying acquisition if more than a pre-determined percentage of public holders of securities vote against the proposed acquisition
Public holders of securities who vote against a qualifying acquisition that is completed must be able to convert their securities for their pro-rata portion of the escrow funds
Once the qualifying acquisition has been approved and the business/asset is acquired, the resulting entity will trade as a TSX listed company
If the qualifying acquisition is not completed within the 36 months allowed, the SPAC must provide for a liquidation distribution allowing for the pro-rata distribution of funds in escrow to the public security holders

For more information on SPACs, please see the following resources: