Doug Ellenoff speaking on stage

The SPAC Conference 2023

The SPAC Conference is the largest forum for networking and discussion of special purpose acquisition companies and alternative IPO techniques.

DealFlow Events is pleased to offer the complete set of audio/video recordings from this event along with the official Event Book & Resource Guide.

If you missed the conference, you can still benefit from all the education of attending the event. Purchase the archive event kit today or call us at (516) 876-8006 or email team@dealflowevents.com with questions.

June 28, 2023

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Breakfast

9:00 AM - 9:10 AM

Opening Remarks

speaker-1

Steven Dresner

CEO
DealFlow Events

Speaker

9:10 AM - 9:35 AM

Presentation

State of the Market

  • Overview of notable deal activity including a recap of 2022 year-end performance
  • Significant changes to SPAC deal structures and potential changes in wake of SEC rulemaking
  • Market forecast through 2023
  • How proposed federal regulations could impact future SPAC deals

speaker-1

Doug Ellenoff

Partner
Ellenoff Grossman & Schole

Speaker

9:40 AM - 10:05 AM

Presentation

What’s Next for Blank-check Firms?

  • A ticking clock for existing SPACs under deadline to get deals done
  • More new SPACs entering the pipeline only means more competition
  • A renewed emphasis on quality deals as stronger SPACs emerge and weaker blank-checks opt to dissolve
  • Anticipating what the SEC may do in 2023
  • U.S. SPAC experts eyeing international targets

speaker-1

Mitch Nussbaum

Co-Chair
Loeb & Loeb

Speaker

10:10 AM - 10:55 AM

Panel

What Will the Future Hold for SPACs?

  • The role SPACs will play in the capital markets going forward
  • The types of companies that will be attracted to SPACs
  • How deal structures will evolve to solve capital needs and other issues

speaker-1

Mark Schwartz

IPO and SPAC Capital Markets Advisory Leader
Ernst & Young

Speaker

speaker-2

Karim Anani

Americas FAAS Transaction Leader
Ernst & Young

Speaker

speaker-3

Jay Heller

Head of Capital Markets
Nasdaq

Panelist

speaker-4

Stephen Kadenacy

Co-Founder & Co-Managing Partner
SilverBox Capital

Panelist

speaker-5

Joel Rubinstein

Partner
White & Case

Speaker

10:55 AM - 11:25 AM

Networking Break

11:25 AM - 12:10 PM

Panel

Designing SPAC Transactions to Minimize Risk

  • The role of due diligence in mitigating SPAC lawsuits
  • Why transparency = longevity in the SPAC market
  • Investor support begins with good investor communication
  • Why you want an independent financial advisor’s input
  • Handling SEC scrutiny and reporting outcomes to investors

speaker-1

Donna Ackerly

Founder & CEO
Lioness

Panelist

speaker-2

Yelena Dunaevsky

Senior Vice President & Partner
Woodruff Sawyer

Panelist

speaker-3

Tina Pappas

Managing Director
Jefferies

Speaker

speaker-4

Jeffrey Selman

Chair of SPAC Transactional Practice
DLA Piper

Panelist

12:15 PM - 12:50 PM

Round Table

Navigating Post De-SPAC Crises

  • Unsolicited M&A and shareholder activism
  • Crisis management
  • Liquidity options
  • Insurance evaluation
  • Securities class action and other litigation risks
  • Evolving SEC regulatory landscape

speaker-1

Ryan J. Maierson

Partner
Latham & Watkins

Speaker

speaker-2

Disha Patel

Partner
Withum

Panelist

speaker-3

Matt Jacques

Partner & Managing Director
Alix Partners

Speaker

12:55 PM - 1:30 PM

Round Table

Merger Special Meeting to Life as a Public Company

  • Before the vote: last chance to sell the deal to shareholders
  • How SPAC arbitrage investors play their game
  • Why it’s important to underscore that warrants cushion against share dilution
  • Holding down redemption levels, satisfying exchange listing requirements
  • Dealing with light liquidity and shifting stock prices
  • Marketing the post de-SPAC public company

speaker-1

Geoffrey L. Weinberg

Managing Director - M&A and Activism Advisory Group
Morrow Sodali

Speaker

speaker-2

Jackie Cohen

Partner
Ropes & Gray

Speaker

speaker-3

Guy Barudin

Director
Chardan Capital Markets

Speaker

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM

Lunch

2:30 PM - 3:15 PM

Panel

Why De-SPACs Remain a Great Option

  • Why the De-SPAC option remains a viable path to accessing the capital markets
  • Transaction update: Number of deals announced and closed, with commentary on notable transactions
  • Understanding specific challenges in the capital markets as it relates to SPACs

speaker-1

Mike Schlanger

VP Solution Sales
Toppan Merrill

Moderator

speaker-2

Christian Nagler

Partner, Capital Markets
Kirkland & Ellis

Panelist

speaker-3

James Graf

CEO
Graf Acquisition Corp

Panelist

speaker-4

Derek Kearns

Partner
Centri Business Consulting

Panelist

3:20 PM - 3:55 PM

Round Table

How Accounting, Finance and Legal Experts Can Help You De-Risk Deal Executions

  • Understanding where the numbers come from – and whether they add up
  • Why PIPE agreements are often integral to a successful deal
  • Approaching deals where a private equity firm controls the target
  • Why an outside advisor is crucial to evaluating a target’s SPAC-readiness
  • Getting shareholders on board with a potential deal
  • CYA – How ironclad legal documents and advice can silence arguments down the road

speaker-1

Will Braeutigam

US Capital Markets Transactions Leader
Deloitte

Speaker

speaker-2

David Ni

Capital Markets Partner
Sidley

Speaker

speaker-3

Michael Tenny

CPA, Partner
Withum

Speaker

3:55 PM - 4:25 PM

Networking Break

4:25 PM - 5:10 PM

Panel

SPAC IPOs: Structuring Deals in the New Market

  • What will new SPAC IPOs look like in 2023 and beyond?
  • Structuring considerations for sponsors and banks in the SPAC IPO market
  • How to foster investor confidence in new SPACs
  • 'Benefit of hindsight': what lessons have been learned around consummating a successful business combination?

speaker-1

Michael Johns

Partner
Maples Group

Moderator

speaker-2

Karim Anani

Americas FAAS Transaction Leader
Ernst & Young

Speaker

speaker-3

Josh DuClos

Partner
Sidley

Panelist

speaker-4

Kristi Marvin

Founder
SPACInsider

Speaker

5:10 PM - 5:35 PM

Presentation

The SEC Won't Let Me Be: The Impact of Heavy Regulations

speaker-1

Peter Schiff

Economist
The Peter Schiff Show

Speaker

5:35 PM - 5:45 PM

Closing Remarks

5:45 PM - 6:45 PM

Cocktail Reception

Sponsors:

  • Ellenoff Grossman & Schole
  • Loeb & Loeb
  • Withum
  • Laurel Hill
  • Toppan Merrill
  • The Nuvo Group

June 29, 2023

8:00 AM - 8:50 AM

Breakfast

8:50 AM - 9:00 AM

Opening Remarks

speaker-1

Steven Dresner

CEO
DealFlow Events

Speaker

9:00 AM - 9:25 AM

Presentation

Government Regulation: Where Are We Now?

  • SPACs raise growing policy concerns for Congress and the SEC
  • Issues under scrutiny include regulatory treatment, investor protection, listing standards
  • Will regulators crack down on high sponsor fees?
  • What barriers to entry is the SEC creating?

speaker-1

Joel Rubinstein

Partner
White & Case

Speaker

9:30 AM - 9:55 AM

Presentation

Re-Imagining SPACs

  • During 2020-21, SPACs boomed
  • Quality Sponsors drove improved structures/strong performance
  • Turning Capital Markets have led us to pivot point
  • Do we shrivel back to a niche or improve to rise again?

speaker-1

Rajiv Shukla

Partner
SPAC Research

Speaker

10:00 AM - 10:45 AM

Panel

Steps Towards a Successful De-SPAC

  • Managing post-merger governance issues
  • Protecting against litigation risks
  • Understanding lock-up periods
  • Impact of private placements post-merger
  • Assessing change-in-control protections
  • Shareholder approval of equity incentive plans

speaker-1

Dan Nash

Co-Founder, Head of Investment Banking
Cohen Capital Markets

Speaker

speaker-2

Priya Cherian Huskins

Senior Vice President & Partner
Woodruff Sawyer

Panelist

speaker-3

Chris Murillo

Partner
Harter Seacrest & Emery

Panelist

speaker-4

Zvi Schreiber

Founder & CEO
Freightos

Panelist

10:45 AM - 11:15 AM

Networking Break

11:15 AM - 11:45 AM

Fireside

Cash Management Considerations - From conceiving the IPO to completing a Business Combination

  • Operating accounts
  • Asset management investment optionality
  • Tax payments and Reporting
  • DeSpac initiatives
  • Completing the Business combination

speaker-1

James Cotto

Managing Director
Morgan Stanley, Cotto Wealth Management Group

Speaker

speaker-2

Rodrigo Suarez-Navarro

Associate Vice President, Financial Advisor
Morgan Stanley

Speaker

11:50 AM - 12:35 PM

Panel

Projections in Business Combination Transactions

  • SEC proposes greater investor protections in SPAC transactions
  • SPACs face new rules on presenting projections of future performance
  • More disclosure requirements are coming
  • Managing additional risk in light of enhanced regulatory scrutiny

speaker-1

Tamar Donikan

Partner
Kirkland & Ellis

Moderator

speaker-2

Christian Nagler

Partner, Capital Markets
Kirkland & Ellis

Panelist

speaker-3

Ari Schottenstein

Partner
Zukin Partners

Panelist

speaker-4

Adam Kerbis

Investment Banking Director
UBS

Panelist

12:35 PM - 1:35 PM

Lunch

1:35 PM - 2:20 PM

Panel

What Public Investors are Looking for in a Deal

  • The value proposition: What’s the potential upside?
  • Do the sponsor’s interests align with public shareholders?
  • How did the SPAC arrive at this particular valuation for the target?
  • Is the target’s management prepared to run a public company?
  • What are the target’s competitive strengths?
  • How long will it take to close this deal?

speaker-1

Glenn Pollner

Partner
WilmerHale

Moderator

speaker-2

Mike Holbert

Managing Director
The Benchmark Company

Panelist

speaker-3

Taylor Sherman

Director, Restructuring and Dispute Resolution Services
CohnReznick

Panelist

speaker-4

Huan Lou

Partner
Sichenzia Ross Ference LLP

Panelist

2:25 PM - 2:50 PM

Presentation

SPAC Wind-down Strategy

  • Considerations for an early wind down
  • Communication program – internal and external
  • The process for an efficient wind down: Schedule, roles, responsibilities
  • Budgeting for a liquidation of the SPAC (e.g., D&O, taxes, proxies and more)
  • Financial aspects of liquidating the trust

speaker-1

Anne Frank-Shapiro

COO
Climate Real Impact Solutions

Speaker

2:50 PM - 4:40 PM

Networking & Entertainment

  • Putting Competition (sponsored by Ellenoff Grossman & Schole)
  • Cornhole Tournament (sponsored by Toppan Merrill)
  • Champagne Bar (sponsored by Laurel Hill)
  • Beer Truck (sponsored by Withum)
  • Complimentary Cigars (sponsored by The Nuvo Group)

4:40 PM - 5:00 PM

The Closing Account: What We’ve Learned and Putting That Knowledge to Work

  • What we can expect through the rest of 2023
  • SPAC deal structures evolving with SEC regulations
  • SPAC IPOs in this new environment
  • What investors expect
  • Why SPACs are preferable to a traditional IPO

speaker-1

Jeffrey Kranzel

Partner
Deloitte

Speaker

Our 2023 Sponsors

PREMIER SPONSOR

EGS

PLATINUM SPONSORS

Loeb & Loeb
Withum logo

GOLD SPONSORS

Ernst & Young
Woodruff Sawyer
Marcum logo
Morrow Sodali

NETWORKING SPONSORS

Toppan Merrill logo
Broadridge logo
WilmerHale logo

NETWORKING SPONSORS

Workiva logo
Laurel Hill logo

SILVER SPONSORS

RRBB Accountants & Advisors logo
Latham & Watkins
SPAC Research logo
Kirkland & Ellis logo
Maples Group logo
White and Case logo

BRONZE SPONSORS

Deloitte
Morgan Stanley. The Cotto Wealth Management Group at Morgan Stanley logo
First Cover logo

PROMOTIONAL SPONSORS

Calabrese Consulting logo
Toppan Merrill logo
The Nuvo Group logo
Computershare logo

MEDIA SPONSOR

Investor Brand Network logo