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

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

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

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

Mark Schwartz

IPO/SPAC/Privates Advisory Leader
Ernst & Young

Speaker

Karim Anani

Americas FAAS Transaction Leader
Ernst & Young

Speaker

Jay Heller

Head of Capital Markets
Nasdaq

Panelist

Stephen Kadenacy

Co-Founder & Co-Managing Partner
SilverBox Capital

Panelist

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

Donna Ackerly

Founder & CEO
Lioness

Panelist

Yelena Dunaevsky

Senior Vice President & Partner
Woodruff Sawyer

Panelist

Tina Pappas

Managing Director
Jefferies

Speaker

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

Ryan J. Maierson

Partner
Latham & Watkins

Speaker

Disha Patel

Partner
Withum

Panelist

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

Geoffrey L. Weinberg

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

Speaker

Jackie Cohen

Partner
Ropes & Gray

Speaker

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

Mike Schlanger

VP Solution Sales
Toppan Merrill

Moderator

Christian Nagler

Partner, Capital Markets
Kirkland & Ellis

Panelist

James Graf

CEO
Graf Global

Panelist

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

Will Braeutigam

US Capital Markets Transactions Leader
Deloitte

Speaker

David Ni

Capital Markets Partner
Sidley

Speaker

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?

Michael Johns

Partner
Maples Group

Moderator

Karim Anani

Americas FAAS Transaction Leader
Ernst & Young

Speaker

Josh DuClos

Partner
Sidley

Panelist

Kristi Marvin

Founder
SPACInsider

Speaker

5:10 PM - 5:35 PM

Presentation

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

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

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?

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?

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

Dan Nash

Co-Founder, Head of Investment Banking
Cohen & Company Capital Markets

Speaker

Priya Cherian Huskins

Senior Vice President & Partner
Woodruff Sawyer

Panelist

Chris Murillo

Partner
Harter Seacrest & Emery

Panelist

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

James Cotto

Managing Director
Morgan Stanley, Cotto Wealth Management Group

Speaker

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

Tamar Donikan

Partner
Kirkland & Ellis

Moderator

Christian Nagler

Partner, Capital Markets
Kirkland & Ellis

Panelist

Ari Schottenstein

Partner
Zukin Partners

Panelist

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?

Glenn Pollner

Partner
WilmerHale

Moderator

Mike Holbert

Managing Director
The Benchmark Company

Panelist

Taylor Sherman

Director, Restructuring and Dispute Resolution Services
CohnReznick

Panelist

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

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