Has the SPAC Bubble Burst? Part 2: The SEC’s New Rules
Has the SPAC Bubble Burst? Lessons Learned From the Early Days of SPAC Mania
FCPA Compliance Report - Karen Woody on JPMorgan and Nikola SEC Enforcement Actions
Compliance Into The Weeds - Year End Review, Part 1
Compliance Into The Weeds - Red Flags and SPACs
Reps & Warranties Insurance: Sealing The Deal
Understanding SPAC Transactions: What it Takes to Be “SPAC Ready"
Don’t Step on a Crack in the SPAC/deSPAC Insurance Claim Process
Fast Track to IPO: Why Are Series A Startups Snatching Topflight CFOs?
The Brave New Frontier of Securing D&O Insurance for SPACs and deSPACs
Compliance and Coronavirus-Michael Beber on M&A, IPOs and SPACs During and After Covid-19
Imagine a small, fast-growing tech company preparing to go public in 2025. The leadership team, relying on practices that were standard just a few years ago, drafts generic risk disclosures, leans on flexible governance...more
On June 4, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued a concept release seeking public comment on the definition of the term "foreign private issuer" (FPI). The request is in response to global market changes and...more
Continued volatility in the equity capital markets has revived what was thought to be a zombie after 2022 – the SPAC. There is an old investment banking mantra that they can do an IPO in a down market or an up market, but not...more
Welcome to the latest edition of Fenwick’s Securities Law Update. This issue contains updates and important reminders on...more
On March 3, 2025, the staff of the SEC’s Division of Corporation Finance announced that it is expanding the accommodations available for issuers that submit draft registration statements for nonpublic review....more
On March 3, 2025, the Staff of the SEC Division of Corporate Finance announced an expansion of the accommodations that allow issuers to confidentially submit draft registration statements (DRSs) for nonpublic review. This is...more
On March 6, 2025, for the first time since 2008, the staff (the “Staff”) of the Securities and Exchange Commission updated its guidance on the use of lock-up agreements in connection with Rule 145(a) transactions (i.e.,...more
On March 3, 2025, the Staff of the Division of Corporation Finance of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) announced a new policy, with immediate effect, expanding the accommodations available for issuers that...more
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has announced significant changes to its confidential filing procedures, aiming to support capital formation and provide greater flexibility for companies planning public...more
Special Purpose Acquisition Companies that are Foreign Private Issuers or acquire Foreign Private Issuers should be mindful of new SEC rules, especially SEC Guidance on timing of Foreign Private Issuer status. Originally...more
The U.S. Treasury finalized regulations (the “Regulations”), providing rules for public companies subject to the 1% excise tax on certain redemptions of their publicly traded stock (the “Stock Repurchase Excise Tax”). The...more
On January 24, 2024, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) adopted new final rules relating to special purpose acquisition companies (“SPACs”). The new rules affect both initial public offerings (“IPOs”) for...more
This is the fourth in our 2024 Year in Preview series examining important trends in white collar law and investigations in the coming year. We will be posting further installments in the series throughout the next several...more
On January 24, 2024, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) adopted new rules and guidance affecting initial public offerings (“IPOs”) of special purpose acquisition companies (“SPACs”) and business...more
Who may be interested: Registered Investment Companies, SPACs, Investment Advisers Quick Take: Following a 3-2 vote, the SEC adopted final rules to enhance disclosure and provide additional investor protections in IPOs by...more
The SEC on January 24, 2024 adopted final rules amending the disclosure and registration requirements applicable to special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs) and shell companies that register or file reports with the SEC....more
On December 6, 2023, the SEC's Fall 2023 Reg Flex Agenda was released, setting out the short- and long-term regulatory actions that the SEC plans to take. Of particular note, the expected adoption of final climate disclosure...more
Following a comment period and further review, CNSX Markets Inc. (the CSE) has received approval from the Ontario and British Columbia securities commissions to implement significant changes to its listing policies and forms....more
We have seen the IPO market stall, and the SPAC boom is now bust. So, what options are there for private companies looking to enter the public market in today’s economic climate? A transaction structured as a “reverse...more
Digital assets and special purpose acquisition companies (“SPACs”) have been two of the hottest topics in the financial world over the past few years, and, unsurprisingly, the topics overlap with increasing frequency. We have...more
The Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) released Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 121 (“SAB 121”) on March 31, 2022. SAB 121 provides SEC staff’s views regarding accounting treatment of obligations incident to a reporting...more
In its recently proposed rules that relate primarily to SPACs and shell companies, the SEC did propose certain changes relating to projections that would apply to all reporting companies. In particular, the proposed...more
Last year was nothing short of a rollercoaster ride for the SPAC market. While SPACs have long been a feature of financial markets, 2021 began with explosive growth in new listings, followed by a rapid cool-off in the second...more
The OSC Corporate Finance Branch’s annual report provides an overview of its operational and policy work for fiscal 2021, providing timely guidance for market participants. ...more
Last year saw a boom in the market for SPACs, or special purpose acquisition companies. Almost 250 SPACs raised more than $80 billion in initial public offerings (IPOs) during 2020. This trend did not let up as the calendar...more