Welcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business Leaders

In recent years, a new way of taking companies public has exploded onto the scene: the special-purpose acquisition company, or SPAC. SPACs are regulated differently than traditional IPOs, they have different risks, and require different communication strategies. But if you understand them, SPACs can offer incredible opportunities for management and investors alike. For a deeper understanding of this new structure, we turned to a familiar face, someone who has been working on SPACs since the very beginning. President of ICR, Don Duffy, has spent almost 15 years working with SPACs and has seen the structure evolve into its current form. Don gives us his candid analysis on SPACs and how they've played a significant role in the modern stock market. Don also relays the historical context of institutionalised finance and how the market has reached the financial battleground that is active today. Since 2001, Don has worked towards building ICR’s industry teams and corporate culture. To understand how SPACs have forced their way into the public conversation, listen here to find out more.

Show Notes

Highlights:
  • Looking at the impact of SPACs and recent history of the market (0:41)
  • When the market 'pivoted' and institutions changed their transactional approach (4:06)
  • The changes of structure relating to transaction negotiation (5:52)
  • Don's opinion on regulation (13:30)
  • The benefits of buying SPACs for investors (15:35)
  • Sponsor and target relations (23:29)
  • Media strategy difference between IPO and SPAC (28:02)
  • How to deal with the threat of short-sellers (30:32)
Links:
ICR Twitter
ICR LinkedIn
ICR Website
Don Duffy LinkedIn

Feedback:
If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producer, andrew@lowerstreet.co

What is Welcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business Leaders?

In the increasingly crowded and competitive corporate and financial ecosystem, it’s harder than ever for companies to break through the clutter and be heard. The media, investors, agenda-driven influencers, even customers and competitors, are defining your business story on their terms. Therefore, it is imperative that companies take control and proactively drive the conversation with stakeholders in an effort to build & maintain equity value.

In Welcome to the Arena from ICR, Co-Founder & CEO of ICR, Tom Ryan, interviews key business and financial players who influence the fate of public or aspiring public companies in the capital markets. As a former Wall Street Journal ranked sell-side equity analyst and the founder of one of the largest strategic communications firms in the world, Tom understands what it takes to navigate this complex environment.

This is a forum for CEOs, CFOs, institutional investors, sell-side analysts, financial journalists, private equity professionals and other financial community participants to share their stories and give advice in an open and candid conversation.

For more information, visit http://www.icrinc.com