Sebi forms expert group to examine feasibility of SPACs

Capital market regulator Sebi has formed a group of experts to examine the feasibility of introducing Special Purpose Acquisition Companies (SPACs) like structures in India, sources said on Thursday.

The group, formed under Sebi's Primary Market Advisory Committee (PMAC), has been asked to submit its report at the earliest, the sources added.

"Sebi wants to explore the potential of SPACs while at the same time building adequate checks and balances in regulatory framework to take care of the associated risks," said a source privy to the development.

SPACs are formed to raise capital in an initial public offering (IPO) with the purpose of using the proceeds to identify and merge with a target company.

SPACs are usually formed by private equity funds or financial institutions, with expertise in a particular industry or business sector, with investment for initial working capital and issue related expenses. Such companies have recently become popular in the US.

There has been increasing demand that SPACs should be allowed in India as well.

According to market experts, while SPACs have several advantages, they also raise various regulatory concerns.

For public shareholders, SPACs give the advantage of investing along with the sponsors in the SPAC like private equity type transactions.

The advantage for the sponsor is that it allows rapid deployment of capital to take advantage of opportunities. It also helps the target company acquired by the SPAC going public during periods of market instability or volatility in traditional IPO markets.

SPACs also face several challenges. According to experts, SPACs have distinct trading cycles unlike an IPO.They also need to deal with uncertainty risk like divergent interests of sponsors, investors and the target company.

In the Indian context, some of the challenges are that merger through scheme of arrangement could be time consuming. Similarly, the process of liquidation could take considerable time, which might reduce the attractiveness of SPAC over IPO.

There are regulatory concerns and issues as well in the SPAC proposal.

"As per the Companies Act, 2013, a company is required to commence business within one year of incorporation. This may not suit a SPAC which may not have business for nearly two years," said a company secretary.

Other regulatory concerns could be the stage at which retail participation should be allowed. Sebi regulations also would need amendment to allow listing of a SPAC which could initially be a non-operating company.

The other concern is regarding change in control post amalgamation, which again might require amendments to takeover regulations, said a market expert.