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Duff & Phelps acquired Kroll in 2018 and unified under the Kroll brand in 2022.
Special Purpose Acquisition Companies (SPACs) have grown rapidly as an alternate vehicle to take a company public without going through the same rigor as in the traditional IPO process. For the calendar year 2021, there were a record 613 SPAC IPOs totaling over $163 billion in proceeds, with an additional 575 SPACs active and seeking targets and 272 SPACs currently filed to IPO in 2022. Given the proliferation of SPACs, scrutiny of this vehicle is likely to continue to increase. SPAC executives and sponsors will need to ensure they are in compliance with regulatory reporting requirements and have sufficient governance policies in place to withstand the added scrutiny and potential litigation.
Kroll, offers an array of valuation services to support a SPACs financial and tax reporting as well as to establish founders’ interests for a variety of purposes. We offer practical insights into key valuation issues of concern to clients, auditors, investors and regulators. As the leading independent valuation services firm in the world, we are uniquely positioned to support SPACs with their valuation needs throughout their lifecycle as highlighted below.
On April 12, 2021, the SEC issued a Staff Statement on Accounting and Reporting Considerations for Warrants Issued by SPACs. While SPACs have typically classified warrants on their balance sheets as equity, the SEC has highlighted that under certain circumstances U.S. GAAP would require warrants to be classified as a liability and measured at fair value on a quarterly basis. Changes in fair value would need to be reported in earnings, and SPACs that have misclassified their warrants as equity may be required to restate their financial results if the impact is deemed material. We are working with our SPAC clients and sponsors on determining the fair value of the warrant liability, in connection with the reclassification, at the IPO date and at subsequent quarterly reporting dates.
SPACs are required to make an acquisition within two years of inception or return the money raised to their investors. We can assist with financial reporting valuation for business combinations (ASC 805 and IFRS 3) as well as valuations for tax purposes (IRC 1060). Kroll is a market leader in performing this service, providing deep industry and functional specialization to every engagement.
We regularly assist in the valuation of interests in SPACs, including founders’ interests, PIPES, warrants, as well as restricted shares, including calculation of the appropriate discount for lack of marketability.
Kroll’s expertise and independence have made us a leading provider of valuation services for business combinations.
Kroll is the largest independent provider of business valuation services.
Our Business Modelling and Analytics team supports clients’ strategic decisions by providing robust quantitative solutions and delivering actionable insight from data.
Many securities issued in connection with share-based compensation or M&A transactions involve derivatives that require a valuation for financial reporting or tax purposes.
Valuation and accounting advice to assist companies in successfully emerging from bankruptcy.
Kroll is a leading provider of goodwill, intangible and long-lived asset impairment testing.
Kroll offers experience, reliability and transparency in the valuation of machinery and equipment for virtually every industry.
Kroll helps clients enhance fundamental company value by optimizing their transaction, investment, growth and operational strategies.
by Bob Bartell, CFA, Mark Kwilosz, Stephen Burt, Chris Janssen, Jennifer Terrell, Raphael (Ray) Newman
by Steven Nebb , David Larsen