The US securities regulator has proposed sweeping reforms of special purpose acquisition companies, including stripping them of legal safeguards that have allowed sponsors to present rosy forecasts to potential investors.
On Wednesday the Securities and Exchange Commission voted in favour of proposals that would heighten disclosures on Spac sponsors, conflicts of interest and performance projections, bringing them more into line with rules on traditional initial public offerings. The steps would hamper executives’ ability to embellish expected revenues and put them at greater risk of lawsuits.
“Investors deserve the protections they receive from traditional IPOs, with respect to information asymmetries, fraud and conflicts,” Gary Gensler, SEC chair, said in a statement. SEC commissioners must take a second vote after receiving public comments in order to enact the proposed rules.