From Fraud Investigations to DESPAC Due Diligence — James Tunkey

What Misclassified Warrants and Earnouts Really Cost a DESPAC — Sam Salty & Mark Stoller

Misclassify warrants or earnouts and you can blow up your DESPAC valuation, delay closing by months, and stack millions in advisory, audit, and legal fees on a deal that was supposed to be ready. Sam Salty (Managing Partner, GuzmanGray) and Mark Stoller (CMO, GuzmanGray) join Chaz Churchwell on The DESPAC Podcast to break down what real PCAOB readiness looks like, why AICPA-grade audit evidence rarely survives PCAOB scrutiny, and how the post-inspection shakeup created a vacuum that disciplined audit firms are now stepping into. They unpack the technical traps that wreck DESPAC timelines, the fee-structure tricks private companies miss, and why early auditor involvement is the biggest predictor of a clean close. What We Cover: - Why misclassified warrants and earnouts trigger restatements, SEC scrutiny, and PIPE-confidence damage - When private companies must shift from AICPA to PCAOB standards before going public - The independence rule that forces some companies to fire their existing auditor on day one - ASC 606 revenue recognition gaps that quietly distort financials before a deal - Why fair-value valuations require a separate independent expert from the SPAC valuation - Internal controls, carve-outs, and proformas that look fine until PCAOB inspects them - The pre-audit advisory step almost every private company underestimates - Flat-fee vs. range pricing, and the back-end fees that surprise newly public CFOs - The audit firm shutdown that forced public companies into expensive re-audits - How GuzmanGray bakes quality control in to prevent fire drills Connect with Sam Salty: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-salty-0a36741/ Website: https://guzmangray.com/ Connect with Mark Stoller: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-stoller-secaudit312/ Website: https://guzmangray.com/ Protect Your Transaction: Churchwell Insurance Agency specializes in D&O, E&O, representations and warranties, and public company liability for SPAC sponsors, DESPAC targets, and post-merger companies. https://www.churchwellagency.com/ Follow The DESPAC Podcast: https://www.thedespacpodcast.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/chazchurchwell/ https://www.youtube.com/@thedespacpodcast The DESPAC Podcast [https://www.thedespacpodcast.com/] is proud to spotlight The SPAC Conference, happening June 9–10 at Westchester Country Club in New York. Host Chaz Churchwell will be speaking alongside leading voices across the SPAC and DESPAC ecosystem. If you’re considering going public through a SPAC, this is a must-attend event. Learn more at https://spacconference.com/ [https://spacconference.com/] THE DESPAC PODCAST STANDARD LEGAL DISCLAIMER The DESPAC Podcast is for informational purposes only. The views and opinions expressed by the host and guests are their own and do not represent the views of Smooth Stone Capital, its affiliates, or any sponsoring organization. Nothing in this podcast should be interpreted as legal advice, investment advice, tax advice, or a recommendation to pursue or avoid any transaction. Discussions may reference SPACs, DESPAC transactions, securities regulations, or public-company readiness frameworks. These conversations are educational in nature and should not be relied upon when making financial or strategic decisions. Listeners should consult qualified legal, financial, and tax professionals before acting on any information discussed in this podcast. Any examples or scenarios mentioned are illustrative and may not reflect current market conditions or regulatory requirements. Participation by a guest does not constitute an endorsement of any company, strategy, product, or service. References to specific firms or individuals are for context only. Smooth Stone Capital and the DESPAC Podcast disclaim all liability arising from the use of or reliance on the information presented.

The 3 Non-Negotiables Every DESPAC Target Must Show Today with Alex Weniger-Araujo & Shahrooz Shahnavaz

"You can't be a SPAC and a DESPAC at the same time." That's the line from McGuireWoods partner Alex Weniger-Araujo that captures everything wrong with how most private companies approach going public. In this episode, Chaz sits down with Alex Weniger-Araujo (Capital Markets & Securities Partner) and Shahrooz Shahnavaz (Tax Partner & Co-Leader) of McGuireWoods — two attorneys with over 100 SPAC and DESPAC transactions between them. They unpack the SPAC 4.0 era: the institutional discipline, regulatory reset, and three non-negotiables every target must show today. A practitioner-grade conversation for SPAC sponsors, target CEOs and CFOs, securities counsel, and institutional investors. What We Cover: - The 3 non-negotiable traits every DESPAC target must show in 2026 - Why audit readiness and PCAOB-qualified financials cannot be an afterthought - The "why public" thesis that separates serious targets from liquidity-event founders - Tax structuring: why "tax-free" is a myth and how deferral actually works - Cross-border deal complexity and US/foreign tax treaty implications - Co-registrants on the S-4 and F-4 — what target executives are signing up for - Fairness opinions, exchange listing requirements, and legal pre-work that prevents delays - Earnouts, forward purchase agreements, and backstops to manage redemptions - Hot sectors right now: AI infrastructure, data centers, energy, space, and health tech - Why the third or fourth earnings call matters more than DESPAC closing Connect with Alex Weniger-Araujo: McGuireWoods: https://www.mcguirewoods.com/people/w/g-alex-weniger-araujo/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/galexaraujo/ Connect with Shahrooz Shahnavaz: McGuireWoods: https://www.mcguirewoods.com/people/s/shahrooz-r-shahnavaz/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shahroozshahnavaz/ Protect Your Transaction: Churchwell Insurance Agency specializes in D&O, E&O, representations and warranties, and public company liability for SPAC sponsors, DESPAC targets, and post-merger companies. https://www.churchwellagency.com/ Follow The DESPAC Podcast: https://www.thedespacpodcast.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/chazchurchwell/ https://www.youtube.com/@thedespacpodcast The DESPAC Podcast [https://www.thedespacpodcast.com/] is proud to spotlight The SPAC Conference, happening June 9–10 at Westchester Country Club in New York. Host Chaz Churchwell will be speaking alongside leading voices across the SPAC and DESPAC ecosystem. If you’re considering going public through a SPAC, this is a must-attend event. Learn more at https://spacconference.com/ [https://spacconference.com/] THE DESPAC PODCAST STANDARD LEGAL DISCLAIMER The DESPAC Podcast is for informational purposes only. The views and opinions expressed by the host and guests are their own and do not represent the views of Smooth Stone Capital, its affiliates, or any sponsoring organization. Nothing in this podcast should be interpreted as legal advice, investment advice, tax advice, or a recommendation to pursue or avoid any transaction. Discussions may reference SPACs, DESPAC transactions, securities regulations, or public-company readiness frameworks. These conversations are educational in nature and should not be relied upon when making financial or strategic decisions. Listeners should consult qualified legal, financial, and tax professionals before acting on any information discussed in this podcast. Any examples or scenarios mentioned are illustrative and may not reflect current market conditions or regulatory requirements. Participation by a guest does not constitute an endorsement of any company, strategy, product, or service. References to specific firms or individuals are for context only. Smooth Stone Capital and the DESPAC Podcast disclaim all liability arising from the use of or reliance on the information presented.

From Fraud Investigations to DESPAC Due Diligence — James Tunkey

A Certified Fraud Examiner who ran undercover investigations for Kroll is now one of the most valuable assets a private company can have heading into a de-SPAC. James Tunkey has worked 50+ de-SPAC transactions — and he says most private companies have no idea what's coming at them in executive due diligence, or how to use it strategically. James Tunkey, CFE and Managing Director of I on Asia, brings three decades of fraud investigation and background check expertise to the de-SPAC world. He breaks down what executive due diligence really involves, why undisclosed litigation is the weapon short sellers wait for, how one bad director can blow up a deal at the two-yard line, and why completing due diligence early directly lowers your cost of capital. Whether you're a private company preparing to go public, a SPAC sponsor evaluating a target, or a securities attorney managing diligence, this is a practitioner-level view of what rigorous due diligence looks like — and what happens when it's skipped, rushed, or bought on the cheap. 🎯 What We Cover: * Core pillars of executive due diligence in a de-SPAC transaction * International vs. domestic: GDPR, local privacy law, and public records availability * How one undisclosed director can collapse a deal at the two-yard line * The six-month expiry window: what to refresh vs. what's already locked in * Why early due diligence signals public-readiness to SPAC sponsors * How fraud investigation experience drives pattern-based, red-flag-first screening * How short seller campaigns exploit pre-merger disclosure gaps * Where due diligence vendors oversell and where going cheap creates exposure * Crime insurance as an overlooked financial protection layer post-de-SPAC 🤝 Connect with James Tunkey: Website: https://www.ionasia.com/ [https://www.ionasia.com/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamestunkey/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamestunkey/] 🛡️ Protect Your Transaction: Churchwell Insurance Agency specializes in D&O, E&O, representations and warranties, and public company liability for SPAC sponsors, de-SPAC targets, and post-merger companies. https://www.churchwellagency.com/ [https://www.churchwellagency.com/] 🎙️ Follow The DESPAC Podcast: https://www.thedespacpodcast.com/ [https://www.thedespacpodcast.com/] https://www.linkedin.com/in/chazchurchwell/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/chazchurchwell/] https://www.youtube.com/@thedespacpodcast [https://www.youtube.com/@thedespacpodcast] The DESPAC Podcast [https://www.thedespacpodcast.com/] is proud to spotlight The SPAC Conference, happening June 9–10 at Westchester Country Club in New York. Host Chaz Churchwell will be speaking alongside leading voices across the SPAC and DESPAC ecosystem. If you’re considering going public through a SPAC, this is a must-attend event. Learn more at https://spacconference.com/ [https://spacconference.com/] THE DESPAC PODCAST STANDARD LEGAL DISCLAIMER The DESPAC Podcast is for informational purposes only. The views and opinions expressed by the host and guests are their own and do not represent the views of Smooth Stone Capital, its affiliates, or any sponsoring organization. Nothing in this podcast should be interpreted as legal advice, investment advice, tax advice, or a recommendation to pursue or avoid any transaction. Discussions may reference SPACs, DESPAC transactions, securities regulations, or public-company readiness frameworks. These conversations are educational in nature and should not be relied upon when making financial or strategic decisions. Listeners should consult qualified legal, financial, and tax professionals before acting on any information discussed in this podcast. Any examples or scenarios mentioned are illustrative and may not reflect current market conditions or regulatory requirements. Participation by a guest does not constitute an endorsement of any company, strategy, product, or service. References to specific firms or individuals are for context only. Smooth Stone Capital and the DESPAC Podcast disclaim all liability arising from the use of or reliance on the information presented.

How Fairness Opinions Actually Work in a DESPAC Transaction — Michael Moscarelli

Valuation disputes are the #1 source of litigation, infighting, and blown DESPAC deals. Michael Moscarelli of Houlihan Capital has personally delivered up to 15 DESPAC fairness opinions and breaks down exactly how the process works, what targets consistently get wrong, and why the financial projections you share today could become your single biggest post-close liability. Michael Moscarelli is a Vice President in Houlihan Capital's Valuation and Financial Advisory practice and leads the firm's SPAC fairness opinion practice. With 27 opinions completed firm-wide across biotech, SaaS, cryptoassets, telecom, and CPG, he covers fair pricing vs. fair process, per-share fairness analysis, dilution mechanics, projection disclosure risk, and what target management teams must do to prepare before the opinion process kicks off. What We Cover: * What a fairness opinion delivers and why SPAC boards require third-party validation * Fair pricing vs. fair process: the two components every target needs to understand * Why DESPAC fairness opinions are conducted on a per-share basis, not just enterprise value * How sponsor shares, warrants, rights, and PIPE terms erode target shareholder value * Why your last private round valuation is irrelevant to a public market * Projection disclosure risk and why numbers shared with the opinion team enter public filings * Red flags in fairness opinion fee structures, including contingent compensation arrangements * How to build credible, defensible financial forecasts before the BCA is announced * What slows the process: unresponsive targets, shifting deal terms, and unaudited financials * The litigation defense role a rigorous fairness opinion plays in a DESPAC transaction Connect with Michael Moscarelli: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelmoscarelli [https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelmoscarelli] Protect Your Transaction: Churchwell Insurance Agency specializes in D&O, E&O, representations and warranties, and public company liability for SPAC sponsors, de-SPAC targets, and post-merger companies. https://www.churchwellagency.com/ [https://www.churchwellagency.com/] Follow The DESPAC Podcast: https://www.thedespacpodcast.com/ [https://www.thedespacpodcast.com/] https://www.linkedin.com/in/chazchurchwell/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/chazchurchwell/] https://www.youtube.com/@thedespacpodcast [https://www.youtube.com/@thedespacpodcast] The DESPAC Podcast [https://www.thedespacpodcast.com/] is proud to spotlight The SPAC Conference, happening June 9–10 at Westchester Country Club in New York. Host Chaz Churchwell will be speaking alongside leading voices across the SPAC and DESPAC ecosystem. If you’re considering going public through a SPAC, this is a must-attend event. Learn more at https://spacconference.com/ [https://spacconference.com/] THE DESPAC PODCAST STANDARD LEGAL DISCLAIMER The DESPAC Podcast is for informational purposes only. The views and opinions expressed by the host and guests are their own and do not represent the views of Smooth Stone Capital, its affiliates, or any sponsoring organization. Nothing in this podcast should be interpreted as legal advice, investment advice, tax advice, or a recommendation to pursue or avoid any transaction. Discussions may reference SPACs, DESPAC transactions, securities regulations, or public-company readiness frameworks. These conversations are educational in nature and should not be relied upon when making financial or strategic decisions. Listeners should consult qualified legal, financial, and tax professionals before acting on any information discussed in this podcast. Any examples or scenarios mentioned are illustrative and may not reflect current market conditions or regulatory requirements. Participation by a guest does not constitute an endorsement of any company, strategy, product, or service. References to specific firms or individuals are for context only. Smooth Stone Capital and the DESPAC Podcast disclaim all liability arising from the use of or reliance on the information presented.

The SPAC Market Reset: Why the Next Wave May Be Stronger

This episode provides a quick market update on the SPAC ecosystem and discusses how legal trends and governance practices are shaping the next cycle of deals. Chaz Churchwell explains why securities litigation has dropped dramatically since the peak SPAC boom and outlines steps SPAC sponsors and targets can take to protect themselves moving forward. The episode also explores why governance, valuation discipline, and strong advisory teams are becoming critical components of successful DESPAC transactions. The DESPAC Podcast [https://www.thedespacpodcast.com/] is proud to spotlight The SPAC Conference, happening June 9–10 at Westchester Country Club in New York. Host Chaz Churchwell will be speaking alongside leading voices across the SPAC and DESPAC ecosystem. If you’re considering going public through a SPAC, this is a must-attend event. Learn more at https://spacconference.com/ [https://spacconference.com/] THE DESPAC PODCAST STANDARD LEGAL DISCLAIMER The DESPAC Podcast is for informational purposes only. The views and opinions expressed by the host and guests are their own and do not represent the views of Smooth Stone Capital, its affiliates, or any sponsoring organization. Nothing in this podcast should be interpreted as legal advice, investment advice, tax advice, or a recommendation to pursue or avoid any transaction. Discussions may reference SPACs, DESPAC transactions, securities regulations, or public-company readiness frameworks. These conversations are educational in nature and should not be relied upon when making financial or strategic decisions. Listeners should consult qualified legal, financial, and tax professionals before acting on any information discussed in this podcast. Any examples or scenarios mentioned are illustrative and may not reflect current market conditions or regulatory requirements. Participation by a guest does not constitute an endorsement of any company, strategy, product, or service. References to specific firms or individuals are for context only. Smooth Stone Capital and the DESPAC Podcast disclaim all liability arising from the use of or reliance on the information presented.