In a spin-off, a public company separates one or more of its businesses into new, publicly traded companies. For the public company that initiates it, a spin-off can achieve a number of critical business and financial objectives, including:

..Potentially achieving a greater valuation multiple and unlocking shareholder value by disposing of lower-valuation business segments

..Permitting investors to evaluate and make investment decisions based on the separate investment characteristics of each company

..Allowing the management teams of the separate companies to focus on their distinct core business, unhindered by the needs of the other business, leading to superior performance and results

..Providing the separate companies the flexibility to pursue distinct capital allocation strategies based on their respective business needs and priorities, and potentially achieving a more favorable cost of capital and greater access to the capital markets

..Allowing the divestment of a non-core business in a tax efficient manner

A spin-off requires advanced planning across a number of disciplines, incorporating elements of capital markets, tax, finance, intellectual property, and mergers and acquisitions. This article identifies some of the primary considerations companies may wish to take into account to help ensure a successful spin-off.