In a spin off, a business is separated out as a stand alone entity which the parent's shareholders will probably receive new shares in this business. You can understand this as a form of dividend in kind. (i.e. you receive a new entity's shares as dividend distribution) after the transaction, there is two trading entities while the shareholders holds two types of shares for two standalone companies respectively.
In a split off, new shares of the new stand alone entity are given in exchange for parent's shares. or you can understand this as a rare form of parent's share buyback using new shares as consideration.
It sounds confusing. but the reality is that split-off is very rare relative to spin-off.
In a split off, new shares of the new stand alone entity are given in exchange for parent's shares. or you can understand this as a rare form of parent's share buyback using new shares as consideration.
It sounds confusing. but the reality is that split-off is very rare relative to spin-off.