We have a dedicated public markets practice based across the UK, providing a first-rate service across the full range of transactions.


Whether it's advice on domestic or cross-border takeovers of public companies, the sale or purchase of a business which involves a listed company, floating companies on the public markets or raising new equity finance for them, our corporate finance practice can help.

Our lawyers are highly regarded and we have many years' experience advising a wide range of clients in the UK and overseas including Main Market listed businesses (including companies in the FTSE 100), AIM companies, investors, management teams, financial advisory firms and corporate brokers.

In addition to our work for the UK Takeover Panel, lawyers on our team have also been seconded to the UK takeovers regulator, giving our clients the benefit of cutting-edge experience on UK takeovers and mergers, unrivalled by any other law firm.

Clients and expertise

Our recent experience includes advising:

Public M&A Transactions
  • Brand Architekts Group plc on its recommended c.£13.9m takeover by Warpaint London plc.
  • musicMagpie Plc on its acquisition by AO World 
  • Belvoir Group PLC on its all-share merger with The Property Franchise Group PLC 
  • N Brown Group plc on its £191m takeover by Joshua Alliance
  • The City Pub Group PLC on a £162m recommended cash and share takeover by Young & Co.’s Brewery P.L.C.
  • Alpha Financial Markets Consulting plc on the recommended £626m takeover offer  by Bridgepoint Advisers Limited
  • ETC Holdings (Mauritius) Limited ("ETC Holdings") on the recommended c.£142m cash takeover offer by Saturn Resources Ltd for Shanta Gold Limited 
  • DX (Group) plc on a recommended £315m takeover offer from H.I.G. European Capital Partners LLP
  • abrdn Property Income Trust Limited on a series of strategic options, including the competing takeover offers from Custodian Property REIT and Urban Logistics, a £351m portfolio disposal and return of capital to shareholders
  • Rathbones Group plc on its £2bn combination with Investec Wealth & Investment
  • DBAY Advisers, an international asset management firm and Frisbee Bidco on the £143m takeover of Finsbury Food Group plc, a leading speciality bakery manufacturer 
  • Rothermere Continuation Limited on its £2.69bn recommended takeover of Daily Mail and General Trust plc and related reorganisation
  • Sanne Group plc on its £1.51bn recommended takeover by Apex Group Limited
  • Entain plc on its takeover defence following an approach from MGM Resorts
  • PEXA Group Limited on its £31m recommended takeover for Smoove plc
  • Curtis Banks Group plc on its £241m recommended takeover by Nucleus Financial Platforms Limited
  • Xpediator plc on its £62m recommended takeover by a consortium including funds managed by Baltcap
  • AdvancedAdvT Limited on its hostile and competitive £300m all-share takeover offer for M&C Saatchi plc
  • Associated British Foods Plc on its £48m recommended takeover of National Milk Records Plc
Equity Capital Markets Transactions
  • LBG Media plc on its £360m AIM IPO
  • musicMagpie plc on its £208m AIM IPO
  • GENinCode plc on its £42m AIM IPO
  • Allenby Capital Limited on the £33m AIM IPO of Skillcast Group plc
  • Sanne Group plc on a £80 million placing
  • JD Sports Fashion plc on a £464m placing
  • Rathbones Group plc on a £50m placing
  • Alpha Financial Markets Consulting plc on a £31m placing
  • Liberum Capital on the £120m AIM IPO of SourceBio International plc
  • On The Beach Group plc on a £67m cash box placing and, subsequently, a £26m placing
  • Brickability Group plc on its £150m AIM IPO
  • Scapa Group plc on a £33m cash box placing
  • N+1 Singer (now Singer Capital Markets) on the £73m AIM IPO of essensys plc and, subsequently, advising Singer Capital Markets and Berenberg on a £33m placing and open offer by essensys plc
  • Numis Securities on the £651m Main Market IPO of AJ Bell plc 
  • GVC Holdings plc on its step up from AIM to the Standard segment and, subsequently, to the Premium segment of the Main Market 
  • Liberum Capital on the £145m AIM IPO of Mind Gym plc 
  • Sumo Group plc on its £145m AIM IPO
  • The Multifamily Housing REIT plc on its proposed £175m Main Market IPO
  • The City Pub Group plc on its £96m AIM IPO 
  • Zeus Capital and Jefferies on the £500m AIM IPO of boohoo group plc and subsequent equity placings
  • Norcros plc on its £60m Class 1 acquisition of Merlyn Industries Limited and related equity and debt fundraisings 
  • Zeus Capital and Peel Hunt on the £255m AIM IPO of Watkin Jones plc
Testimonials

"Addleshaw Goddard is well known in the market for its ECM work, including IPOs and secondary fundraisings. As advisors to the takeovers regulator, the team is uniquely well-placed to advise on public M&A transactions, for which it has extensive expertise."

"Very active in mid-cap ECM, the sheer volume of deals they do means that they are always on top of the issues." 

"We get partner-led, sensible and pragmatic advice and every interaction feels like it's personal."

"Addleshaw Goddard provides a silver service for public takeovers, advising not only on law and regulation but on market practice too."

"Addleshaw Goddard is particularly strong in public M&A. The department advises a large number of FTSE 100 and 250 clients and has a consistent record of mid-market work for blue chip clients."

17 takeover offers

Our Corporate Finance team advised on 17 takeover offers out the 56 firmly announced in 2023, a market share in excess of 30% by deal volume.

For more information, please don't hesitate to get in touch.

Key contact

Meet the team
Giles Distin

Giles Distin

Partner, Corporate Finance
London, UK

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Nick Pearey

Nick Pearey

Partner, Corporate Finance
London, UK

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Louise Pritchard

Louise Pritchard

Partner, Corporate Finance
London, UK

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Simon Wood

Simon Wood

Partner, Corporate Finance
London, UK

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Anna Brown

Anna Brown

Partner, Corporate Finance
Glasgow, UK

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Roger Hart

Roger Hart

Partner, Corporate Finance / Head of Manchester Office
Manchester, UK

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Lucy Robson

Lucy Robson

Partner, Corporate Finance
London

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Adam Hastings

Adam Hastings

Partner, Corporate Finance
Leeds, UK

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Resources

 

Delivering Strategic Transactions in Surreal Times

Against the backdrop of a post-lockdown world we have put together a series of guides to help businesses identify what to consider when approaching transactional activity in the coming months.

Explore the guides