Corporate Finance And Investment Banking
We provide services to a number of corporate finance firms and investment banks including firms who offer advising and/or arranging services in relation to mergers and acquisitions, management buy-ins and buy-outs and debt or equity fund raising.
As most of our clients in this sector do not have day to day dealings with retail investors the nature of our work in this area tends to be more focussed on issues such as whether a particular activity or transaction needs to be regulated, financial promotion issues, conflicts of interest and controls around inside information, and compliance with UKLA requirements.
The identification and management of conflicts of interest is an important focus area of the FSA and the effective management and control of inside information is important not just for listed companies but also for their advisors and third parties. We can assist with the implementation of appropriate systems and controls in this area including developing procedures relating to insider lists and personal account dealing polices. We are able to assist with the creation of effective policies and procedures for the management of conflicts generally and we have recently assisted a number of clients implement appropriate controls in this area.
Recent work in this area includes:
- advising on the promotion of corporate investment opportunities under FPO exemptions;
- client categorisation of corporate clients under the MiFID client categorisation regime, and the extent to which the conduct of business rules apply to such clients;
- implementing procedures to identify, manage and monitor potential conflicts of interest within an investment bank;
- advising a corporate finance boutique in relation to the application of the Prospectus Directive to a proposed private placement;
- advising a Nomad on the requirements that would apply to upgrading to UKLA sponsor status;
- assisting a Nomad in responding to FSA and AIM enquiries relating to an AIM IPO;
- preparing and submitting sponsor applications to the UKLA;
- advising a Sponsor on aspects of the UKLA Listing Rules.
We are able to provide pragmatic solutions to a wide range of compliance issues based on our familiarity with the policy and approach of the regulators of the United Kingdom's capital markets.