Overview
Ian advises domestic and international corporates on major M&A transactions and equity offerings, as well as on general corporate governance. He has specialist knowledge in the areas of related party transactions, UK Takeover Code-governed transactions, UK Listing Rules reform, non-UK incorporated companies with UK listings, dual-listed company (DLC) structures and FTSE100 and FTSE250 indexation. He also has particular experience of advising companies with controlling interests in public companies.
Ian has significant experience of working on transactions across the natural resources sector, including joint ventures and equity capital markets deals, as well as M&A transactions
In addition, Ian has developed expertise advising professional services firms on their major transactions, as well as advising them on structure and risk management.
Work highlights
Ian has led, or been a key advisor, on many groundbreaking corporate deals. Highlights include advising:
- Glencore on its US$90bn merger with Xstrata, on its US$10bn IPO and dual listings in London and Hong Kong, on its placing of shares in 2015, on the sale of a 40% interest in its agricultural products division and on the divestment of its stake in Lonmin by way of an “in specie” distribution of assets
- Deloitte on its plans to merge nine of its member firms including those in Belgium, Denmark, Finland and Iceland with its UK and Swiss operations to create Deloitte North West Europe
- Amlin on its £3.5bn acquisition by Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Co.
- Dealogic on its US$700m acquisition by funds managed by Carlyle, a rare example of an acquisition of an unlisted company subject to the Takeover Code rules
- Essar Energy on its US£1.9bn acquisition by Essar Global Fund
- E.ON on the separation of its UK conventional generation business and the demerger of Uniper, its German power plant and energy trading unit
- Computacenter on its 2015 return of capital by way of B share scheme
Professional experience
Ian drafted the 2015 revision of statement of principles governing pre-emption rights on behalf of the Pre-Emption Group, a lobbying organisation which represents listed companies, investors and intermediaries.
Education and qualifications
Ian studied chemistry at New College, Oxford University.
