Edward Westhead

I have particular expertise in corporate finance for the life sciences, technology (including gaming) and energy & natural resources and sectors.

Our Equity Capital Markets team is one of only four in the UK to be ranked Band 1 in Chambers & Partners for Equity Capital Markets (AIM) and is described by Chamber & Partners as an "outstanding capital markets offering."

I am listed in the Legal 500 for Equity Capitals Market (AIM) as a "Next Generation Partner" and it describes me as "highly regarded" and "very approachable, knowledgeable and commercial."

I am also a member of the exam panel for the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment's Diploma in Corporate Finance.

Recent notable transactions include:

Technology

• Devolver Digital, Inc as its lead IPO counsel, on its IPO and c. £200m fundraising, the second largest IPO on AIM by market cap (c. USD 1 billion) in the history of the market
• AIM-listed Blue Prism, the leader in AI and robotic process automation, on its acquisition of Thoughtonomy;
• AIM-listed Checkit plc (formerly Elektron Technologies) on its disposal of the Bulgin business and return to shareholders by way of tender offer of the majority of the sale proceeds;
• AIM-listed Seeing Machines Limited, a leader in AI and driver monitoring technology, on its placings and open offers;
• AIM-listed EVR Holdings, the virtual reality content provider, on its reverse takeover of Melody VR and its readmission to AIM;

• Synairgen plc on its £87 million fundraising to support its Phase III trial and manufacturing scale up of its potential COVID-19 therapeutic, with Numis Securities and finnCap as joint bookrunners.
• Cenkos Securities plc on the IPO, placing and vendor placing of AIM-listed Diaceutics plc, the life sciences diagnostic and consultancy business;
• Stifel on the IPO of AIM-listed Ergomed plc, the clinical trials services and drug development business and acting for Numis and N+1 Singer on Ergomed's subsequent acquisitions and secondary fundraisings;
• Panmure Gordon on the IPO and secondary fundraisings of AIM-listed Horizon Discovery, the gene editing, diagnostics and CRO services business;
• Panmure Gordon and Bank DeGroof Petercam on the reverse takeover of Ecuphar (the Belgian veterinary medicines business ) by AIM listed Animalcare Group plc, its associated fundraising of c. £33 million and readmission to AIM;

• SigmaRoc plc, as lead IPO counsel, on its acquisition of Nordkalk, reverse takeover, £260 million placing  and readmission to AIM, with Peel Hunt, Liberum Capital and Numis acting as joint bookrunners.
• Liberum Capital, Tamesis and Cormark on the £32 million fundraising of Shanta Gold Limited
• finnCap Limited on the admission to AIM of Gemfields Group, a world-leading supplier of responsibly-sourced emeralds and rubies and which also owns the world-renowned luxury jewellery brand, Fabergé;
• finnCap on the reverse acquisition by AIM quoted-Nautilus Marine Services plc of a number of offshore services assets and its readmission to AIM;

• Standard & Poor Global Indices UK on its recommended cash offer for Trucost plc.
• Investment fund Barker Partnership LP on its recommended cash offer for AIM-listed Synnovia plc;
• Poly Glorious Investment Company Limited on its £50 million takeover of AIM-listed MayAir Group plc;