Frederick Gardner

Latham & Watkins has advised WE Soda, the world’s largest producer of natural soda ash, on its potential initial public offering (IPO) on the London Stock Exchange (LSE). The transaction is the largest IPO on the LSE so far in 2023. Soda ash is a critical ingredient in glass manufacturing and is also used in many other applications and products which play an important role in facilitating the energy transition and sustainability trends, including solar photovoltaic glass and the production of lithium carbonate used in lithium ion electric vehicle batteries. The Latham team was led by London corporate partners Francesco Lione and James Inness. Additional advice on UK capital markets matters was provided by London associate Frederick Gardner; and on US capital markets matters by London associates Rosie Wu, Sean Stanton, Tamara Fayad, and Evan Aluyen.~~

May 31

1 min

Abcam plc (Abcam), a global leader in the supply of life science research tools, has announced the pricing of its offering of 8,945,218 American Depositary Shares (ADSs), representing an aggregate of 8,945,218 ordinary shares, at a price of US$17.50 per ADS, for aggregate proceeds of approximately US$156.5 million, before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions. Each ADS offered represents one ordinary share of Abcam. In addition, Abcam has granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 1,341,782 ADSs on the same terms and conditions. Abcam's ordinary shares are admitted to trading on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange under the symbol "ABC." Abcam’s ADSs are expected to begin trading on Nasdaq on October 22, 2020 under the ticker symbol “ABCM.” The closing of the offering is expected to occur on October 26, 2020, subject to customary closing conditions. Latham & Watkins LLP represented Abcam in the offering with a capital markets team led by New York partners Ian Schuman and Nathan Ajiashvili and London partner Robbie McLaren, with London associates Jennifer Gascoyne, Anna Ngo, Sarah Youssefi, Jackie Yonover, and Frederick Gardner.~~

Oct 22

1 min

Latham & Watkins is advising Rothschild as sponsor and Numis and Peel Hunt as joint bookrunners to Kier Group plc (Kier) on Kier’s underwritten firm placing, placing, open offer, and separate directors’ subscription, raising gross proceeds of approximately £241 million. The capital raise, together with the recent sale of Kier Living Limited, will raise approximately £352.4 million of gross proceeds for Kier. The proceeds will provide Kier, a leading infrastructure services and construction group, with the financial and operational flexibility to continue to deliver on its strategic objectives. The Latham team was led by London corporate partner Chris Horton, with associates Sean Meehan and Frederick Gardner. US securities advice was provided by partner Ryan Benedict and capital markets lawyer Irene Pistotnik.~~

May 14

1 min

Latham & Watkins has advised the underwriters on the full divestment by the Hellenic Financial Stability Fund (HFSF) of its stake in Piraeus Financial Holdings S.A. through a fully marketed offering, consisting of a public offering to retail and institutional investors in Greece and private placements to institutional investors outside of Greece, including the United States, raising gross proceeds of approximately €1.35 billion. This transaction is one of the largest capital markets privatization transactions in Europe since 2005, the largest secondary placement in Greece since 2005, and the first full divestment by the HFSF of its stakes in the Greek systemic banks through a fully marketed offering. The cross-border Latham team was led by partners Ryan Benedict and Jeff Lawlis, with counsel Giorgio Ignazzi, and associates Frederick Gardner and Kristen Vredeveld. Advice was also provided on tax matters by New York partner Jocelyn Noll.~~

Mar 11

1 min