28 May – LAWFUEL – The Law News Network – Allen & Overy has advised Punch Graphix plc, the digital and pre-press printing systems group, on its £100.8m admission to the Alternative Investment Market (“AIM”) of the London Stock Exchange. Punch Graphix placed £20.6m of new shares on listing and shareholder Punch International N.V. placed £29m of existing shares.
Prior to admission, Punch Graphix was a division of Punch International N.V. which is listed on Euronext Brussels. Following admission, Punch International will own approximately 49% of the shares in Punch Graphix.
Punch Graphix is the first Belgian business to float on AIM. It also has a presence in Germany, the Netherlands, the UK and other locations world-wide.
The Allen & Overy team was co-led by London corporate partner, Helen Harrison-Hall and by Brussels corporate partner, Dirk Meeus. Senior associates Saul Sender in London and Pascal Weerts in Brussels fulfilled key roles in the transaction, with further assistance from Lorna Mitchell and Mark Derbyshire in London, Ramin Loeschner in Hamburg and Imarda Molenkamp in Amsterdam.
Helen Harrison-Hall commented:
“We are delighted to have advised Punch Graphix on its AIM listing. Our combined UK, Belgian, German and Dutch team was able to assist the company in both its countries of operation and its chosen new market”.
Dirk Meeus commented:
“We have worked with Punch International as it has grown as a company and we are delighted to have supported it and its subsidiary during this landmark phase in its history. The insight that we have gained by assisting the first Belgian business to float on AIM, places us in an excellent position to advise other Belgian businesses considering an AIM listing. Having already advised the biotech company Galapagos on its listing, we have now advised on two of the most important Belgian related listings of the year.”
Altium Capital Limited is acting as nominated adviser and broker to Punch Graphix.
