30th June 2004 – LAWFUEL – Herbert Smith are advising Virgin Group on the proposed listing of its subsidiary, Virgin Mobile Holdings (UK) Limited, on the London Stock Exchange and the related global offering of shares. Virgin Mobile announced its intention to float earlier today.
JP Morgan and Morgan Stanley have been appointed to act as joint global coordinators, joint bookrunners and joint sponsors of the proposed global offering. It is intended that the global offering of shares to institutional investors will be completed before the end of July.
The Herbert Smith team is being led by corporate partners Louise Freestone and Charles Howarth, assisted by Will Pearce and Mark Bardell. Specialist advice is being provided by Alex Bafi (US securities law), and Mark Shillito and Gareth Morgan (intellectual property). A team at Macfarlanes led by tax partner Ashley Greenbank, and including Kirsten Davison, are advising Virgin Group on the tax aspects of the transaction.
Corporate partner Louise Freestone commented:
“We are delighted to be advising Virgin Group on the listing and proposed global offering of shares in Virgin Mobile; the deal is likely to be one of the largest UK IPOs of the year. This transaction further strengthens our working relationship with Virgin Group and adds to our track record of advising on major international equity offerings.”
Allen & Overy are advising Virgin Mobile. Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer are advising JPMorgan and Morgan Stanley.
