Last year the Code Committee (the “Committee”) of the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers (the “Panel”) published a consultation proposing amendments to the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers (the “Code”).

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) published on 15 November 2024 its Primary Market Bulletin No. 52 (Bulletin 52). This bulletin provides helpful guidance in relation to applying the UK Market Abuse Regulation (UK MAR) in certain situations.

Capital markets across the world have become increasingly globalised with listed companies often looking to seek a ‘dual listing’ to maximise opportunities for growth, investment and opening up the company to international investor exposure.

Laytons ETL’s Equity Capital Markets team advised AIM-quoted Empyrean Energy Plc (the Company), the oil and gas development company with interests in Indonesia and the United States, on their recent share capital re-organisation in connection with a fundraising (the “Transaction”).

Invigorating capital markets in the UK has been at the forefront of the previous and current government’s agendas. Notably the previous ‘Edinburgh Reforms’ that have set about changing the prospectus regime and the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) listing rules.