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    Global Problem Solving from Covington: Deal with Complex Problems Anywhere in the World

    • Apr 08, 2021

Simon Amies

Partner

London +44 20 7067 2002

  • About
  • Representative Matters
  • Credentials
  • About

    Simon Amies is a partner in Covington's London corporate practice group.  He advises on a broad range of corporate matters including mergers and acquisitions (public and private), IPOs and other securities offerings, private equity and venture capital investments, joint ventures and strategic transactions, and corporate governance.

    Simon advises companies at all stages of their development, as well as investors and banks.  He has particular expertise advising clients in the life sciences, technology and clean energy industries.

    Areas of Expertise

  • Practices and Industries
  • Representative Matters
    • BenevolentAI, a global leader in the creation and application of AI and machine learning to transform the way medicines are discovered and developed, on several investment rounds, including:
      • $90 million equity investment from Temasek, a Singapore-headquartered investment company; and
      • £80 million equity investment round by new and existing investors.
    • Marubeni Corporation as lead investor in the $26 million Series B financing of Azuri Technologies Limited.
    • Tencent Holdings Limited as lead investor in a $20 million Series A financing in UK blockchain business Everledger.

    • B.E.S.T. Funds in its equity investment in and subsequent exit from UK telematics company TrakGlobal Group.
    • Salesforce Ventures in its Series B and Series C investments in AI identity verification company Onfido.
    • BenevolentAI on its acquisition of Proximagen Limited, a Cambridge, UK-based drug discovery and development company.
    • Safe Harbour Holdings PLC, a company established with the objective of creating a global leader in the B2B distribution and/or business services sphere, on its AIM IPO and £22.7 million placing.
    • Wilmcote Holdings PLC, a company established with the objective of acquiring and developing businesses in the downstream and specialty chemicals sector, on its AIM IPO and £15 million placing.
    • Allergy Therapeutics plc, the AIM-listed specialty pharmaceutical company, on:
      • an £11.5 million placing of ordinary shares;
      • the acquisition of Alerpharma, S.A. a Spanish-based allergy immunotherapy company; and
      • a £20 million placing of ordinary shares.
    • Advised Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. on its acquisition of Message Automation Limited.
    • Indivior plc, formerly RB Pharmaceuticals, in its demerger from Reckitt Benckiser and £1 billion listing on the London Main Market.
    • Qualcomm Inc. in its £1.56 billion recommended cash offer for CSR plc.
    • Consort Medical plc in its £98.9 million rights issue in connection with the £230 million acquisition of Aesica Holdco Limited.
    • Cenkos Securities plc as sole co-ordinator and bookrunner in relation to the AA’s £1.38 billion IPO on the London Main Market.
    • Pan European Terminals PLC in its £23.4 million recommended cash offer by Belphar Limited.
    • Drayson Technologies, in collaboration with Imperial Innovations plc, in the spin-out of wireless power technology from Imperial College.
    • Heart Metabolics Limited in its Series A financing and the subsequent sale of its assets for up to $10 million to a newco formed by venBio, Seroba Kernel Life Sciences and others.
    • Piper Jaffray Ltd., as sole financial advisor, sponsor, underwriter and broker to Vernalis plc in two placings and open offers raising in aggregate over £50 million.
    • Indian Energy Limited, a wind farm operator in India, in connection with its IPO on AIM and subsequent recommended takeover by Infrastructure India plc.
    • Galapagos NV in its recommended takeover of BioFocus plc and the simultaneous admission of Galapagos’ shares to trading on AIM and listings on Euronext Amsterdam and Euronext Brussels.
    • Minster Pharmaceuticals PLC, an AIM-listed drug development company, in its recommended takeover by Proximagen Neuroscience PLC.
    • MPS Global, a US-based provider of high-tech engineering, design and IT talent, in its acquisition of UK-based Talascend Group.
    • Cenkos Securities, as nomad and broker to the £115 million placing by AIM-listed Tanfield Group plc to finance the acquisition of US-based Snorkel Holdings LLC.
    • Baltic Oil Terminals PLC in its £60 million IPO on AIM and subsequent acquisitions of the Baltic Top Terminal business and Petroval Bunker International.
    • Northwest Biotherapeutics, Inc., an OTC Bulletin Board quoted US biotechnology company, in its admission to AIM and £15 million placing.

    Areas of Expertise

  • Credentials
    Education
    • College of Law, Guildford, 1993
    • Durham University, B.A. (Hons), 1991
    Bar Admissions
    • Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales
    Accolades
    • Chambers Global, India - Overseas Counsel, Corporate & M&A (2010-2011)
    • PLC Which Lawyer? England - Capital Markets Equity (2008-2012)
    • Legal 500 Asia Pacific, India - Foreign Firms (2010-2011)
    • Legal 500 UK, Flotations, Small and Mid-Cap and Commercial Contracts (2014, 2016)
    • IFLR European Awards 2015 - shortlisted in Deals of the Year: Equity

    Areas of Expertise

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