Mark Taylor
PEOPLE

Mark Taylor

Partner
taylor.mark@dorsey.com

Overview

MARK ADVISES CLIENTS ON FINANCINGS, MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS, AND PRIVATE EQUITY TRANSACTIONS.

Mark is a senior UK law corporate finance partner in the London office of Dorsey & Whitney specialising in UK securities law and mergers and acquisitions.  Areas of expertise include:

IPOs and secondary offerings: Mark has advised banks and issuers (including non-English domiciled companies) on over 40 flotations and secondary issues (rights issues and open offers) both on AIM and the main market of the London Stock Exchange and is listed in public equity 'Leaders in their Field' category in Chambers Directory. He is also experienced in pre-IPO placings and other funding arrangements.

Takeovers and Mergers: Mark is experienced in takeovers and mergers, having advised on recommended, hostile, and contested bids with an aggregate value of over £2.5bn.

Acquisitions and disposals:  Mark has extensive experience of UK domestic and cross border private company acquisitions and disposals.

Private equity: Mark has advised on primary and secondary management buy-outs and buy-ins for companies in sectors ranging from leisure to construction industry.

Other: Mark's practice also covers corporate restructurings and joint venture and shareholder agreements.

Mark has been an active ambassador for the AIM market and has given seminars on AIM at conferences and other events both in the UK and abroad.

Education & Admissions

University of York, England (B.A.)

Admissions

  • England & Wales

Experience

Representative Experience

Initial Public Offerings
  • IPOs of Easynet Group plc, The Innovation Group plc, Bickerton plc, Concurrent Technologies plc, Goals Soccer Centres plc, Shed Productions plc, BNS Telecom Group plc, Biofutures International plc, Autoclenz Holdings plc, Monto Group plc, China Biodiesel, Northern Recruitment, Fonebak plc, The Local Radio Company plc, Spice Holdings plc, Excel Airways Group plc and others;
  • Accelerated IPOs of Cello Group plc (£35m) and The Local Radio Company plc (£50m).
Secondary Offerings
  • Trombone rights issue by JJB Sports plc to fund the purchase of Sports Division plc (£448m); Open offer and placing by The Innovation Group plc (£181m).
Takeovers and mergers
  • Offer by Xansa plc for Druid Group plc, Offer by Golden Rose Communications plc for London Jazz Radio plc; Offer by Meyer International plc for Grahame Group plc; Offer by GEAC Corporation for JBA Holdings plc; Offer by Guardian Media Group Limited for Jazz fm plc; Offer by Gladedale Holdings plc for Country & Metropolitan Holdings plc (combined value over £2.5bn).

Restructurings

  • Advised The Coca-Cola Company with respect to the complex reorganization of Coca-Cola Bottlers Manufacturing Holdings Limited (“CCBMH”). CCBMH, a joint venture entity founded by The Coca Cola Company (through two subsidiaries) and subsidiaries of Swire Group and COFCO (China’s largest state-owned food and agriculture company), through multiple subsidiaries provides preparation and packaging operations in relation to Coca Cola’s still beverages business across Mainland China. On completion of the transaction, the multiple subsidiaries of CCBMH in Mainland China will be transferred to and owned by Swire Group and COFCO, respectively, and The Coca-Cola Company will start its franchise partnership with Swire and COFCO regarding the still beverage bottling system in Mainland China.
  • £100m restructuring of Euramax Group. £60m demerger of Xyratex and Havant Holdings.
Private Equity
  • Secondary buy out of EAT backed by Penta Capital Partners (£44m); MBI of information services division of Mysis backed by Kleinworts Private Equity (£50m); MBO of Xyratex Limited backed by Hg Capital (£60m).

News & Resources

Articles

FCA Fines Former Chairman of Convatec for Unlawful Disclosure of Inside Information
The UK National Security and Investment Act 2021: A New Regime For Acquisition and Investment Transactions: Update
UK To Adopt New Powers Over M&A Activity To Protect National Security
Persons with Significant Control: Important new regulations that are now in force
Shareholder Meetings - Some Important Changes
ABI Guidance on Share Allotment Authorities, BERR Consultation on Notice Periods for Meetings, FSA Clarifies Disclosure Requirements
"Company Reporting: Topping up annual UK reports for the US"
Regular contributor to legal periodicals focused on the public markets and takeovers and mergers.

News & Press Mentions

18 Dorsey Attorneys Named Thomson Reuters “Stand-Out Lawyers”
Chambers UK 2024 Ranks Dorsey’s London Corporate/M&A Practice and Dorsey London Partners
Dorsey London Attorneys Receive Multiple Rankings from The Legal 500 United Kingdom 2024
IFLR1000 Ranks 13 Dorsey Lawyers and 13 Practices for 2023
Dorsey Wins China Business Law Journal 2022 Cross-Border Deal of the Year Award
Chambers UK 2023 Ranks Dorsey Attorneys Kate Francis and Mark Taylor for Corporate/M&A work
IFLR1000 Ranks Dorsey Lawyers and Practices for 2022
Viasat/Inmarsat: UK Likely to Review Deal Under New Law, Delaying Probe’s Start Until at Least January, Attorneys Say
Chambers UK 2022 Ranks Dorsey Attorneys Kate Francis and Mark Taylor
Dorsey & Whitney London Attorneys Receive Multiple Rankings from Legal 500
IFLR1000 Recognizes Dorsey Lawyers in Banking and Finance Practices
IFLR1000 Recognizes Dorsey Lawyers and Practices
Dorsey & Whitney’s London Attorneys Receive Multiple Rankings from Legal 500
Dorsey & Whitney’s London Attorneys Receive Multiple Rankings from Legal 500
IFLR1000 Recognizes Dorsey Lawyers and Practices
IFLR 1000 Recognizes Dorsey Lawyers and Practices
Chambers UK 2019 Ranks Dorsey Practices and Lawyers
Dorsey’s London Office Receives Multiple Rankings from Legal 500
IFLR 1000 Recognizes Dorsey Lawyers and Practices
Chambers UK 2018 Ranks Dorsey Practices and Lawyers
Dorsey’s London Office Receives Multiple Rankings from Legal 500
Chambers UK 2017 Ranks Dorsey Practices and Lawyers
Dorsey & Whitney’s London Office Receives Multiple Rankings from Legal 500
Dorsey’s London Office Named 2016 Mergers & Acquisitions Law Firm of the Year
Dorsey's London Office Recognized as 2016 Global M&A Award Winner

Professional & Civic

Professional Achievements

  • Law Society of England & Wales
  • Society for Computers & Law
  • Radio Academy

Accolades

  • Recognized as a "Stand-Out Lawyer" by Thomson Reuters, 2024

Mark Taylor Chambers UK 2016  UK Chambers 2018 Mark Taylor  Chambers UK Leading Individual 2019  Ranked in Chambers UK 2022 Mark Taylor

  • Listed as a Leader in the field of Corporate M&A by Chambers UK, 2007-2023
  • Listed as a Leader in the field of Corporate M&A by Chambers Europe, 2008-2015
  • IFLR1000 Notable Practitioner, 2018-2021; 2023

Mark Taylor Legal 500  The Legal 500 United Kingdom - Recommended Lawyer 2017  The Legal 500 United Kingdom Recommended Lawyer 2019  The Legal 500 United Kingdom - Recommended Lawyer 2020  The Legal 500 United Kingdom Leading Individual 2021  Legal 500 UK Leading Individual 2022

  • Recommended by Legal 500 in Mergers & Acquisitions, Equity Capital Markets and Flotations, 2014-2017 and 2019-2022
  • "Excellence in Domestic Divestitures - UK," Corporate Livewire's 2016 International M&A awards
  • "M&A Law Firm of the Year – UK," Finance Monthly Global Awards, 2016
  • Ranked by Legal 500, 2011
  • Public equity 'Leaders in their Field' category in Chambers Directory, 2006
Mark Taylor