Matthew Darling

Matthew is a corporate partner, specialising in mergers and acquisitions, disposals, shareholders' agreements, joint ventures, co-investment arrangements and corporate reorganisations; he has particular expertise in transactions on AIM and in the technology sector.

His clients range from AIM-listed technology companies, through regulated utility companies and hi-tech start-ups, to high net worth individuals; he has served as a non-executive director of an AIM-listed technology business, giving him further insight into what clients expect of their advisers, and has over 25 years' experience of advising on the transactional, commercial and corporate governance related issues encountered by companies throughout their lifecycle.

Matters on which he has led include:

• a £40m real estate acquisition by means of the purchase of two off-shore SPVs;
• the £82m sale of Castleton Technology plc to MRI Software by means of a Court approved scheme of arrangement;
• the £75m sale of Tax Computer Systems to Eco City Vehicles plc;
• Redcentric plc's admission to AIM and subsequent acquisitions of InTechnology by means of a £65m reverse takeover, of Calyx for £12m and of City Lifeline for £4.8m;
• advising Loot Financial Services on an equity investment into it by RBS;
• the £70m sale of a group of three offshore SPVs owning a prime West End real estate asset;
• Redcentric plc's acquisitions of InTechnology by means of a £65m reverse takeover, of Calyx for £12m and of City Lifeline for £4.8m;
• advising a US engineering business on its acquisitions of a series of UK-based defence contractors;
• the acquisitions by MXC Capital of equity stakes in a number of Tech-sector businesses and MXC's joint venture with Liberty Global, part of the Virgin Group;
• the reverse takeover of UBC Media Group plc by 7digital;
• Castle Street Investments plc's acquisition of Selection Services Investments Limited for £34.8m and associated £30m placing and re-admission to AIM;
• SmartSpace plc's £21m sale of its Managed Services division;
• Redstone plc's acquisition of Maxima Holdings plc by means of a scheme of arrangement and demerger of its Network-Based Managed Services Business by way of a special dividend;
• Castleton Technology plc's £20m Court approved reduction of capital; and
• MXC Capital Limited's scheme of arrangement to insert a new Guernsey holding company and admission to AIM and subsequent tender offer.

Matthew has also advised a number of private individuals on matters including the acquisition and financing of private jets; real estate transactions; investment arrangements and estate management-related issues.  He has been recognised as a Leading Individual by the Legal 500 for M&A with a value up to £50m and has been is praised for his ‘ability to cut to the nub of the issue’; he is also quoted as being 'highly effective'

Matthew started his career working for Credit Agricole on the Marché à Terme des Instruments Financiers in Paris, before qualifying as a solicitor in 1994.  He has also worked in Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates.