WHAT WE DO

City and Merchant provides a full range of corporate finance services to both corporate and investing clients. Our services include:

  • Capital Raising, Flotations, and New Equity Issues;

  • Creation and Management of Alternative Investment Funds;

  • Retained Corporate Advisor for NEX Growth Market;

  • Debt and Bond Issues;

  • Mergers, Acquisitions and Company Sales;

  • Advice and Liaison with the Takeover Panel.

We are frequently engaged as corporate finance advisors to businesses with the remit to establish the most appropriate way to raise finance for a specific project. Whether the requirement be for an issue of equity or debt, we assist the company to develop a structured, documented and fully dilligenced market approach to the highest regulated standards.

We have worked closely with many smaller companies who have wished to float on junior markets such as Aim and NEX. Many of these companies are eligible for the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS).

 

SENIOR MANAGEMENT

TIM LYLE

GROUP CEO

Tim is a chartered accountant and has some 40 years experience in investment banking covering areas such as financial engineering, venture capital, corporate advice, private and public capital raising and M&A. This was done initially at County Natwest and later as head of a small City bank. Tim is a founding partner of City & Merchant and holds a number of executive and non-executive directorships across a range of industries and business sizes.

DAVID PAPWORTH

DIRECTOR OF CORPORATE FINANCE

David qualified as a solicitor in 1988 and worked in a medium sized firm specialising in owner managed businesses. In 1996 he was made a partner and advised on a broad range of company law issues including acquisitions and disposals, MBOs and start ups. In 1998 he completed an MBA at City University and established his own consulting business advising on contractual, compliance and corporate governance issues. He joined City & Merchant in 2005.

TIM CARTMELL

HEAD OF CREDIT

Tim has over 25 years' experience in capital markets, covering rates, credit and corporate finance. He was a top salesman at Greenwell (HSBC) before becoming Head of Gilt Sales at JP Morgan and Head of UK credit sales at Dresdner Kleinwort. He has experience of agency broking at King & Shaxson before becoming COO and Head of Credit at Hoare Capital. Tim concentrates on Pound and Euro credit, as well as bringing new issues to market.

 

PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES

Fund Raising

Through our regulation City & Merchant creates, authorises and approves documents and prospectuses for distribution as may be required by the relevant jurisdiction. Our placing contacts in the City and internationally allow us to maintain intelligence on appetite for investment and the mandates of particular investors, lenders and funds. over the last ten years we have listed in excess of 20 Companies.

  • Equity

    We maintain contact with a wide range of institutional investors and wealth managers through our fund management activities. Our equity investors range from wealth managers and family officers to VCT’s and EIS Funds. We bring in our own marketing teams as well as using sub-distributors when required.

  • Debt

    We originate bespoke debt instruments and debt programmes, in particular where offshore status can be helpful. We also advise on structuring debt/equity splits and mezzanine finance and associated documentation.

Trading

We are authorised to trade both as principal and agent, normally on a “matched principal” basis.

Mergers and Acquisitions (Including the Takeover Code)

Our transaction experience covers every aspect of corporate finance and in particular we focus on smaller and mid-sized private and public companies where the “bulge bracket” firms are uninterested. We have competent person status under Rule 3 of the UK Takeover Code.

Retained Adviser (Nomad) Status

We are an authorised advisor for the UKLA and NEX Growth Markets (but not AIM).

 

*Please note: We do NOT hold client money or advise “ordinary retail” investors.

 
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RECENT TRANSACTIONS

In the period between January of 2000 and December of 2017, City & Merchant completed:

  • 49 IPOs and Capital Raisings (32 on public markets);

  • 24 Mergers and Acquisitions Advisory Transactions, 11 involving the Takeover Panel;

  • 28 other Corporate Finance Advisory Appointments, and;

  • Initiated 11 Alternative Investment Funds.