Carey Olsen’s Guernsey corporate team has advised Ikigai Ventures Limited, a Guernsey-incorporated special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), on its admission to trading on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange.
Ikigai was established to acquire companies with a specific focus on sustainability and ESG strategy as part of their core business. Consideration for an acquisition will likely be funded through the issuance of ordinary shares or convertible debt securities to the shareholders of the acquisition as well as capital raised through admission.
Working alongside onshore counsel Pinsent Masons MPillay based in Singapore, the Carey Olsen team advising on the Guernsey legal and regulatory aspects of the admission comprised partner Tony Lane (pictured), counsel Andrew Tually and senior associate Jamie Oldfield.
Tony commented: “Once again, Guernsey has proven its reputation as a jurisdiction of choice for incorporating and listing SPAC vehicles and it has been a pleasure to apply our strength and expertise in capital market transactions in order to assist this launch”.
Andrew, who was based in Carey Olsen’s Singapore office between 2017 and 2020, said: “We are excited to assist Ikigai in respect of its LSE listing and as it moves into its acquisition phase. ESG investment opportunities in Asia have increased significantly in recent years, and so Ikigai’s launch is well-timed.”
Ikigai’s Chief Executive Officer, Nicholas Bryan-Brown, said: “I am delighted to announce the listing of Ikigai on the London Stock Exchange. The ESG sector is in a strong state of growth, not least in Asia, and we believe there are attractive long term acquisition opportunities in the sector. We plan to use Ikigai as a vehicle to acquire one or more exciting businesses in these areas in order to generate attractive returns for our shareholders.”
Ikigai placed 4.2 million ordinary shares priced at 50 pence each on the LSE. The market capitalisation of the company following its admission is GBP £10.3 million.
