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Ray B. Smyth
Partner
Duane Morris
10 Chiswell Street, 2nd Floor
London, UK EC1Y 4UQ

Phone: +44 20 7786 2137
Fax: +44 20 7681 2190
Email: RBSmyth@duanemorris.com

Ray B. Smyth practices in the areas of mergers, acquisitions and disposals; flotations (IPOs); fund raisings; corporate restructuring; EU and UK competition law; distribution, agency, licensing, franchising and joint-ventures; executive/employee incentive schemes; and general business, commercial and contract law. Mr. Smyth is a graduate of Kingston University, Surrey.

Areas of Practice

• Venture Capital Financing
• Commercial Finance
• Mergers and Acquisitions
• Corporate and Business Law
• Commercial Loan Documentation

Representative Matters

• Acting for a UK corporation carrying on business as an aluminium stockholder, processor and distributor and supplier to the Aerospace industry on its initial public offering ("IPO") and admission to the London Stock Exchange's ("LSE") junior market and subsequent graduation to the full list of the LSE/UK Listing Authority ("UKLA")
• Acting for a UK corporation carrying on business in direct marketing and list broking on its IPO and admission to the LSE's junior market and subsequent graduation to the full list of the LSE/UKLA
• Represented UK fully listed a specialist corporation carrying on manned guarding, investigatory and security businesses audit, stock taking and security services in relation to eight successful business/corporate acquisitions made for cash and/or securities and a tender/takeover offer for the company and subsequent de-listing of its securities.
• Acting for the UK's largest independent distributor of children's toys and games on its IPO and admission to the full list of the LSE/UKLA
• Acting for a UK corporation carrying on business as a software developer of specialist treasury and risk management software for the banking and large corporation market in connection with its IPO and admission to the Alternative Investment Market of the LSE ("AIM")
• Acting for a UK corporation carrying on business as a supplier of investigatory, security, audit and stocktaking services in connection with its IPO and admission to AIM
• Acting for a UK corporation carrying on business as a soccer club/player agent and manager in connection with fund raising by way of the issue of Guaranteed Floating Rate Convertible Euro Bonds to raise €8 million
• Acting for a UK corporation carrying on business as a producer of children's animation TV programmes, publisher, DVD distributor and IPR developer in connection with its IPO and admission to AIM
• Acting on various rights issues, open offers, restructurings, debt for equity swaps and de-mergers for listed, AIM and private company clients
• Acting for companies acquiring their own shares, both private and public limited companies
• Represented an English Premiership League soccer club in connection with its reverse into a cash shell company listed on the full list of the LSE/UKLA
• Represented direct marketing and list broking, UK fully listed company in relation to five successful business/corporate acquisitions made for cash and/or securities; a tender/takeover offer for the company and subsequent de-listing of its securities; and divestment of non-core businesses following public to private transaction.
• Represented a UK fully listed aluminium stockholder, processor and distributor and supplier to the Aerospace industry in relation to successful business/corporate acquisitions made for cash and/or securities and a tender/takeover offer for the company and subsequent de-listing of its securities.
• Acting for a UK corporation carrying on specialist manned guarding, investigatory and security businesses in relation to its initial public offering and admission to the full list of the LSE/UKLA
• Acting for a UK listed company (the UK's largest independent distributor of children's toys and games) in connection with its successful acquisition of 6 businesses/companies made for cash and/or securities
• Acting for various companies and private shareholders with regard to acquisition and disposal programmes of companies and businesses
• Represented a UK-based manufacturer of baby care products and car mats in the restructuring of the client's businesses and operations prior to the sale of the sale of the client group of companies to Charterhouse Development Capital in an agreement valued at about £300 million. The restructuring involved a de-merger (spin-off) of the rubber car floor mats manufacturing business from the international baby feeding and mother and baby care products manufacturing and distribution business.
• Acting for non-executive directors of an AIM listed company in difficulties in relation to re-organisation of the board and operations of the Company
• Acting for a faction of shareholders in dispute with others leading to de-merger of a substantial privately owned London based Italian restaurant business with over 20 restaurant interests
• Acting for a UK listed company in relation to a dispute with a global Californian based media company over the terms of a license agreement resulting in a substantial settlement
• Issue resolution advice and negotiation services in relation to various commercial contracts and relationships
• Advising and acting in relation to world wide brand licence contracts on a well known global camera company to a UK listed corporate client
• Acting and advising football/soccer clubs, players and agents in relation to player transfers, management contracts and financing arrangements
• Establishing international distribution and agency networks for clients for a variety of goods, including digital cameras and baby feeding products
• Advising on EU competition and agency law
• Structuring and establishing employee share/stock option schemes
• Film production and finance contracts for a number of UK film projects

Professional Activities

• Law Society of England and Wales

Admissions

• England and Wales

Education

• Kingston University, Surrey, England, B.A. (Hons), 1980

Experience

• Duane Morris
  - Partner, 2003-present
• Gold Mann & Co., London, England
  - Partner, 1988-2003
  - Assistant Solicitor, 1986-1988
• Jacobsens, London, England
  - Solicitor, 1981-1985