FRP Advisory launches UK Public Company Advisory service with new partner appointments
Specialist business advisory firm FRP Advisory has announced the launch of a nationwide Public Company Advisory service offering, bolstering its Financial Advisory Pillar, with two new Partners appointed to lead the service.
It represents an expanding area of expertise for FRP, covering public company takeovers, IPO advisory and strategic advisory, focused on UK quoted companies and those with ambitions to enter public markets.
New Partners Rick Thompson and Philip Davies have worked together for more than 20 years, most recently at Singer Capital Markets, where they were both Managing Directors of the Investment Banking division, and each have 35 years’ experience advising public companies, primarily quoted in London.
Based in London, Rick and Phil will be working closely with teams across FRP’s network of more than 30 regional offices, with plans to expand the Public Company Advisory team over time.
The Public Company Advisory offering will complement FRP’s existing Financial Advisory, Corporate Finance, Debt Advisory, Financial Reporting and Governance Advisory services.
Rick’s background includes time working in merchant banking and integrated securities houses. He has advised companies across a broad range of sectors including industrials, support services, property and technology.
A Member of the AIM Advisory Group of the London Stock Exchange since 1999, Rick has also been a Member of The Technical Committee of the ICAEW Corporate Finance Faculty since 2003.
Whilst working at various integrated securities houses, Phil developed similarly extensive experience in corporate finance. His broad sector experience includes healthcare, life sciences, industrials, tech and natural resources.
Both Rick and Phil have advised companies through the entire corporate lifecycle, from IPOs, secondary fundraisings and “buy and build” strategies, to takeovers and take-privates,
Rick Thompson, Partner at FRP Financial Advisory, said: “I’ve got to know the FRP leadership team over many years and I’ve always liked their ethos and ambition, so it is a real pleasure to be joining to launch this new Public Company Advisory capability at this time.
“Phil and I bring highly complementary skills and experience to FRP’s established specialisms of M&A, debt advisory, board and governance advisory, restructuring, financial reporting and forensics. There’s so much more under the bonnet than people realise with FRP.”
Philip Davies, Partner at FRP Financial Advisory, said: “We’re focused on helping boards navigate life as a quoted company, and all the opportunities and challenges that come with that, whether they’re consolidating, expanding into new areas or dealing with the day-to-day regulatory grind.
“Rick and I have spent our careers helping growth companies consider, prepare for and then execute public listings. We’re looking forward to adding to FRP’s portfolio with our experience in this important part of the corporate lifecycle, for private and public companies alike.”
Jeremy French, chief operating officer at FRP, said: “The launch of the new Public Company Advisory service represents an exciting new opportunity for FRP Advisory, further expanding our service offering and ensuring that FRP can deliver for firms at every stage of their journey.
“Rick and Phil are well known in their field for good reason; they are seasoned, respected advisers with a proven track record over many years, and it’s a pleasure to have them on board.
“Being a publicly listed company brings extra scrutiny, regulatory burdens and operational challenges, and the transition from private to public – or vice versa – requires careful planning and execution.
“Building on our acquisition of One Advisory, Rick and Phil’s appointment gives us the depth of experience and expertise that will prove invaluable to companies navigating these issues and reflects our continued focus on investing in senior talent who can help us grow our specialist capabilities.”
