A tax and corporate team, led by Corporate Partner Helen Croke, Tax Partner Russell Warren and Tax Senior Counsel Hannah Manning have advised Merlin and its management team on the listing of Merlin Entertainments plc on the main market of the London Stock Exchange on 13 November 2013 and an IPO involving the sale of shares by the management team, Kirkbi and funds managed by Blackstone and CVC.

Merlin is the largest European entertainments company operating in Europe and runs 99 attractions in 22 countries across 4 continents, including Madame Tussauds, Alton Towers and the Legoland theme parks.  The £3.3bn market capitalisation implied by the offer price is expected to be sufficient to place it within the FTSE 250 index.

Partner Helen Croke and associates Athene Blakeman and Joanna Roberts provided corporate law advice to Merlin and its management shareholders. Tax advice was provided by a team led by Russell Warren and including senior counsel Hannah Manning and associate Camilla Southall.