David heads one of the firm’s corporate groups and has over 30 years’ experience advising on a wide range of corporate transactions, commercial agreements and governance matters. He has particular expertise in public and private M&A transactions, joint ventures and equity financings. David acts for a number of listed companies, including BHP, GSK, IAG, Marston’s and SEGRO.
His recent significant transactions include advising:
- SEGRO on its equity placing to raise £900 million
- The Restaurant Group on the recommended £506 million cash offer by Apollo
- Deutsche Bank on its £410 million recommended cash offer for Numis Corporation
- Cineworld on the UK aspects of its Chapter 11 filing
- GSK on the demerger of its consumer health business to form Haleon
- Bordeaux UK Holdings II (an affiliate of Optum Health Solutions and a wholly owned subsidiary of United Health Group) on its £1.24 billion recommended offer for EMIS Group
- BHP on the unification of its dual listed company structure and the US$294m disposal of its interest in the Cerrejón energy coal joint venture in Colombia to Glencore
- Arrow Global Group on the recommended £563 million cash offer by Sherwood Acquisitions
- IAG on its rights issue to raise up to €2.75 billion
- Marston’s on its brewing joint venture with Carlsberg A/S
- William Hill on its recommended £2.9 billion cash takeover by Caesars Entertainment
- GSK on its £3.1 billion sale of Horlicks and other consumer healthcare nutrition brands to Unilever and numerous other M&A transactions
- The Restaurant Group on its acquisition of Wagamama, the restructuring of its Leisure Group through a CVA and a placing and open offer to raise £175 million
David is named as a leading individual in the ‘Corporate/M&A: High-end Capability’ in Chambers UK 2022, Chambers Europe 2021 and Chambers Global 2021. He is also listed as a leading individual for ‘Life Sciences: Transactional’ in Chambers UK 2021 and listed in the ‘M&A: Premium Deals’ section of the Legal500 UK 2021.
Key quotes:
“David Johnson leverages years of experience working in corporate finance into an excellent transactional advisory practice. He is sought after for his counsel on high-end public and private M&A and joint ventures.” Chambers UK 2023
"David is excellent, and always keeps responsibility for the work." Chambers UK 2021