The upheavals of the past year have affected the M&A market but less seriously than many feared. Thus, in the first quarter of 2017, the overall number of announced takeover bids did decrease by 30% on the same period in 2016, but the value of these bids only decreased by 14% and there continues to be evidence of bid activity. 

As can be expected, takeover bids will raise interesting questions of interpretation and application of the rules of the City Code on Take Overs and Mergers (“the Code”).  The principles-based philosophy which underpins the Code enables the Takeover Panel to deal rapidly with new situations and to give guidance on a real-time basis to the parties involved in takeovers and other transactions involving corporate control. 

This year’s conference, the 37th in the series, will provide a forum for discussing all aspects of the Code.  In doing so, it will assist practitioners and their advisers in keeping up to date with the regulation of takeovers and other transactions involving corporate control in the UK.