Gordon McArthur, chief executive of fintech company Beeks Financial Cloud Group, which floated in 2017, and corporate finance expert Neil McDonald from Cenkos, are guest speakers at the event being held tomorrow (28th Jan) in Glasgow, with Bod Buckby from the London Stock Exchange also in attendance.

Mr McArthur will share his experience and discuss the process of how Beeks prepared to join AIM which raised £7 million (valuing the company at £24.5m on admission) and supported an accelerated growth programme for the Linwood-based company.

Jennifer Malcolm, legal director and a specialist in corporate finance transactions at Pinsent Masons, said: “An IPO can be an extremely attractive and strategically beneficial proposition for corporates looking for an exit route or for ambitious high growth companies who want to raise funds for further expansion.

“Gordon McArthur tells it like it is from a business owners’ point of view and how he and his management team navigated Beeks’ AIM listing and the benefits which subsequently flowed from that successful IPO.

“I’m optimistic that IPO and secondary fundraising activity will step up in 2020 now that elements of uncertainty around the general election and Brexit has passed. I expect that deal activity will accelerate as companies feel more confident in executing their growth plans and M&A deals which were on hold last year.”

Mike Timmins, EY partner in transaction advisory services, added: “This event is extremely useful for businesses who are keen to hear more about the IPO process and alternative fund raising options which can underpin future growth. Neil McDonald from Cenkos and Gordon McArthur of Beeks will have many valuable insights on the process and route to an IPO which will prove useful for our corporate guests.”