MHP Communications has completed a record first half of IPO mandates in 2018, advising on 10% of all the new listings on the London Stock Exchange so far this year.

In recent months MHP has advised on the new listings of Plus500, the online trading contract-for-difference platform, Urban Exposure, the residential development finance provider, the UK law firm Knights and Cake Box, the largest franchise retailer of fresh cream cakes in the UK.

At the end of last month Cake Box completed its AIM IPO last week, which saw shares rise 19% on the first day of dealings. This followed two other IPO financial PR advisory roles secured by MHP this year: the AIM IPO of legal firm Knights – the biggest UK law firm float to date – which also completed in June, and the AIM IPO of specialist residential development finance and asset management company, Urban Exposure in May, which was the largest capital raise on AIM in 2018.

Completing a busy June, MHP also advised Plus500 on its move to the main market from AIM as the biggest Israeli listed company (£2bn market cap) on the London Stock Exchange. At current market valuations, Plus500 are comfortably on track to join the FTSE250 in September when the next index reshuffle takes place.

Head of capital markets at MHP, Oliver Hughes, says, “There have been around forty new listings in London this year so to be the financial PR advisers on four of those in what is a very competitive space is a fantastic reflection on our team’s capabilities and recognition in the market. This provides us with a great platform to keep up our strong momentum - both working with our newly listed clients on an ongoing advisory basis and with unlisted companies looking to access the capital markets.”