Henrik Laursen

Attorney-at-Law, Partner

Henrik Laursen is a partner in our Corporate Finance team and has extensive experience in large complex transactions across all public M&A and capital markets transactions (IPOs, rights issues, ABBs, takeovers, restructurings, etc.) as well venture capital and private M&A transactions. In addition to transactional work, Henrik provides advice in relation to ongoing disclosure obligations and corporate governance.

Henrik is among the most active capital markets lawyers in Denmark, having completed transactions with an aggregate value of more than DKK 200bn. Henrik has been involved in several Danish landmark transactions across multiple industries, including the IPOs of Netcompany, Nets, ISS and Scandinavian Tobacco Group, the takeover bids on Topdanmark and Nørresundby Bank and led the Plesner equity capital markets (ECM) team advising Tryg on its DKK 37bn Rights Issue, the largest ever ECM transaction in Denmark. In addition, Henrik regularly advises most Danish and international investment banks active in Denmark. 

In addition to substantial experience and a successful track record with capital markets transactions in the Danish market, Henrik is among the most experienced Danish practitioners within cross-border capital markets transactions, currently advising Noble Corporation on its combination with Maersk Drilling and subsequent listing on NYSE and Nasdaq Copenhagen and have advised on the IPOs of Forward Pharma (first main listing on Nasdaq NYC), Ascendis Pharma (second main listing on Nasdaq NYC), Bavarian Nordic (abandoned US IPO), Zealand Pharma (first dual-listing on Nasdaq NYC), Orphazyme (third dual-listing on Nasdaq NYC) Nordic Waterproofing (IPO on Nasdaq Stockholm) as well as the restructuring of SEK 350m bonds issued by Trigon Agri A/S (listed on Nasdaq Stockholm). 

While working across multiple industries, Henrik has a particular focus on the technology and life science sectors as well as providing advice to financial institutions.

Capital Markets

  • IPOs for a combined value of approximately DKK 42bn of Netcompany, ISS, Nets, Trifork, Green Hydrogen Systems, Aquaporin, Orphazyme (initial Copenhagen IPO as well as Nasdaq NYC IPO), Zealand Pharma (NYC), Nordic Transport Group, Scandinavian Tobacco Group, Nordic Waterproofing (Nasdaq Stockholm), Forward Pharma (NYC) and RISMA Systems (Nasdaq First North)
  • Takeover bids for RSA (by consortium consisting of Tryg and Intact), Topdanmark (by Sampo), Nørresundby Bank and Migatronic for a combined value of approximately DKK 68bn
  • Private placements of new shares in among others Zealand Pharma, Tryg, Orphazyme, Bavarian Nordic, Ambu, Greenmobility for a combined value of DKK 8bn
  • Rights issues for a combined value of approximately DKK 38bn in Tryg, Bang & Olufsen and Nordjyske Bank
  • Private placements of existing shares in among others Netcompany, NTG, Genmab, Matas, Chr. Hansen, Genmab and Asetek for a combined value of DKK 9bn
  • SPACs - several undisclosed aborted de-SPAC transactions
  • All-stock combination - pending of Maersk Drilling and Noble Corporation for a combined value of approximately DKK 22bn
  • Various other transactions, including debt-to-equity restructuring and listing of warrants in Agromino and equity finance and license transaction involving Zealand Pharma and Alexion 

Private Transactions

  • Numerous biotech transactions, including equity financing rounds in Ascendis Pharma, IO Biotech, UNION therapeutics, sale of Santaris Pharma (acquired by Roche), acquisition of PDE4i/Orismilast from LEO Pharma and acquisition of Tetramer Shop by 10x Genomics for a combined value of approximately DKK 4bn  
  • Numerous tech transactions, including advising Facebook and Airbnb on their first Danish M&A transactions acquiring respectively Eyeproof and Gaest.com and various equity financing rounds, including in Trustpilot and Too Good To Go 
  • Various other transactions, including DONG Energy/Goldman Sachs, ATP and PFA private placement, the acquisition of Fan Milk International, and the acquisition of Riemann by Orkla

Ratings

  • Henrik Laursen is listed as a Leading Lawyer (Notable Practitioner) as regards Capital Markets: Equity and M&A.  

    "X-ray-like understanding of the regulation and dynamics of listed companies and stock exchange constraints and possibilities"

    "Extremely responsive, technically proficient and hard-working"

    "Great to work with, led the most complex capital markets transaction in Denmark and made it look smooth and easy, he was essential to the deal"
    (2023)

  • Henrik Laursen is recommended as a "Global Leader" as regards Capital Markets - Debt & Equity (2023)

  • Henrik Laursen is recommended and listed as a "Next generation partner" as regards Capital Markets.

    "Henrik Laursen is a truly attentive lawyer with correct but still balanced advice" (2023)

  • Henrik Laursen is listed as a Leading Lawyer (Notable Practitioner) as regards Capital Markets: Equity and M&A (2020+2021+2021/2022+2022)

    "Sharp, fast, hands-on and very pleasant. He and his team are just the kind of lawyers you instinctively trust" (2022)

  •  

    Henrik Laursen is recommended and listed as a "Next generation partner" as regards Capital Markets.  

    "Henrik Laursen is fantastic. He is highly responsive, technically excellent and extremely commercial. Henrik should be the first name on the team sheet for the most complex Danish deals" (2022)

  •  

    Henrik Laursen is recommended and listed as a "Next generation partner" as regards Capital Markets (2020+2021)

    "We are a newly listed company and Henrik Laursen’s capital markets team became our trusted advisor on capital markets law in no time. The team are very good in framing their advice to match our needs perfectly"

    "Henrik Laursen is extremely hard-working, always accessible, very pleasant to work with and – most importantly – he is never afraid of “leaning out” with specific, practical and useful advice" (2021)

  •  

    Henrik Laursen is recommended and listed as a "Next generation lawyer" as regards Capital Markets.

    Henrik Laursen attracts praise as "a very strong practitioner who always goes the extra mile for clients" (2019)

View more View less

Latest news on M&A and Capital Markets

Capital Markets