Business & Finance
London Stock Exchange faces three new delistings as takeover deals pass $100 billion this year
Bodycote, Gamma Communications, and Capricorn agreed to acquisition offers, adding to a wave of buyouts removing firms from the UK market.
The short version
- Three UK-listed companies—Bodycote, Gamma Communications, and Capricorn—agreed to separate takeover offers totaling over £3 billion.
- The prospective deals add to an ongoing trend of companies departing the London Stock Exchange, with total buyout deal values topping $100 billion in 2026.
- Private equity buyers cited greater operational flexibility away from public markets as a main driver for the acquisitions.
Key facts
- Bodycote agreed to a £1.84 billion takeover by US private equity firm Veritas after a bidding war involving CVC.[The Guardian]
- Gamma Communications recommended a £1.1 billion acquisition offer from UK private equity firm Epiris.[The Guardian]
- Capricorn accepted a $396 million buyout offer from Norwegian energy rival DNO, ending 38 years on the FTSE all-share index.[The Guardian]
- According to Bloomberg data, total deals removing companies from the London Stock Exchange have reached nearly $110 billion this year.[The Guardian]
What remains uncertain
- The final completion of the transactions remains subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals typical for public takeovers.[The Guardian]
Sources
- London Stock Exchange to lose three more firms after takeover offersThe Guardian - World