Fresh stock market raid sparks clarion call for action
The London Stock Exchange risks being gutted of even more blue-chip firms this year without urgent action from ministers and officials, a group of top advisers has said, after three more listed companies accepted bids from foreign buyers. The cohort warned that “complacency is not a viable option” following news that FTSE 250 firms Bodycote [...]
The London Stock Exchange faces a significant risk of losing more major firms to foreign buyers this year without prompt intervention from government officials, according to a coalition of top advisers. Three additional companies have joined the list of recent departures, including Bodycote, Gamma Communications, and Capricorn Energy, with combined takeover values exceeding £3 billion.
This surge in outflows has surpassed £132 billion this year, triple the amount from the same period in 2025. Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at IG, noted that the latest announcements are a setback for efforts to maintain London's financial market prominence. The departure of Bodycote, a long-standing member of the London Stock Exchange since 1972, to US private equity firm Veritas Capital for £1.9 billion, highlights the ongoing trend.
Industry leaders are now calling for urgent policy changes to boost the struggling public market and retain capital within Britain.
Written by urgent.news from City AM's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
