Softcat plans £350m equity raise to fund US acquisition

LONDON - Softcat plc (LSE:SCT.L) has announced plans to launch a new retail share offering in the United Kingdom, according to a press release. The share issue will be conducted through RetailBook, and the issue price will be set after a bookbuilding process. The company is combining this offer with an institutional placement to raise funds for a potential acquisition.

Softcat intends to use the net proceeds from both the retail offer and institutional placing to help fund the acquisition of General Datatech, L.P., an American IT solutions provider. The target acquisition value is approximately $1,050 million (£785 million). Investors can participate in the retail offer through their existing UK-based investment accounts, including ISAs, SIPPs, and general investment accounts.

The minimum subscription amount is £250 per investor, and RetailBook will not charge any commission on applications.

The share offer is expected to close at 9:00 p.m. today, with the option of closing earlier if oversubscribed. The new ordinary shares are anticipated to begin trading on the London Stock Exchange at 8:00 a.m. on September 22, 2026. The offer is subject to the completion of the institutional placement, and if the acquisition of General Datatech does not proceed, Softcat reserves the right to use the net proceeds in various ways, such as retaining funds for general purposes, investing in other capital projects, or returning the funds to shareholders.