UK companies received up to £74 billion in takeover offers during the first half of the year, according to analysis by Peel Hunt, with contested bids reaching their highest level in five years.
The analysis revealed that US firms made up over a quarter of all bidders, with American private equity firms behind 14% of all bid attempts.
In contrast, UK-based buyers have played a more prominent role this year, accounting for 63% of bids—well above the five-year average of 46%.
Michael Nicholson, head of advisory and M&A at Peel Hunt, said: “UK-listed consolidators are proving to be strong contenders against US private equity firms.
“The appeal of increased scale and enhanced liquidity—while retaining valuable assets and high-quality businesses within the UK market—is becoming a more compelling factor for UK plc boards and investors when evaluating share-based bids versus all-cash offers.”