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Published Jun 18, 2026Updated Jun 181
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EQT Acquires Intertek for £9.3 Billion in Major LSE Delisting
EQT AB, a Swedish private equity firm, has agreed to acquire British testing and certification company Intertek Group Plc for £9.3 billion, marking another major British company's departure from the London Stock Exchange.
Quick Facts
- Acquisition agreement
- Company delisting from London Stock Exchange
- Takeover by private equity firm
- EQT AB
- Intertek Group Plc
Swedish private equity firm EQT AB has agreed to acquire Intertek Group Plc, a leading British testing, inspection, and certification company, for £9.3 billion (approximately $12.3 billion). The transaction represents a significant exit of a major British corporation from the London Stock Exchange, continuing a trend of established UK-listed companies being acquired by international private equity investors.
Intertek, which provides quality assurance and testing services across multiple industries including consumer goods, energy, and infrastructure, has been a prominent fixture on the London market. The acquisition by EQT marks another notable delisting event for the LSE, as the firm agreed to the takeover bid from the Swedish private equity giant.
The deal underscores the ongoing consolidation in the professional services and testing sector, as well as the attractiveness of mature British enterprises to international capital. EQT's acquisition of Intertek adds to the firm's portfolio of operational investments and demonstrates continued appetite among large private equity investors for stable, cash-generative businesses with global market positions.
Topics
Why This Matters
This acquisition signals sustained consolidation in the professional services sector and reflects the strategic appeal of mature, cash-generative British enterprises to global private equity investors. For investors and market observers, it highlights ongoing capital redeployment dynamics on the LSE, where established UK businesses increasingly attract international buyers seeking stable international operations. The deal also underscores how private equity firms continue to pursue large-scale acquisitions despite market volatility.
Timeline & Sources
Jun 18, 2026
WireEQT AB agrees to acquire Intertek Group Plc for £9.3 billion