London's Stock Market Sees Mini-Retrieve in Listings Amid Challenging Year
The London Stock Exchange (LSE) has seen a modest increase in new listings, bringing relief to the market after a prolonged period of low activity. The resurgence is attributed to a combination of factors, including changes in investor behavior and a decrease in private equity transactions that previously accounted for many IPOs.
Data from Dealogic reveals that fundraising from flotations, or initial public offerings (IPOs), increased significantly in the second half of 2025 compared to the first half. While still below the level seen in 2021, the increase is a welcome change for the LSE, which has struggled to attract new listings in recent years.
The largest IPO this year was from Fermi, a Texas-based data centre real estate group that raised £400m through a dual listing on the US Nasdaq exchange. Other notable listings included Princes Group, a UK-based tinned tuna maker, and Shawbrook, a specialist lender.
The LSE's chief executive, Julia Hoggett, believes that this year's momentum is indicative of what's to come, with many companies actively preparing for a London listing in 2026. Share prices are high, making it more attractive for owners to cash in on their shares, and the private equity market may have reached its natural limit.
Several high-profile IPOs are expected next year, including Oslo-based software company Visma, which is valued at over €20bn (£17.5bn). Other potential listings include IVC Evidensia, a veterinary group with 2,700 sites across 19 countries, and fintech payments platform Ebury.
While the outlook for London's IPO market looks more promising than it has in years, concerns remain about the need for fresh new entrants to attract investors. The recent switch of Wise, a payments firm, to a US listing highlights the changing landscape, and the reduced number of public companies on the LSE due to takeovers and delistings.
The UK's Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, recently announced a three-year post-IPO stamp duty holiday for firms listing in London, which may provide a welcome boost to the market. However, an improvement that lasts longer than six months is crucial to sustain investor interest.
The London Stock Exchange (LSE) has seen a modest increase in new listings, bringing relief to the market after a prolonged period of low activity. The resurgence is attributed to a combination of factors, including changes in investor behavior and a decrease in private equity transactions that previously accounted for many IPOs.
Data from Dealogic reveals that fundraising from flotations, or initial public offerings (IPOs), increased significantly in the second half of 2025 compared to the first half. While still below the level seen in 2021, the increase is a welcome change for the LSE, which has struggled to attract new listings in recent years.
The largest IPO this year was from Fermi, a Texas-based data centre real estate group that raised £400m through a dual listing on the US Nasdaq exchange. Other notable listings included Princes Group, a UK-based tinned tuna maker, and Shawbrook, a specialist lender.
The LSE's chief executive, Julia Hoggett, believes that this year's momentum is indicative of what's to come, with many companies actively preparing for a London listing in 2026. Share prices are high, making it more attractive for owners to cash in on their shares, and the private equity market may have reached its natural limit.
Several high-profile IPOs are expected next year, including Oslo-based software company Visma, which is valued at over €20bn (£17.5bn). Other potential listings include IVC Evidensia, a veterinary group with 2,700 sites across 19 countries, and fintech payments platform Ebury.
While the outlook for London's IPO market looks more promising than it has in years, concerns remain about the need for fresh new entrants to attract investors. The recent switch of Wise, a payments firm, to a US listing highlights the changing landscape, and the reduced number of public companies on the LSE due to takeovers and delistings.
The UK's Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, recently announced a three-year post-IPO stamp duty holiday for firms listing in London, which may provide a welcome boost to the market. However, an improvement that lasts longer than six months is crucial to sustain investor interest.
... all these big IPOs might be just a flash in the pan... and what's with the UK gov't trying to attract more companies with that stamp duty holiday? it's like they're throwing money out the window 
... don't get me wrong, I'm glad some new blood is coming into the market, but we need more than just one or two big name companies to make a lasting impact 
. and have you seen the fees these investment banks are charging? it's like they're taking all the profits for themselves 
... I guess only time will tell if this mini-rerieve is just the beginning of something bigger 
. But with a few notable exceptions, like Fermi's massive £400m IPO, the market is finally showing some signs of life 
. And with those high-profile IPOs expected in 2026, like Visma and IVC Evidensia, things are looking up for investors who want to put their money into something innovative 
.
. But let's be real, it's still a drop in the ocean compared to what Visma is bringing to the table with their €20bn valuation 
. And I'm not sure about this stamp duty holiday thingy... it sounds like more of a temporary fix rather than a game-changer 
london's stock market has finally started to bounce back after years of being pretty flat 
and with all these high-profile IPOs expected next year, things are looking up for the lse 
fermi just raised £400m through its dual listing on nasdaq, that's some serious cash 
or shawbrook, the specialist lender 
share prices are high, making it easier for owners to cash out, so i'm all about this 
. And yeah, share prices being high is definitely making it more attractive for owners to cash in, so fingers crossed this trend keeps up!
. Here's to hoping we can keep this momentum going! 
fermi and visma are some of the biggest ones this year, which is nice i guess. but let me tell you, 400 million pounds raised by a data centre company? that's just insane 
. They're seeing a mini-revival now, which means that with careful planning and timing, things can start to look up again 
. It's like waiting for the right moment to plant a seed - you have to be patient and let nature take its course 
. And it looks like companies are starting to prepare for a London listing in 2026, which is a big deal! So, instead of getting discouraged, we can learn from this to be more patient and strategic in our own lives too 
London's stock market finally seeing some life after years of slow activity? that's awesome! 
Visma is already valued at €20bn... wowzers! 
I think it's awesome to see some new listings on the LSE after a pretty quiet year 
And that Wise payments firm switching to a US listing? That's just another sign of how much the market is changing - we need some fresh blood in London to keep it competitive.
! It's like, finally, some new life in the market after all those years of low activity 
And I'm loving the fact that fundraising from flotations is on the up again – it's like the market is getting its mojo back 
.
! It's like, just what the market needs to get moving again 