London’s investment bankers and lawyers make more than £1bn in takeover frenzy
Summary
London’s investment bankers and lawyers earned more than £1 billion in fees from takeover deals in 2026. The value of these deals surged by 175% to about £100 billion, driven by private equity and foreign buyers picking up British companies.Key Facts
- Mergers and acquisitions of UK-listed companies rose to $132.9 billion (£100 billion) in 2026, a 175% increase.
- Investment bankers, lawyers, and accountants earned over £1.2 billion in fees from these deals.
- JP Morgan advised on 14 UK takeover deals worth $89.4 billion (£67.6 billion) this year.
- The UK government removed a cap on bank bonuses in late 2023; some banks now pay bonuses up to 25 times salary.
- The biggest deal was EQT’s £10.6 billion takeover of lab testing group Intertek, generating over £370 million in fees.
- Senior partners at top law firms earned record pay, with some averaging more than £2 million a year.
- The takeovers prompted debate about the London stock market's future and rising inequality amid the UK’s cost of living crisis.
- Banks and their leaders have lobbied against higher taxes, warning the UK government not to raise bank taxes further.
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