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Equity financing

The equity financing hub for global businesses

The UK's offer

  • An equity financing hub that meets the needs of companies of all sizes and growth stages
  • Europe’s leading centre for PE
  • Access to deep pools of international capital
  • An international and diverse public equity market financing close to 1,500 companies operating in ~50 countries
  • The biggest unicorn hub in Europe and the second largest in the world

A dynamic investment environment

The UK is a mature equity financing hub with a culture of innovation, international access, deep pools of expertise and a dynamic ecosystem. Global companies of all sizes and growth stages can find the capital and fundraising expertise in the UK, from seed funding, venture capital (VC), private equity (PE) to public listing. Many entrepreneurs choose to set up their companies in the UK to take advantage of the UK’s well-developed equity funding ladder.

The UK is also the doorway to growth for global investors. It is home to a huge pool of both early stage and mature businesses, providing a rich source of investment targets.

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Powerful Pensions:
Unlocking DC capital for UK tech growth

Powerful Pensions:
Unlocking DC capital for UK tech growth

Mansion House Accord

Seventeen of the largest workplace pension providers in the UK have agreed to invest at least 10% of their defined contribution (DC) default funds in private markets by 2030, with 5% of the total allocated to the UK.

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Europe's leading magnet for PE and VC investment

The UK has the most mature PE and VC ecosystem in Europe with the largest investment in Europe. The sector also has a highly international outlook. It connects UK and international companies with global capital.

x2

Over the past five years, PE in the UK has generated more than twice the deal value of the next largest European market

£28bn

worth of PE &VC investment flows from UK firms to overseas portfolio companies in 2024

80%

of the PE & VC funds raised in the UK in 2024 were of foreign origins

Thought piece

Corporate Venture Capital: harnessing the UK’s potential

Corporate Venture Capital: harnessing the UK’s potential

One of the most international exchanges

The London Stock Exchange (LSE) is Europe’s leading public market with a deep pool of liquidity and access to international investors. London houses a dense network of advisors, banks, market makers, asset managers and professional services companies who can guide companies through their fundraising journey.

The UK is an attracting listing location for prospective issuers.    

~50

Issuer countries (equity)
at the London Stock Exchange

36%

of companies listed on the LSE are international, more than any other major exchange

£18.7bn

of equity capital raised in the LSE since January 2025 – 1.3x the next largest exchange in Europe

Compelling investment opportunities

The UK is home to a concentration of tech, fintech, artificial intelligence and other fast-growing sectors that provide excellent investment targets. London’s start up ecosystem ranks second globally, only behind the Silicon Valley.  The UK is home to 198 unicorns, the highest number in Europe.

Underpinned by the UK’s globally recognised regulatory standards and corporate governance, listing at the London Stock Exchange represents a stamp of quality on what investors are trading on.  Foreign ownership in the UK stock market had gradually increased to 59% in 2024, reflecting UK listed companies’ appeal to international investors. 

Download the brochure for more on the UK’s investable FPS tech sector

UK financial and professional services tech:
innovation and investor opportunity

UK financial and professional services tech:
innovation and investor opportunity

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