London’s stock market has endured a difficult few years, marked by a wave of delistings and IPO snubs. The number of companies listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) has fallen from 2,429 in 2015 to 1,534 in May 2026—a decade low —according to LSE data compiled by Statista. More than 30 have left, or are planning to leave this year, including the asset manager Schroders and easyJet, which have both agreed to U.S. takeovers.
U.K. markets suffer from a smaller domestic investor base and shallower pools of capital than the U.S. Meanwhile years of relative underperformance have depressed valuations of London-listed companies, making them increasingly attractive for foreign buyers and private equity takeovers.
