Gooch & Housego shares jump as agrees to GBP345.6 million takeover

Gooch & Housego PLC on Thursday accepted a £345.6 million bid from Bethesda, Maryland-based buyout fund Arlington Capital Partners VII LP.

The Somerset, England-based photonic components & systems maker said the cash deal values each share at 1,234.9 pence, including a 4.9p per share interim dividend.

The offer values Gooch & Housego at £345.6 million on a fully diluted basis, implies an enterprise value of £400.5 million, and a multiple of around 25.9 times G&H adjusted operating profit for the twelve-months ended March 31, 2026.

In response, shares in Gooch & Housego leapt 38% to 1,205.00p each for a market value of £330.2 million.

The Gooch & Housego board consider the terms offered "fair and reasonable" and intend to recommend unanimously that shareholders back the proposal. It noted it had rejected a number of previous approaches from ACP.

Gooch & Housego Chair Gary Bullard said the offer provides shareholders with "immediate and certain value in cash" at a significant premium to recent share price levels, while also recognising the value of G&H's strategy, market position and long-term growth prospects.

It is intended that the deal will be implemented by way of a court‑sanctioned scheme of arrangement with the takeover likely to complete in the fourth quarter.

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