takeovers are shrinking the UK stock market at the fastest Pace in more than a decade about 45 companies have delisted from the London Market this year due to merges and Acquisitions that’s up 10% from the tally for all of last year according to data compiled by Bloomberg we’re seeing the highest number of firms leaving the market since 2010 as the volume of deals targeting UK companies jumps 81% this year to more than $60 billion foreign private Equity firms have been among the most active with us-based Capital group closing its $852 million acquisition of London listed balanced Commercial Property Trust while Toma Bravo finished its $5.3 billion purchase of cyber security software provider dark trace the moves show how the British stock market remains popular with bargain hunters with UK equities now trading at a record discount of more than 40% to Global peers all these deals combined with a dir of initial public offerings in London mean that the total number of listed companies in the UK continues to shrink 11 companies have completed London IPOs this year to raise a combined $1 billion down 11% from the amount raised during the same period in 2023 analysts warn that if London wants to keep its place as the financial center of Europe major reforms are needed