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UK's Intertek gets sweetened proposal from private equity firm EQT, FT reports

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on April 22, 2026

2 min read

· Last updated: April 23, 2026

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UK's Intertek gets sweetened proposal from private equity firm EQT, FT reports
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April 22 (Reuters) - Swedish private equity firm EQT AB has submitted an improved takeover proposal for Intertek, valuing the British product testing firm at 9.7 billion pounds ($13.10 billion), the

UK's Intertek considers EQT's $11.2 billion sweetened takeover bid

Intertek Reviews Enhanced Takeover Proposal from EQT

Details of the Sweetened Offer

April 22 (Reuters) - British product testing firm Intertek on Wednesday said it is reviewing a sweetened takeover proposal from Swedish private equity group EQT AB, valuing it at 8.3 billion pounds ($11.22 billion).

EQT is now offering 54 pounds per share in cash, after Intertek's board rejected an earlier 51.50 pound a share bid saying it undervalued the firm.

Valuation and Market Reaction

The Financial Times first reported the news of EQT's improved takeover proposal, which it said valued Intertek at 9.7 billion pounds, including debt.

EQT, which did not respond to a request for comment, must decide whether to make a firm offer for Intertek by May 14 or walk away.

Intertek shares rose as much as 5.5% to 51.6 pounds and were up 2.2% at 1508 GMT.

Background and Strategic Moves

Intertek's Business and Recent Developments

Last week, Intertek, which helps companies ensure their products, operations and supply chains meet quality, safety and sustainability standards, said it was exploring a split of its two businesses, a move that analysts have since described as "defensive" following the disclosure of EQT's first takeover bid. 

Exchange Rate Information

($1 = 0.7400 pounds)

Reporting Credits

(Reporting by Yamini Kalia, Prerna Bedi and Ankita Bora in Bengaluru; Editing by Shilpi Majumdar, Kirsten Donovan)

Key Takeaways

  • EQT sweetened its bid to £54/share, a 5 % increase from the prior £51.50 offer, valuing Intertek at ~£9.7 billion ($13.1 billion) (FTA report).
  • Intertek previously rejected the initial £51.50/share offer as undervaluing the company; EQT now has until May 14, 2026 to launch a firm offer or withdraw (Reuters, Investing.com).
  • Following the offer and rejection, Intertek launched a strategic review—including a potential split of Energy & Infrastructure from Testing & Assurance—to unlock value; analysts view this as partly defensive (Morningstar, Jefferies).

Frequently Asked Questions

What is EQT's latest offer for Intertek?
EQT's latest offer for Intertek values the company at £9.7 billion, proposing £54 per share.
How much did EQT increase its Intertek bid by?
EQT increased its Intertek offer by 5% from its initial bid, from £51.5 per share to £54 per share.
How did Intertek's share price react to the news?
Following the report of the improved offer, Intertek shares rose as much as 5.5% to £51.6 before settling up 1.5%.
Did Intertek respond to EQT's revised takeover proposal?
Intertek did not immediately respond to the revised takeover proposal from EQT.
Why is Intertek considering splitting its business?
Intertek announced plans to explore a business split, described by analysts as 'defensive,' after rejecting EQT's initial offer.

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