A major British manufacturer is set to become the latest UK company to be snapped up by an overseas buyer.
The multibillion-pound deal comes as foreign firms continue to target British businesses amid relatively low stock market valuations.
Swiss engineering giant ABB has agreed a £4.1billion deal to buy British manufacturer Rotork, making it the latest UK company to be taken over by an overseas business.
Rotork, which is based in Bath, makes flow control equipment mainly used by the oil and gas industry. ABB will pay 506p a share under the deal.
The takeover follows a string of overseas bids for UK-listed companies in recent months, including Tate & Lyle, easyJet, Intertek and Evoke.
ABB chief executive Morten Wierod said the company had admired Rotork for many years.
“ABB has followed Rotork over many years, and we admire the execution excellence, engineering quality and customer trust that Rotork’s teams deliver each day,” he said.
He said the takeover would strengthen ABB’s automation business.
ABB said Rotork would continue to operate as a standalone business within the group.
The company also warned that some jobs could be lost where back-office and support roles overlap. However, it said any reductions were “not expected to be material”.
Swiss engineering giant ABB has agreed a £4.1billion deal to buy British manufacturer Rotork
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ABB added: “ABB does not intend to make any other headcount reductions that would be material.”
Rotork chairwoman Dorothy Thompson backed the deal, saying the two companies were a strong fit because they both focus on automation and electrification to improve efficiency and support more sustainable operations.
The Rotork deal forms part of a mounting wave of overseas acquisitions sweeping through British business.
In June, food ingredients group Tate & Lyle accepted a £2.7billion offer from American competitor Ingredion, with directors unanimously endorsing the cash proposal.
Rotork chairwoman Dorothy Thompson backed the deal, saying the two companies were a strong fit
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US delivery platform DoorDash finalised its £2.9 billion purchase of Deliveroo earlier this year, while Swiss insurer Zurich secured an £8.1billion agreement to buy FTSE 100 firm Beazley in March.
Asset manager Schroders also agreed to go private through a £9.9billion takeover by US investment firm Nuveen.
Office for National Statistics figures reveal that 163 British companies were acquired by foreign purchasers during the opening quarter of 2026, representing transactions worth £14.2billion.
This followed a four-year high of £33billion in deals during the final three months of 2025.
Rotork makes flow control equipment mainly used by the oil and gas industry
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Analysts point to comparatively weak valuations on London’s equity markets as a primary driver behind this acquisition spree.
While the FTSE 100 has shown year-on-year improvement, its growth has lagged behind other major markets, particularly in the United States.
This disparity has led international buyers, especially American firms, to view British competitors as undervalued and attractive acquisition targets.