417 UK companies moved on Corporate and M&A in September 2026, from Boots to Boom Battle Bar

Across the UK markets we track, 417 companies recorded 454 Corporate and M&A events in September 2026. Of those, 232 were capital raisings and 222 were M&A. The largest came on 30 September, when the owner of Walgreens was reported to be nearing a $9 billion sale of Boots, likely to Canada's Weston family (Google News). On 29 September Nu Holdings was reported to be pursuing Monzo at USD 10.6 to 13.2 billion (Motley Fool).

Consumer and leisure assets changed hands at the smaller end. On 30 September Gordon Brothers was running a rushed sale of the 600-store Poundland, with Modella Capital and Fortress among the bidders facing a management bid (City AM). The same day We Do Play, backed by Frasers Group, bought Boom Battle Bar from XP Factory for £11m (City AM). Richard Beese, chief executive of We Do Play, said: “XP Factory has done a fantastic job of developing Boom Battle Bar into an incredible national brand. We have enormous respect for the hard work and investment they have put into the business, as well as the brilliant teams who have helped build it.”

Private equity kept buying. KKR and its logistics platform Mirastar acquired an eight-property UK logistics portfolio from Ares Real Estate funds at a £400M valuation on 29 September (Connect CRE), and HIG Capital completed its purchase of fulfilment specialist Torque (PE Hub). LDC reinvested in water-asset maintenance firm Stonbury, whose revenue has grown 74% to £78 million since 2022 (PE Hub).

Most of the capital raising went through funds and lenders. Molten Ventures reached a €203 million first close and Mouro Capital a €343.7 million first close on 29 September (EU-Startups). NRG Gyms secured £18.7 million from HSBC UK (Athletech News), and Zilch said it is open to a London IPO (GN).

The demand is Corporate and M&A, split almost evenly between 232 capital raisings and 222 M&A events. For UK law firms, that puts sale mandates alongside fund and financing work, often for the same sponsors. KKR buying from Ares funds and LDC reinvesting in Stonbury are sponsor-to-sponsor trades. Each has acquisition documents to negotiate on both sides.

Poundland's parcel sale and Mirriad Advertising's talks on an investment to leave administration both need restructuring lawyers working alongside the corporate team. AC1 taking over a Manchester tower from the collapsed Torsion Construction adds contract assignment work. Distress is part of the deal flow.

The first closes at Molten Ventures and Mouro Capital give funds lawyers work on investor terms, and the NRG Gyms facility gives banking lawyers work for both the lender and the borrower. The data matters to a firm's corporate and funds partners, and to the business development teams choosing which of the 417 companies to approach first.