Burges Salmon advises Gooch & Housego plc on its £345.6 million recommended takeover by Arlington Capital Partners VII, L.P.

We have advised longstanding client, Gooch & Housego plc (G&H), on its £345.6 million recommended cash takeover by Arlington Capital Partners VII, L.P. (ACP) which was announced on 16 July 2026 and which is proposed to be effected by means of a court-sanctioned scheme of arrangement (the Offer). G&H shareholders will receive £12.30 per share under the terms of the Offer and certain qualifying shareholders are also entitled to receive and retain an interim dividend of 4.9 pence per share.

G&H is a world leading photonics engineering group and has a broad offering of mission-critical photonics and high-precision optical subsystems, increasing momentum in its aerospace & defence portfolio, and exposure to an attractive set of end-market segments, geographies, and customers. Through its track record of investing in high quality, highly engineered and mission-critical companies in the aerospace, defence, life sciences and broader regulated sectors, ACP brings highly relevant expertise in the sectors within which G&H operate.

AJ Venter and Guy Francis, supported by Dominic Davis and Nigel Watson, are leading the Burges Salmon team in its advice to G&H in relation to the Offer. They are assisted in turn by, among others, Gina Green and Hannah Bellingall. Nigel Watson and Sam Taylor are providing incentives advice to G&H, while Richard Eccles and Tom Green are supporting G&H with the UK regulatory aspects of the Offer.

Thompson Hine is advising G&H on the US regulatory and securities law aspects of the Offer.

Subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, the transaction is currently expected to complete during the fourth quarter of 2026.