---
title: "Market Uncertainty Prompts British Companies to Delay IPOs as Peel Hunt Reports Mixed Outlook"
publisher: "Stockmark.IT"
author: "Stockmark.IT Website"
published: "2024-11-30T13:54:52+00:00"
modified: "2024-11-30T13:54:52+00:00"
date: 2024-11-30
canonical: "https://stockmark.it/market-uncertainty-prompts-british-companies-to-delay-ipos-as-peel-hunt-reports-mixed-outlook/"
category: "Stockmarket"
categories: ["Stockmarket", "Stockmarket News"]
image: "https://i0.wp.com/stockmark.it/wp-content/uploads/london.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&quality=89&ssl=1"
format: "news"
language: "en-GB"
---

# Market Uncertainty Prompts British Companies to Delay IPOs as Peel Hunt Reports Mixed Outlook

**Published:** November 30, 2024
**Author:** Stockmark.IT Website
**Categories:** Stockmarket, Stockmarket News
**Featured image:** ![Aerial view of London at sunset, showcasing the River Thames and several bridges. St. Paul's Cathedral is visible in the city center. from Stockmark.it](https://i0.wp.com/stockmark.it/wp-content/uploads/london.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&quality=89&ssl=1)

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British companies are putting their flotation and merger plans on hold amid growing market uncertainty following last month’s budget announcement, according to leading broker Peel Hunt. The company, which serves numerous small and medium-sized enterprises, has revealed a return to profitability in the half-year to September, yet warns of widespread deal postponements.

The organisation’s chief executive, Steven Fine, expressed significant concerns about the recent modifications to inheritance tax advantages for Alternative Investment Market (AIM) stocks, describing the changes as catastrophic for the City of London. The alterations are expected to trigger sustained outflows from AIM-listed companies’ inheritance tax funds.

Peel Hunt’s financial performance showed promising signs, with revenues climbing 26 per cent to £53.8 million, transforming a previous £800,000 loss into a £1.2 million pre-tax profit. When excluding share-based bonus provisions, the adjusted profit reached £4.6 million, marking a substantial improvement from the previous period’s £500,000 loss.

Fine delivered a passionate plea for reform, suggesting that UK pension funds should be mandated to invest a minimum of 10 to 15 per cent in British stocks, significantly above the current average of approximately 3 per cent. He criticised pension funds for their apparent hypocrisy in questioning recent UK listing reforms while maintaining minimal domestic investment exposure.

The current market climate has witnessed 41 consecutive months of net redemptions from UK investment funds, alongside a concerning trend of companies delisting from London markets. Recent examples include Direct Line, Loungers, TI Fluid, JustEatTakeaway, and Renewi, highlighting the growing challenges facing the British financial sector.

Despite these headwinds, Peel Hunt maintains a robust pipeline of corporate transactions, though many are now expected to materialise in the next financial year, post-April 2025. The company’s shares remained steady at 108½p, with the firm continuing to serve four FTSE 100 companies and 42 FTSE 250 constituents.

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**Original URL:** https://stockmark.it/market-uncertainty-prompts-british-companies-to-delay-ipos-as-peel-hunt-reports-mixed-outlook/
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