Advent International, a U.S. private equity firm, is poised to acquire Spectris, a UK-based maker of precision and testing equipment and software, in a deal valued at approximately £3.73 billion ($5.06 billion). Spectris has indicated it would accept the bid if Advent proceeds with a formal offer, resulting in a surge of its shares by up to 70%. This takeover is part of a broader trend of UK-listed companies being acquired by foreign buyers, with 30 bids and only one initial public offering (IPO) recorded so far this year, highlighting challenges in the UK equity market. In response to market conditions, the UK plans to launch a new market later this year aimed at private companies seeking to sell shares without the complexities of a traditional stock market listing. Meanwhile, Australia is taking steps to encourage more IPOs by trialing a streamlined process through its corporate regulator, the Australian Securities Investment Commission (ASIC), in an effort to counter a decade-low in listings. Additionally, ASIC is examining data on private credit growth linked to Australia's $2.7 trillion pensions sector.