Arlington Capital Partners has completed its acquisition of Gooch & Housego plc (G&H), taking the British photonics manufacturer private in a £12.30-per-share cash transaction.
The acquisition became effective on 16 October 2026 through Greenlight Bidco Limited, an entity indirectly owned by Arlington Capital Partners VII, L.P. The court sanctioned the scheme of arrangement on 14 October, while G&H's shares were cancelled from trading on AIM on 19 October.
Headquartered in Ilminster, Somerset, G&H employs approximately 1,000 people across the UK, US and other locations. Founded in 1948, the company manufactures advanced photonic and optical components and systems serving aerospace and defence, industrial and life sciences markets.
Its technologies include precision optics, fibre optics, acousto- and electro-optics and thin-film coatings. Applications range from counter-drone systems and navigation technologies to semiconductor manufacturing, medical devices and diagnostic equipment.
Arlington plans to invest in organic growth and expand manufacturing capacity at G&H's existing UK and US facilities, supporting further development of its aerospace and defence operations alongside its industrial and life sciences businesses.
Buyer / Parties: Greenlight Bidco Limited, backed by Arlington Capital Partners VII, L.P.
Target: Gooch & Housego plc
Sector: Photonics, aerospace and defence, industrial technology and life sciences
Deal type: Private equity take-private acquisition
Value: £12.30 cash per share; total acquisition value not stated in the supplied announcements
Geography: United Kingdom / United States
Identified advisers: J.P. Morgan Cazenove, Kirkland & Ellis, Rothschild & Co, Investec Bank, Burges Salmon, FGS Global and Burson Buchanan
The acquisition supports Arlington's strategy of investing in specialised manufacturing businesses serving regulated and technically demanding markets. Its plans include expanding G&H's UK and US production capacity, strengthening its aerospace and defence business and supporting growth in industrial and life sciences applications. G&H has also identified strategic acquisitions as a potential avenue for expansion under private ownership.
Buyer / Investor: J.P. Morgan Cazenove acted as sole financial adviser to Arlington Capital Partners and Greenlight Bidco, while Kirkland & Ellis served as Arlington's legal adviser. FGS Global acted as PR adviser to Arlington and Bidco.
Target: Rothschild & Co and Investec Bank acted as joint financial advisers to Gooch & Housego, with Investec also serving as nominated adviser and broker. Burges Salmon provided legal advice to G&H, while Burson Buchanan acted as PR adviser.
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