CVC Advisers Ltd. and Veritas Capital have each submitted a roughly £1.6 billion ($2.2 billion) proposal to acquire Bodycote Plc, setting up a direct contest between the two private equity firms.
Bodycote's board said it "is prepared to back either bid."
The two proposals are almost identical in value. The only difference is the per-share price: CVC is offering 915 pence, while Veritas is one penny lower at 914 pence.
Investors responded by pushing the stock sharply higher. The stock's position above both offers made the valuation a central part of the contest. The jump reflected relief that Apollo's exit had not ended the sale process; instead, two competing buyers emerged, and the stock pushed to 923 pence, above the amount offered in either proposal.
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Earlier, Apollo Global Management had approached Bodycote with a takeover offer, but the U.S. private equity firm eventually withdrew. That left CVC and Veritas as the two remaining bidders.
Bodycote applies thermal treatments and protective coatings to metal parts, a specialized service that helps components keep working in demanding conditions. Its customers include aerospace companies and other industrial businesses whose parts must withstand high heat and heavy wear. That technical specialism is why buyout firms view it as an attractive takeover target.
Bodycote's board had been facing takeover interest before the rival proposals were confirmed. Apollo's earlier approach and eventual withdrawal left the company with two interested private equity buyers rather than a single suitor. That competitive dynamic is a major reason investors pushed the shares above both bids, and it also gives the board room to ask for a higher price while the UK takeover clock runs.
The UK takeover timetable is designed to create a defined end to the process. In this case, the expected resolution date of August 5, 2026, is the point by which the bidders must clarify their intentions.
Because the shares are trading at 923 pence, above both bids, the market is signaling that investors believe the final price could go higher. The board's stance, combined with two interested buyers, could push the two private equity firms to improve their terms before the takeover deadline arrives. With Apollo already out of the picture, the immediate question is whether CVC or Veritas will raise its proposal, or whether one will walk away and leave the other to complete the deal.
With the shares above both offers, the one-penny gap between CVC and Veritas becomes a central issue. At 923 pence, the market has already priced in an outcome better than either current proposal. That means shareholders who sell now are giving up the chance of a later improvement, while buyers know they may need to pay more.
Bodycote's board has indicated it would support either proposal, leaving shareholders to wait for any changes in price. The UK takeover rules give the process a clear deadline, and the coming months will show whether either private equity firm is willing to increase its bid.
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