Softcat stock falls as $1.05 billion GDT acquisition and equity placing reshape growth story

Published on 09/19/2026 at 14:33 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS

Softcat stock dropped nearly 4% on September 18, 2026 after the UK IT reseller agreed to buy US-based GDT at an enterprise value of $1.05 billion. The company is funding the deal with about GBP 354 million in new equity, changing its FTSE 250 free float profile.

Aquarellmalerei eines modernen Bürogebäudes in einer englischen Landschaft — Softcat plc (GB00BYZ2B577) hat seinen Hauptsitz in einer englischen Kleinstadt, künstlerisch dargestellt als sanftes Aquarellgemälde, Illustration mit AI erstellt.

Softcat plc stock (ISIN GB00BYZ2B577) came under pressure on September 18, 2026, with the shares falling close to 4% in London trading after the UK IT services provider agreed to acquire US infrastructure specialist General Datatech (GDT) at an enterprise value of $1.05 billion.

GDT acquisition drives strategy and share placing

According to Hoodline on September 18, 2026, Softcat has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Dallas-based GDT in a transaction valued at $1.05 billion, with the deal expected to close in the first quarter of 2027.

The report states that Softcat plans to finance the acquisition with approximately GBP 100 million in existing cash, GBP 550 million in new debt facilities and about GBP 350 million from a UK equity placing, underscoring the scale of the balance-sheet commitment that will accompany the expansion into North America.

As private equity owner H.I.G. Capital highlighted in its own release, cited by Hoodline, GDT brings around 900 employees and a significant US enterprise customer base that will sit inside Softcat as a subsidiary after closing, giving the Marlow-based reseller a much larger footprint in the American infrastructure market.

Equity issue updates FTSE index weights

Softcat has already raised substantial new equity to support the transaction. According to MarketScreener on September 18, 2026, the company completed an equity issue raising gross proceeds of about GBP 354 million through the placement of new ordinary shares, with the stated intention to use the net proceeds to fund part of the GDT consideration and related transaction costs.

This significant issuance has triggered changes in index calculations. A notice from Reuters on September 18, 2026 reports that FTSE Russell will update Softcat’s shares-in-issue data following the primary placing, with adjustments to the FTSE 250, FTSE 350, FTSE All-Share, FTSE All-Share ex Multinationals and FTSE 350 Lower Yield indices effective from the start of trading on September 23, 2026.

For investors, this means both a dilution effect from the new shares and a potential shift in passive fund flows linked to the FTSE index weights, adding an additional technical layer to the fundamental story of expansion through acquisition.

Share price reaction and investor risk focus

Market reaction to the GDT announcement and funding plan was negative in the short term. As Yahoo Finance reported on September 18, 2026, Softcat shares were among the worst performers in the FTSE 250, dropping around 2.8% after the IT company agreed to buy US-based GDT at an enterprise value of $1.05 billion.

A separate market update from MSN on September 18, 2026 similarly noted that Softcat was among the top decliners on the FTSE 250, with a near 4% fall on the day, illustrating how investors are weighing the benefits of the US expansion against the leverage and dilution required to pay for it.

In practical terms, the combination of GBP 550 million in new debt facilities and approximately GBP 354 million of new equity pointed out by MarketScreener implies a materially larger capital structure once the transaction completes, so future earnings and cash flow from GDT will need to justify both the $1.05 billion enterprise value and the associated financing costs.

Stock level and index context

On the London Stock Exchange, Softcat trades under the ticker SCT in pounds sterling, and the shares are constituents of the FTSE 250 and broader FTSE 350 and All-Share indices as confirmed by the FTSE Russell notice referenced by Reuters.

Per the same market wrap from Yahoo Finance on September 18, 2026, the roughly 2.8% single-day decline left Softcat stock notably weaker than the wider FTSE 250 that session, underlining how company-specific news rather than sector-wide sentiment drove the move.

Closing price and investor takeaway

Softcat stock is referenced on the London Stock Exchange with the ticker SCT in GBP, and as of September 18, 2026 the shares had fallen about 2.8% on the day in response to the announced $1.05 billion GDT acquisition and the associated funding mix of new debt and GBP 354 million of equity.