Situations
Where money or control changes hands at a UK small cap – takeovers, disposals, capital returns, activists, stake building, refinancings. Each one followed from the first announcement to the outcome.
Special dividends, tender offers, returns of capital, large buy-backs.
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Capital return Auction Technology Group ATG£580m new
Return of excess capital
As set out at the HY26 results, the Board is considering options for returning excess capital to shareholders.
Status Board considering options for returning excess capital (22 …Leverage c.1.5x adjusted net debt to adjusted EBITDA expected at …Board considering optionsNext Detail of capital return at FY26 results 24 Nov · in 29 days - Tuesday
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Capital return Gulf Keystone Petroleum Ltd Com Shs GKP£462m new
Special dividend
Gulf Keystone Petroleum Ltd Com Shs: special dividend of USD 50 million, 4.2% of the market value – proposed (20 Oct 2026).
Kind special dividendAmount USD 50 millionOf market value 4.2%Proposed - Earlier this month
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Capital return YouGov YOU£314m
Share buyback replacing dividend
In March 2026 the Board said it expected to replace the annual dividend with a buyback, citing a gap between intrinsic and market value. Facilities were amended by 6 Aug 2026.
Balance sheet Year-end leverage 1.7x; net debt £142.1m; debt facilities …Size Up to £15m maximum aggregate consideration, in lieu of the …Buyback launched 13 Oct 2026, run by BerenbergNext Buyback expected to complete within second half of FY27 -
Capital return AdvancedAdvT Limited ADVT£233m
£10m buyback and possible tender offer
Having already completed £10.0 million of share buyback, and we have initiated a further £10 million programme in September.
Second £10m buyback under wayNext half year results 2 Nov · in 7 days -
Capital return FirstGroup FGP£1,106m
Buyback programme
FirstGroup: buyback programme of £100m, 9.8% of the market value – proposed (12 Oct 2026).
Kind buyback programmeAmount £100mOf market value 9.8%Proposed -
Capital return Celebrus Technologies CLBS£19m
Share buyback programme
The up-to-1,000,000-share buyback through Cavendish launched on 13 Feb 2026. The H1 update shows $2.0m spent in the period, alongside a $1.2m final dividend, while cash fell to $22.3m.
Buyback spend of $2.0m reported in H1 -
Capital return Goodwin Plc GDWN£1,077m
Dividend policy review
On 9 Sep 2026 the Board said it intends to pay a significant proportion of net sale proceeds to shareholders. The 30 Sep update says the Board is still weighing the mechanism with advisers; no decision on amount, timing or form.
Proposed dividend Ordinary dividend of 330p per share (2025: 280p), up 18% …Policy Board considering capital allocation and dividend policy …Mechanism under consideration; no decisionNext Board decision on amount, timing and form of return -
Capital return Baltic Classifieds Group BCG£786m
Buyback programme
Baltic Classifieds Group: buyback programme of €180 million, 23% of the market value – proposed (30 Sep 2026).
Kind buyback programmeAmount €180 millionOf market value 23%€118.0m drawn; leverage 0.7x -
Capital return Venture Life Group VLG£80m
Share buyback programme
The buyback began in September 2025 and was extended on 20 August 2026. The results show £4.7m returned by period end (about 7.0m shares). After the period a further 3.6m shares were bought for £2.4m.
Total returned £7.1 million, 10.6 million shares, average price 67.3 pencePost-period buying 3.6 million shares for £2.4 millionExtended programme run to 28 September; 10.6m shares boughtNext Board decision on any further buyback after the extended programme
A row opens the situation with its chart and every step. Company pages also show the smaller matters – a new CEO, a plan, a contract, director buying.