B1246 words1:36News Report American AccentPublished May 15, 2026 · Updated May 15, 2026

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Shares in the British insurance company Hiscox rose sharply on Friday after reports of a possible takeover bid.

Canada's Intact Financial Corp is reportedly exploring an offer to acquire Hiscox, which is listed on the FTSE 100 index in London.

The news pushed Hiscox's shares up by more than fifteen percent to a record high of eighteen pounds and ninety pence per share.

According to a report by the Insurance Post, Intact's chief executive has been looking for a major acquisition target.

The report said that the acquisition of Hiscox would help Intact grow its commercial insurance business.

Hiscox is a well-known insurer that operates through Lloyd's of London, one of the world's oldest insurance markets.

Hiscox has not yet commented on the report.

Hiscox is not the only British company that has attracted foreign interest recently.

On Thursday, the food ingredients company Tate and Lyle confirmed that it had received a takeover offer worth two point seven billion pounds from the American company Ingredion.

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This news caused Tate and Lyle's shares to rise by forty-five percent.

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The company has a long history because it was originally founded as a sugar refiner on Liverpool docks in 1859.

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Analysts say that foreign companies have been interested in buying British businesses because their valuations are relatively low.

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This trend has been growing in recent months, and several major deals have been announced.

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Market experts believe that more takeover bids for London-listed companies could follow in the coming weeks.

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FTSE 100-listed insurer Hiscox’s shares leap amid report of takeover bid

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