Auction Technology Group PLC: Market Activity and Shareholder Position Disclosures – 5–6 January 2026

Share Price Movement

  • Trading on 6 January 2026: Shares rose 23.6 % during the session, reaching a high of GBX 339 and closing at GBX 335.
  • Trading volume: 8,143,176 shares were traded, a 43 % increase over the average daily volume of 5,708,892 shares.
  • Pre‑market context: The shares were already trading in the upper range of their 52‑week high (GBX 658) on 30 January 2025, indicating sustained investor interest.

Takeover Bid Rejection

  • Bid origin: FitzWalter Capital, the company’s largest shareholder, submitted eleven takeover proposals valued at 360 pence per share.
  • Company stance: Auction Technology Group plc (ATG) officially rejected all proposals.
  • Announcement sources: The rejection was reported by City AM, Investing.com, de.investing.com, and II.co.uk on 5 January 2026.
  • Strategic implication: By fending off the bids, ATG signals a preference for maintaining independent operations and possibly pursuing alternative strategic avenues.

Opening Position Disclosures

  • Apex Fundrock Limited (MISL): On 6 January 2026 at 13:30 GMT/BST, Apex Fundrock filed a Form 8.3 disclosure indicating an opening position that represents 1 % or more of ATG’s outstanding shares.
  • Invesco Ltd.: A separate Form 8.3 filing was lodged by Invesco Ltd. on the same day, also disclosing an opening position of at least 1 % of the company’s shares.
  • Regulatory context: Both filings comply with Rule 8.3 of the UK Takeover Code, which requires persons holding 1 % or more of a company’s securities to disclose their holdings to the market.

Market Sentiment and Sector Impact

  • Sector performance: The Consumer Discretionary sector, in which ATG operates, opened higher on 5 January 2026, contributing to a positive opening for the FTSE 100.
  • Investor perception: The combination of a strong trading day, rejection of takeover bids, and new significant holdings suggests that institutional investors view ATG’s current valuation and business model favorably.

Key Takeaways

  1. Price momentum: ATG shares experienced a significant intraday rally, indicating robust demand.
  2. Strategic autonomy: The firm’s refusal of FitzWalter Capital’s bids underscores its commitment to independent strategic planning.
  3. Market transparency: Recent Form 8.3 disclosures by Apex Fundrock and Invesco provide updated information on institutional stake holders, ensuring market participants are aware of significant ownership positions.