PIONEERS ON THE THAMES: ISRAELI TRAILBLAZERS WHO CHOSE THE LONDON EXCHANGE
London and Tel Aviv may sit on different shores, but their business currents are increasingly aligned. Strong reports of give Western investors a vote of confidence Over the last decade, a growing number of Israeli-founded companies have chosen the London Stock Exchange as their platform to raise capital, scale internationally, and build global leadership.
These pioneers are not only raising funds. They are reshaping what it means to be an Israeli technology company competing on the world stage.
The London Stock Exchange can celebrate a rise in positive listing activity in recent months, strengthening its competitiveness for Israeli founders choosing the UK. In October, Princes Group plc was listed on the Main Market with a valuation of approximately £1.16 billion and raised around £400 million.
In the same month, The Beauty Tech Group made its market debut with a reported valuation of around £300 million. As a company that blends beauty and technology, its listing reinforces London’s ability to attract innovative and cross-sector businesses that seek an international investor base. These developments show that London continues to be a competitive destination for sizeable and diverse Israeli companies.
London is Europe’s largest capital market with a deep pool of liquidity and international investors. It is also the only European exchange in the global top ten for equity capital raised so far this year. Investors in the UK understand international companies and are interested in them.
For Israeli founders, London offers a bridge between the financial centres of Europe, North America, and Asia. It provides visibility, credibility, and access to an investor base that understands and values global technology.
Securities litigation is also far more common in the United States than in the United Kingdom. This reduces legal risk for UK-listed companies and lowers insurance premiums for directors and officers. Despite the headlines about high United States valuations, a US IPO is rarely realistic for companies valued at under $1 billion, and increasingly out of reach for those below $2 billion.
For many Israeli growth companies, London offers greater visibility, a more international investor base, and a more supportive regulatory landscape.
From AIM to Global Scale
Plus500
One of the most notable examples is Plus500. The company was initially admitted to the London Stock Exchange’s growth market AIM in 2013, raising $75 million. Five years later, it transferred to the Main Market. Since its IPO, Plus500 has returned to the market multiple times and has grown into a multi-billion-dollar company, showing how Israeli firms can use London as a springboard to global expansion.
Kape Technologies
A cybersecurity and digital privacy company founded by Israelis, was admitted to AIM in September 2014 with a market capitalisation of $250 million or £153 million. After listing, Kape returned to the market three times, raising a total of $692 million or £567 million.
Kape used London’s capital base to pursue major acquisitions, including the $936 million purchase of ExpressVPN. It was later taken private with a market capitalisation at delisting of $1.6 billion or £1.2 billion. Kape’s growth shows how London can support ambitious scale-ups that require access to deeper international capital pools.
Companies like Kape also benefit from the structural advantages of the UK market. It is significantly more expensive to IPO and maintain a listing in the United States, where regulatory obligations and fees are higher. The UK requires half yearly rather than quarterly reporting, and companies in London are not subject to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. These differences reduce costs and free management time to focus on growth.
Strengthening Reforms
A wave of regulatory improvements has reinforced London’s position as an accessible and internationally competitive listing venue. Track record requirements have been relaxed, allowing earlier listing for innovative companies while still ensuring strong due diligence.
Free float thresholds have been reduced from twenty-five cents to ten per cent, bringing the UK in line with major international markets. Dual class shares are now fully liberalised, allowing founders to retain control during rapid growth. Prospectus thresholds have been raised from twenty per cent to seventy five cent of share capital to reduce administrative work and speed up access to capital.
From Plus500’s journey from AIM to the Main Market to Kape’s rise as a cybersecurity leader, Israeli companies are demonstrating that London is more than a financial centre. It is a long-term partner for scale and global reach.
As the London Stock Exchange strengthens its international competitiveness and as new listings continue to show momentum, more Israeli founders are likely to follow the path already carved by these trailblazers.
by Jon Simmons – Content Strategist for leading Investment Funds
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