Pawnbroker joins City exodus as it’s sold to US rival in £203m deal

By the Editorial Team · Wednesday, June 24, 2026

US pawnbroker FirstCash has agreed to acquire UK-based Ramsdens Holdings for £203 million, offering shareholders a 35% premium on the recent share price. This deal, expected to close in late 2026 pending approval, will create the largest publicly traded pawnbroking platform across the UK, US, and Latin America, further consolidating the industry amid economic uncertainties and volatile gold prices.

Ramsdens Holdings, the UK-based pawnbroker listed on London’s AIM market, has agreed to a £203 million takeover by US rival FirstCash. The deal, offered at 609p per share and including a 9p dividend, represents approximately a 35% premium over Ramsdens’ recent share price and is expected to close in the second half of 2026, pending shareholder approval.

Founded in 1987 and headquartered in Stockton-on-Tees, Ramsdens operates 174 branches across England, Scotland, and Wales. Its services include pawnbroking—where loans are secured against jewellery and other valuables—as well as foreign currency exchange, precious metals buying, and jewellery retail. The company reported strong recent financial results, with pre-tax profits rising 173% to £16.7 million for the half-year, surpassing the previous full-year profits. Ramsdens forecast full-year pre-tax profits between £30 million and £33 million, exceeding earlier market expectations.

FirstCash, listed on Nasdaq and operating over 3,300 pawn and consumer lending sites across the US, Latin America, and the UK, entered the British market last year by acquiring H&T, Britain’s largest pawnbroker, in a £297 million deal. The company said adding Ramsdens to its portfolio would strengthen its position as the largest publicly traded pawnbroking platform across these regions.

Ramsdens’ board described the offer as an opportunity to provide shareholders with an immediate cash return at a substantial premium. They noted that despite solid profit growth and earnings upgrades over the last year, the company’s share price had not fully reflected this performance. Ramsdens non-executive chairman Simon Herrick and CEO Peter Kenyon expressed confidence in the firm’s growth potential and the benefits of joining FirstCash. Kenyon emphasized the company’s diversified business model and reputation for customer service as foundations for future success.

However, the board also highlighted risks to Ramsdens’ future performance, including volatility in gold prices and broader economic uncertainties in the UK. Given the firm's exposure to fluctuations in precious metal values, a decline in gold prices could negatively impact trading conditions. The company acknowledged that the uncertain macroeconomic environment posed challenges to meeting its medium-term goals.

In the market, shares of Ramsdens surged nearly 31% following the announcement. Analysts noted that recent earnings momentum had been supported by elevated gold prices, which may be cyclical in nature, indicating some caution over the sustainability of current profitability.

The acquisition continues a trend of UK companies moving away from domestic stock markets to overseas ownership, with London’s junior AIM market experiencing a number of such exits in recent years. If approved, Ramsdens’ integration into FirstCash will mark another significant shift in the British pawnbroking sector.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.