24th June 2026
Around 25% of UK companies are foreign‑owned, but the figure rises dramatically in key sectors such as energy, manufacturing, finance, food distribution, care homes, and commercial property.
In some industries — including energy and senior‑care real estate — foreign companies now control the majority of major assets.
This shift has happened quietly over the past decade, driven by a weak pound, open takeover rules, and aggressive investment from US, European, and Asian firms.
1. Manufacturing
Foreign ownership: 40–50% of major firms
Automotive (Nissan, Toyota, BMW/Mini)
Chemicals
Pharmaceuticals (Pfizer, Novartis, GSK partly foreign‑held)
Manufacturing is one of the most internationally owned sectors in the UK.
2. Energy & Utilities
Foreign ownership: 60–70%
EDF (France)
E.ON (Germany)
Scottish Power (Spain)
National Grid (part‑owned by US investors)
The UK energy grid is now majority foreign‑controlled.
3. Finance & Insurance
Foreign ownership: 35–45%
Many UK banks have large foreign shareholder bases
Insurance giants like AIG, Zurich, and AXA dominate the market
London’s financial sector is one of the most globalised in the world.
4. Retail & Food Distribution
Foreign ownership: 30–40%
Examples:
Asda (US private equity + UK investors)
Morrisons (US private equity)
Brake Brothers (Sysco, USA)
Costco (USA)
Aldi & Lidl (Germany)
This is one of the fastest‑growing areas of foreign ownership.
5. Care Homes & Healthcare Property
Foreign ownership: 50%+
Welltower (USA)
HC‑One (US private equity)
Four Seasons (US/Canada)
Barchester (Irish investors + US property owners)
The UK care‑home sector is now predominantly foreign‑owned.
6. Commercial Property & Real Estate
Foreign ownership: 30–40%
Canary Wharf (Qatar + Canada)
Major London office blocks owned by US, Middle Eastern, and Asian investors
Logistics parks dominated by US REITs (Prologis, Blackstone)
7. Technology & Telecoms
Foreign ownership: 40–60%
ARM (Japan)
O2 (Spain)
Three (Hong Kong)
Many UK tech firms are US‑owned or US‑funded
Why Is Foreign Ownership So High?
Three main reasons:
1. The UK is one of the most open economies in the world
Few restrictions on foreign takeovers.
2. The pound has been weak since 2016
UK assets look cheap to overseas buyers.
3. Private equity investment has surged
Especially from the US.