Stock Markets March 27, 2026

Visma Defers IPO to 2027 as Market Headwinds Persist

Hg-backed software group delays planned listing after tech selloff and AI-driven volatility; London remains a provisional choice

By Derek Hwang
Visma Defers IPO to 2027 as Market Headwinds Persist

Visma AS, the privately held software company backed by private equity firm Hg, has pushed its planned initial public offering into 2027, according to Bloomberg. The business had earlier shifted a 2026 IPO to October after a selloff in technology shares tied to AI concerns and is now unlikely to list this year. Visma had provisionally selected London as a venue but is reported to be reconsidering timing while exploring a possible secondary share sale to allow investor sell-downs. The deal had been anticipated as one of Europe’s largest listings and a potential catalyst for a revival of London's IPO market.

Key Points

  • Visma has deferred a planned IPO until 2027 after moving an earlier 2026 target to October.
  • London had been provisionally chosen as the listing venue but the company has postponed the public offering amid a market selloff.
  • The company may consider a secondary share sale to allow existing investors to reduce holdings without a full public flotation.

Visma AS, a software company backed by Hg, has postponed its initial public offering until 2027, Bloomberg reported on Friday. The firm had previously slated a listing for early 2026 but altered that timetable, moving the target to October after a broad selloff in technology stocks tied to concerns around artificial intelligence.

According to the report, Visma is now unlikely to proceed with an IPO this year. Earlier coverage in January indicated that Visma had provisionally chosen London as a listing venue, but that decision was put on hold amid a wider market selloff. Company backers and shareholders are said to be weighing options while monitoring market conditions.

Sources cited in media coverage have suggested that Visma may still permit existing shareholders to reduce their holdings through a secondary share sale rather than a full public flotation at this time. That route would allow some liquidity for current investors without launching a primary public offering.

Sky News first reported the decision to delay Visma’s listing plans. Market observers had expected the IPO to rank among the largest European deals of the year and to serve as an important signal for London’s IPO market, which has faced a long-running dearth of new listings.

The postponement follows the technology sector selloff that disrupted earlier timelines. Visma’s movement of its target date from early 2026 to October, and now beyond that, underscores the company’s sensitivity to prevailing equity market sentiment. While the company and its advisers assess timing, the previous ambition for the IPO to lead a comeback in London’s listing pipeline appears to be on hold.


Key context:

  • Visma had shifted an original early-2026 IPO plan to October before deciding to delay further.
  • The company had provisionally selected London as a potential listing venue but paused the listing amid a broader market selloff.
  • Visma may permit a secondary share sale to allow shareholders to sell down holdings as an alternative to a full IPO.

Risks

  • Market volatility in technology stocks - this affects the timing and feasibility of the IPO and broader equity issuance activity.
  • A continued shortage of new listings in London - the delay diminishes the near-term prospects for a comeback in the London IPO market.
  • Shareholder liquidity constraints - postponing a primary IPO could leave investors reliant on secondary sales or private liquidity options.

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