Softcat announces $1.05 billion GDT acquisition and higher FY2026 outlook

Softcat agreed to acquire U.S. IT solutions provider GDT for $1.05 billion. The company also raised its FY2026 underlying operating-profit growth expectation to the high teens.

Softcat plc said on September 17, 2026, that it had agreed to acquire U.S.-based IT solutions provider GDT Topco, L.P. for an enterprise value of $1.05 billion (£785 million). The transaction is expected to close by the end of the first quarter of calendar 2027, subject to customary regulatory filings and approvals, according to the RNS announcement.

Trading outlook raised

Softcat said its board now expects high-teens growth in full-year underlying operating profit for FY2026, compared with its previous expectation of mid-teens growth. Gross-profit growth is expected to be moderately above that level, while cash conversion is expected to be toward the top end of the company’s guided range of 85% to 95%, the RNS announcement said.

Funding and expected impact

The acquisition is to be funded with £100 million of cash, £550 million of new debt facilities and £350 million from an equity placing. Softcat said the deal is expected to deliver high-single-digit to low-double-digit underlying earnings-per-share accretion in the first full fiscal year, while FY2026 preliminary results are scheduled for October 14, 2026, according to the RNS announcement.