As mentioned in the article, TikTok is currently considering locating its international HQ in London ( = investment + jobs for the UK ).

Siding with the US on this would mean no TikTok HQ.

Therefore TikTok obviously wants to be able to exist in the UK and the UK government is still considering whether it should be welcoming or hostile.

I'm sure that companies would be happy to buy TikTok on the cheap. What is happening is rather forcing Bytedance to sell.