The owners of Verisure, a provider of domestic alarm systems, are leaning towards a €20bn (£16.7bn) flotation in Amsterdam – a decision that would deliver another blow to London’s hopes of capitalising on a revival in the market for major initial public offerings (IPOs).
Sky News has learnt Euronext Amsterdam is emerging as the likeliest destination for a listing of Verisure following preliminary talks with a group of investment banks angling to work on the deal.
Sources close to Verisure insisted on Monday no final decision about whether to proceed with an IPO, or its venue, had been taken.
They acknowledged the possibility of such an outcome, however, despite the efforts of stock exchanges in London, Stockholm and Zurich to position themselves for the flotation.
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One said recent rule changes in the UK could yet tip the balance back in London’s favour.
A number of Wall Street banks have pitched to work on the deal, Bloomberg News reported last week, while Sky News revealed in January preparations for an IPO were under way.
Verisure is majority-owned by the private equity firm Hellman & Friedman (H&F), with a listing unlikely until next year.
People close to Verisure said they expected the company would be valued at more than €20bn, with some market sources suggesting the eventual figure could be as high as €30bn (£25.2bn).
That figure includes Verisure’s debt, meaning its equity market capitalisation would be smaller.
Verisure has roughly 5.5 million customers in 17 countries, including the UK, Brazil, Chile, Italy and the Netherlands.
Under Austin Lally, its chief executive, it has been transformed into a lucrative subscription model-based business pitching technologically advanced services to its customer base.
Four years ago, the company was…
