Float plans: Starling was valued at more than £1bn earlier this year
Challenger bank Starling still plans to float on the stock market – but could be tempted away from London.
The digital lender, which counts Goldman Sachs and Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund among its biggest investors, was valued at more than £1billion earlier this year.
Chief executive Anne Boden said the bank wants to list on the public markets in ‘a year or two’. She added: ‘I very much hope we can do it in London.’
But in a caveat which could worry Chancellor Rishi Sunak, as he tries to attract more tech firms to London, she went on: ‘I think that would be the default option, unless we’re persuaded otherwise.’
It is understood that Starling would be unlikely to choose another location unless advised to so.It has not yet hired bankers to advise on a float.
Sunak has been leading a reform of listing rules, to encourage firms to float in London.
