Starling Bank has reorganised its corporate structure in a move widely seen as preparation for a stock market listing, creating a new holding company above its banking unit and an intermediate holding company to meet Bank of England resolution requirements, according to filings at Companies House reported by The Times.
The London market is understood to be a leading venue for any float, following reports of recent fundraising targeting a £4 billion valuation. In September, separate reporting from the FInancial Times detailed plans for a secondary share sale that could value Starling between £3.5 billion and £4 billion, with Morgan Stanley and Rothschild approached to run the process, allowing existing investors including Goldman Sachs, Railpen, Chrysalis Investments and Fidelity to sell down their holdings. Starling declined to comment at the time.
Starling, founded in Britain after the financial crisis alongside Monzo, Revolut and Wise, has signalled public‑market ambitions. “It’s fair to say that, in the medium term, it’s desirable for Starling to be a plc,” said one senior source to The Times. A Starling spokesperson added: “This will better position us for long-term growth alongside future-proofing the bank for ongoing compliance with the Bank of England’s resolution requirements.”
While a London listing has long been viewed as the natural step, Starling’s chief financial officer, Declan Ferguson, told the Financial Times earlier this year that New York is also under consideration.
The company’s technology footprint has expanded internationally through its Engine software business, which offers cloud-based core banking for third parties. Engine currently supports banks in Romania and the Australian financial services firm AMP, and powers Starling’s own app in the UK.
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