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O2, Bank of Cyprus, OneFoods among the names linked to potential UK stock market flotations
Thursday 12 Jan 2017 Author: Daniel Coatsworth

Telecoms, jewellery and halal food are among the industries that may feature in the IPO (initial public offering) market in 2017.

We’ve pulled together all the official announcements and rumours for stocks linked to a London stock market flotation this year.

Heading the pack is mobile phone operator O2 in a float potentially valued at £10bn and earmarked for the first quarter of the year. The business is currently owned by Spanish group Telefonica (TEF:BME).

Bank of Cyprus is coming to the London stock market on 19 January. It could eventually become a member of the FTSE 250 once it has upgraded its listing category.

BRF (BRFS:NYSE), one of the world’s largest food companies, last week confirmed it may float its United Arab Emirates-based OneFoods halal chicken business in London. OneFoods has 15,000 staff and 10 factories. It operates in more than 40 countries.

Aurum, which owns high street jeweller chain Goldsmiths, may also be heading for the London stock market. Reports suggest private equity owner Apollo is exploring an IPO or sale.

At the smaller end of the market cap spectrum, a trio of oil and gas companies are expected to join AIM very soon. US-focused producer Diversified Gas & Oil is hoping to raise $40m and join AIM in late January. This should coincide with the AIM debut from Eco (Atlantic) Oil & Gas (EOG:CVE) which is working with Tullow Oil (TLW) on an exploration project in Guyana.

They could be joined later in 2017 by Saffron Energy which is the Italian natural gas production assets set to be demerged from Australia-listed Po Valley Energy (PVE:ASX).

In the mining space, we understand Angola-focused Lucapa Diamond (LOM:ASX) is planning to admit its shares to AIM in early to mid-2017. Israeli diamond miner Shefa Yamim (SEFA:TLV) has also been linked to a potential AIM listing.

White Rivers Exploration is to float on London’s Main Market in 2017, offering investors exposure to a very large gold exploration project in South Africa in partnership with Harmony Gold (HAR:JSE).

The entrepreneurs who sold their previous business Capital Pub to Greene King (GNK) for £93m are set to bring their latest venture, City Pub Company, to AIM in 2017.

Other potential floats include financial products comparison website CompareTheMarket.com owner BGL, gambling business Sky Betting, Vue Cinemas, indoor theme park operator IMG Worlds and wound care specialist Crawford Healthcare. (DC)

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