Waterstones-owner lines up Rothschild to book listing slot

The proprietor of Waterstones is adjacent to hiring bankers to enactment connected a multibillion-pound listing of the transatlantic bookseller.

Sky News has learnt that Elliott Management is preparing to name Rothschild to enactment arsenic an autarkic advisor connected its flotation options, with a nationalist marketplace debut apt to instrumentality spot arsenic soon arsenic the 2nd 4th of this year.

Sources said that Rothschild's apt engagement was the clearest motion truthful acold that London is well-placed to triumph implicit New York successful the conflict to signifier the listing of 1 of the world's starring publication retailers.

As good arsenic Waterstones, the radical besides owns Barnes & Noble, which trades from hundreds of stores successful the US.

In Britain, the institution trades from astir 315 stores and employs astir 4,000 people.

It has been transformed nether the enactment of James Daunt, laminitis of the eponymous retail chain, which is separately owned by him.

Sky News reported successful October that Mr Daunt had been among the attendees astatine a roundtable hosted by Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, successful an effort to beforehand the London Stock Exchange arsenic a listing venue.

Last month, the Financial Times said the institution had kicked disconnected talks with imaginable advisors connected a deal.

A fig of different banks volition beryllium appointed successful the coming months to oversee the nationalist listing and stock sale.

Elliott declined to comment.