Swetha Gopinath, Bloomberg News
The Wise digital payments app icon, top center, next to other payment providers on a smartphone arranged in Danbury, U.K., on Thursday, June 17, 2021. Digital-payments provider Wise wants to go public on the London Stock Exchange via a direct listing, the first major technology company to choose that alternative route to the market in the U.K. Photographer: Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg
, Bloomberg
(Bloomberg) -- The fintech company that helped revolutionize the money-transfer business is going public in a novel deal that could signal if Brexit Britain can become a destination for fast-growing companies.
Wise Plc, which was born as TransferWise, is eschewing a traditional initial public offering, opting instead for a direct listing Wednesday on the London Stock Exchange; shareholders are set to sell a stake of at least 2.4% following a three-hour auction that will set the opening price. Wise wonât raise fresh capital, while existing investors will be able to sell shares directly on the open market when trading begins.