1st Central, a car and home insurer with more than 1.5 million active policies, is in talks with advisers about a potential London flotation.
Sky News has learnt that 1st Central, which is run by former Hastings executive Michael Lee, is arranging a beauty parade of investment banks to take place in the coming months.
City sources said the company was likely to be valued at significantly more than the £600m it was reported to have sought in a sale process in 2024.
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That auction was eventually abandoned.
According to 1st Central’s latest set of financial results, it recorded earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation of £111m in its last financial year
One insider said a valuation of over £1bn was likely to be sought if the company’s shareholders decided to pursue a listing.
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Insiders said a formal decision to proceed with an initial public offering (IPO) was unlikely to be taken for several months, with a listing taking place either later this year or in 2027.
Nevertheless, 1st Central joins a list of companies including Waterstones, the books retailer, and Visma, a Norwegian software giant, which are exploring London stock market flotations.
2025 was a weak year for new share offerings in London, although there were signs of a revival in the final quarter with the listings of banking group Shawbrook and tinned food producer Princes.
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A spokesman for 1st Central declined to comment.
