Wise direct listing set to value the fintech firm at $11 billion

"We are bullish on the firm and the longer-term prospects beyond today." Wise, which began life as Transferwise, was valued at 5 to 6 billion pounds in April, sources told Reuters. Several tech companies including Deliveroo, Trustpilot and Moonpig have already listed in London this year and helped push initial public offerings (IPO) to a record high.

Wise shares were indicated to open at 800 pence on Wednesday, which would give the financial technology company a market capitalization of 8 billion pounds ($11 billion), according to Refinitiv prices. An auction process has begun to determine the price of Class A Wise shares ahead of their official London trading debut and the indicated price was 800 pence at 0745 GMT. The bid-ask spread in the auction was as wide as 450 pence to 1000 pence.

Wise shares, which are officially due to start trading at 1000 GMT, are set to crown a record-breaking year for London listings and could pave the way for several other fast-growing British firms in the financial technology sphere, a dozen investors, entrepreneurs, and experts told Reuters. The cross-border payments company, one of Britain's most well-known fintech unicorns, last month launched direct listing on the London Stock Exchange, which allows for a listing without a public offering of shares.

"(We) could see the valuation touch 9 billion pounds through the course of the day," said John Woolfitt, director at Atlantic Capital in London. "We are bullish on the firm and the longer-term prospects beyond today." Wise, which began life as Transferwise, was valued at 5 to 6 billion pounds in April, sources told Reuters.

Several tech companies including Deliveroo, Trustpilot and Moonpig have already listed in London this year and helped push initial public offerings (IPO) to a record high. "It's definitely helpful to have well-known brands with strong success stories on domestic markets. They are few and far between so far, but the more that come to market the better," said Daniel Turgel, a partner in the M&A and corporate practice at White & Case. ($1 = 0.7248 pounds)