IntercontinentalExchange has called in three banks to help float the European equity operations of Nyse Euronext, according to Reuters.
ICE is in the process of completing its $8.2 billion takeover of Nyse Euronext and wants to offload the Euronext part of the business to help fund the deal and ease European regulatory concerns.
Citing sources, Reuters says that ABN Amro and existing advisers on the ICE/Nyse Euronext deal, Societe Generale and JP Morgan have been enlisted to help coordinate any potential IPO.
Around 50% of Euronext could be floated in Paris in the second half of next year, while ICE will retain about 30%, a source told Reuters. An IPO is not certain though, with ICE and Nyse willing to consider selling Euronext if a good offer is made.
One part of the European business that will be kept by ICE is the London-based Liffe derivatives platform.