flotation
noun [ C or U ]
STOCK MARKET mainly UK uk/fləʊˈteɪʃən/ us(also UK floatation)a situation in which a company offers shares for sale on a stock market for the first time:
Shares fell one point to 138p, their lowest level since flotation in May.
a planned/proposed/possible flotation Interest from institutional investors in a possible flotation is rumoured to be strong.
Several subsidiaries were sold during a public flotation in 2005.
flotation of sth Finance experts have predicted a wave of flotations of private equity firms.
£500 million/$2.4 billion, etc. flotation Plans will be announced for a $1.1 billion flotation later today.
Publicly, the firm remains committed to a stock market flotation, which is likely to value it at up to pounds 4.5 bn.
The French media giant is the latest in a series of companies to abandon flotation plans.
Shares ended the week at 392p, compared with their 380p flotation price.