ARM Holdings plc (LSE:ARM) parent SoftBank is expected to list the microchip designer in New York, despite Prime Minister Boris Johnson joining a charm offensive to encourage a move back to London.
UK government officials and executives from the London Stock Exchange are trying to persuade Japan's SoftBank to "rethink its strong preference" for a New York initial public offer for ARM, according to the Financial Times.
SoftBank boss Masayoshi Son said earlier this year that New York’s Nasdaq is “the most suitable” for ARM, even though the company is headquartered in the UK and was previously listed in London before the £24.6bn buyout in 2016.
In a last-ditch effort, executives from the LSE alongside the government's digital minister Chris Philp and office for investment chief Gerry Grimstone are due to meet SoftBank executives in the coming weeks, the FT report said, with the PM having written to SoftBank executives as part of the effort.
If ARM did IPO in London, it would reportedly be fast-tracked back into the FTSE 100, where it would top the tech sector.
After NVIDIA pulled out of its US$40bn takeover bid in January, last week SoftBank removed a significant obstacle to the IPO and is thought to be aiming for an IPO by March 2023 at the latest.