A Greek energy tycoon hailed London as Europe’s leading financial center and laid out plans to list his company’s shares on the UK stock market.
In a vote of confidence in the City and Brexit Britain, Evangelos Mytilineos, chief executive of industrial conglomerate Mytilineos, supported the capital’s long-term prospects.
Asked why he was considering a multi-billion pound UK listing, he said: “We think one of the main reasons we may prefer the London Stock Exchange, that it is not a final decision , it is because we believe that the LSE has seen the worst.
‘We see the LSE increasing in the coming years. “We firmly believe that London will continue to be Europe’s leading financial center for years to come.”
The comments, on BBC Radio 4, were a welcome boost to the stock market facing an exodus of companies.
Boost: In a vote of confidence in the City and Britain’s Brexit, Evangelos Mytilineos backed the capital’s long-term prospects
Construction company CRH, plumbing group Ferguson and travel agency Tui have moved their quotes from the UK.
And Paddy Power owner Flutter will ask shareholders to vote next week on whether to move its main listing to the United States.
Mytilineos, 69, highlighted his company’s close connection to the UK, having built solar parks and infrastructure for the National Grid. The company, valued at almost £4.5 billion, plans to debut on the London stock exchange in the next 12 to 18 months, Mytilineos said.
It will also maintain its listing in Athens, where its shares have been listed for three decades.
