Particle.news
Download on the App Store

UK Puts £25m Into Octopus Spin-Off Kraken in Bid to Keep IPO in London

Ministers are using the state bank’s biggest direct stake to tilt a future Kraken float toward London.

Overview

  • The British Business Bank will invest £25 million in Kraken, marking its largest direct investment in a private company.
  • The move sits within a wider growth package that includes £100 million for life sciences and deep tech funds, regulatory simplification, and consultations to streamline corporate reporting and competition processes.
  • Business Secretary Peter Kyle voiced hopes the backing helps secure a London flotation, while stressing efforts to make the market more attractive for scale-ups.
  • Octopus founder Greg Jackson said he prefers a London listing if capital flows improve and noted the BBB stake gives the UK a seat at the table as most investors are international.
  • Kraken, which raised $1 billion in December during its demerger from Octopus at an about $8.65 billion valuation, serves roughly 70 million energy customer accounts globally and could consider an IPO as soon as 2027.