Virgin Money reveals plans for £2bn float

Each employee will be awarded £1,000 worth of shares on flotation

Virgin Money is owned by Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group, Wall Street billionaire Wilbur Ross and an Abu Dhabi investment fund (Getty Images)

Virgin Money’s long-awaited flotation is set to return £50 million to the taxpayer, it has been revealed, and will help pay off monies agreed in its purchase of Northern Rock in 2011.

Shares in the lender, which provides mortgages, savings and credit cards to 2.8 million customers, are expected to begin trading this month.

The business is reportedly expected to be valued at up to £2 billion and the flotation is expected to raise £150 million.

Each employee will be awarded £1,000 worth of shares on flotation.

Chief executive Jayne-Anne Gadhia said: "We are delighted to be announcing our intention to float Virgin Money.

"Over the last three years we have transformed our business. We have expanded our product range, increased our customer numbers, grown our balance sheet and enhanced our profitability.

"Our decision to take the business public marks just how far the company has come.

"In addition, and in recognition of their hard work to-date and their contribution to the future value of the business, I am also delighted to announce that each employee will be awarded £1,000 worth of shares in the business upon flotation."

The bank bought former failed lender Northern Rock from the Government for an initial £820 million.

Virgin said the latest contribution as a result of the flotation would take the total paid to the Treasury to £1.02 billion.

The lender employs more than 2,500 staff, with 1,700 based in Gosforth, Newcastle, and 200 in Norwich. It is owned by Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group, Wall Street billionaire Wilbur Ross and an Abu Dhabi investment fund.

Last month it said underlying profits jumped to £59.7 million in the first six months of the year, from £13.1 million a year earlier.

Virgin Money said it was unencumbered by the legacy of past banking scandals that are still haunting other lenders and was "uniquely placed to provide effective competition to the large incumbent banks in the UK".

Its entry into the stock market follows the flotation of TSB, which was spun off from Lloyds Banking Group. Meanwhile, Royal Bank of Scotland is spinning off hundreds of branches under its plans to revive the Williams & Glyn brand.

PA