Watches of Switzerland Sets Plan for IPO on the London Stock Exchange

LONDON — Watches of Switzerland Group has confirmed it is forging ahead with a widely anticipated initial public offering on the London Stock Exchange, according to a company filing Thursday. There had long been talk of an IPO by owners Apollo Global Management, the private equity firm, which has owned WoS for six years. WoS is the U.K.’s largest retailer for Rolex, Patek Philippe, Cartier, Omega, Tag Heuer and Breitling. It also owns the premium luxury jewelers Goldsmiths and Mappin & Webb, and in 2017 purchased the watch and jewelry retail chain Mayors in Florida. Worldwide, WoS boasts around 150 outlets. Under the Watches of Switzerland banner, it has opened two units in Manhattan: a 6,500-square-foot store at Hudson Yards and an 8,000-square-foot space in Soho. “Watches of Switzerland Group announces that it is considering to undertake an initial public offering and that it intends to publish today a registration document,” the company said Thursday. “The company is considering applying for admission of its ordinary shares to the premium listing segment of the Official List of the Financial Conduct Authority and to trading on the main market of the London Stock Exchange.” WoS said the offer would comprise new shares to be issued by the company and an

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