LONDON, May 1 (Reuters) - British clothing chain FatFace IPO-FFF.L is to list on the London Stock Exchange, it said on Thursday, targeting a market value of at least 440 million pounds ($743 million). The company, owned by European private equity group Bridgepoint BRDG.UL and chaired by a former head of Marks and Spencer MKS.L , said it aims to raise gross proceeds of up to 110 million pounds through the sale of new and existing shares, with a minimum free float of 25 percent. Bridgepoint paid 360 million pounds to buy FatFace in 2007 from rival private equity firm Advent. The investment has proved difficult at times, with Bridgepoint injecting a total of 25 million pounds in three phases as the retailer struggled to find its niche. FatFace has since changed tack from a move to target younger shoppers in favour of a return to its middle-aged core market. Stuart Rose, the former head of Marks and Spencer, joined as chairman in 2013. FatFace, whose two founders began by selling T-shirts from a VW campervan in the French Alps, will use the new capital to cut debt to 60 million pounds and reduce associated bank costs and fees. The company joins several other private equity-owned British retailers that have listed this year to take advantage of firm equity markets. Poundland PLND.L , owned by Warburg Pincus WP.UL , and KKR's KKR.N Pets at Home PTSP.L both floated last month. FatFace has 207 stores across the UK, achieving adjusted core earnings (EBITDA) of 31.2 million pounds in its 2013 financial year. The sale will be led by Citigroup C.N and Jefferies, with Canaccord Genuity as lead manager and Lazard LAZAR.UL as financial adviser.

http://www.fatface.com/

Fat Face will use nearly half of the £110m raised during its initial public offering (IPO) to pay down debt and allow private equity investor Bridgepoint to sell part of its holding in the company.

http://www.drapersonline.com/news/fat-face-to-pay-down-debt-as-us-plans-accelerate/5059927.article

Private equity firm, which also owns Fat Face, is considering floating the online retailer born from a Portsmouth bike shop.

Private equity firm Bridgeport is considering a stockmarket flotation for Wiggle, reports The Telegraph.

The newspaper said Bridgepoint has appointed investment bank Rothschild to work on an initial public offering. Earlier this year Wiggle advertised for a chief financial officer, saying: “IPO experience would be an advantage.”

Wiggle was born from a Portsmouth bike shop in 1999 and was part-sold to Isis Partners in 2006 which, in turn, sold the online retailer to Fat Face owner Bridgepoint in 2011. Fat Face, a bricks and mortar clothing retailer, is currently being floated.

For the year ending April 2013 Wiggle made a pre-tax profit of £12.3m on revenues of £140.7m.

Rival online retailer Chain Reaction had revenue of £155.6m in 2012, with profit of £861,000.

http://www.bikebiz.com/index.php/news/read/bridgepoint-eyes-wiggle-ipo-say-sources/016365

FatFace abandons plans for IPO