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Aston Martin, the maker of the famed sports car favored by secret agent 007, is expected to announce as early as Wednesday plans for a stock-market listing later this year that would value the company at more than $6 billion, according to people familiar with the matter.
The iconic British sports-car brand intends to list about £1 billion ($1.29 billion) of shares on the London Stock Exchange, the people said.
One of the most colorful and well-known brands among sports-car aficionados, Aston Martin was known to a wider audience as the ride of choice in James Bond movies including the 1960s films “Goldfinger” and “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” and the latest Bond sequel, “Spectre.”
Existing shareholders at Aston Martin, mainly Italian and Kuwaiti investors, will be hoping that some of 007’s mojo will rub off on the shares. The company is aiming to generate as much as £5 billion through the offering, the people familiar with the matter said, reflecting the top end of the offer’s expected price range.
Sky News earlier reported Aston Martin’s plans for an IPO.
An expanded version of this report appears on WSJ.com
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