Stock Markets February 17, 2026

EQT and Vitruvian Weigh Sale or IPO for Cyber Insurer CFC

Private equity owners engage Evercore and Goldman Sachs as they evaluate strategic alternatives for the London-based cyber insurance firm

By Jordan Park
EQT and Vitruvian Weigh Sale or IPO for Cyber Insurer CFC

EQT AB and Vitruvian Partners have engaged financial advisers to explore strategic options for their investment in cyber insurer CFC, including a potential sale or an initial public offering. Evercore Inc. and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. have been retained to prepare CFC for these alternatives. A transaction could value the company at about £5 billion ($6.8 billion), and the owners are considering listings in either London or New York, although no decisions have been finalized and a deal is not guaranteed.

Key Points

  • EQT AB and Vitruvian Partners are evaluating strategic options for their investment in CFC, focusing on a potential sale or initial public offering.
  • Evercore Inc. and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. have been retained to prepare the London-headquartered cyber insurer for these alternatives.
  • A transaction could value CFC at about A35 billion ($6.8 billion), and owners are considering listings in either London or New York; however, no final decisions have been made.

Private equity firms EQT AB and Vitruvian Partners are actively examining strategic courses of action for their stake in cyber insurer CFC, the owners have begun advisory engagement to assess whether a sale or an initial public offering would be the appropriate route.

To support that review, the buyout group has brought in Evercore Inc. and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. as financial advisers. The two firms have been tasked with preparing the London-based insurer for either a sale process or an IPO, work that typically includes readiness assessments, valuation analysis, and market positioning.

Those involved in the process have indicated that a potential transaction could place a valuation on CFC of roughly A35 billion, which is approximately $6.8 billion. The owners are reported to be weighing both London and New York as potential listing venues should they pursue a public offering.

Despite these active preparations, stakeholders emphasize that no final decision has been taken. There is no certainty that a sale or IPO will materialize, and the process remains exploratory. The private equity owners retain the option to decide against proceeding with any transaction following the advisory review.

CFC is a cyber insurance provider headquartered in London and is currently backed by the private equity firms mentioned. The advisory engagement represents a standard step in testing strategic alternatives for a private-equity-held business of this profile, with advisers evaluating market conditions and preparing the company for differing transaction pathways.

The consideration of both U.K. and U.S. listing venues indicates the owners are keeping cross-border options open, reflecting the global nature of the cyber insurance market and potential investor interest in different capital markets. At the same time, the absence of a definitive plan means outcomes remain contingent on the adviserse28099 assessments and subsequent decisions by EQT AB and Vitruvian Partners.

Market participants and observers will likely await further announcements from the owners or advisers if and when they reach a conclusion on whether to proceed with a sale, an IPO, or to retain their current ownership position in CFC.

Risks

  • No certainty that a transaction will take place - the advisory process may conclude without a sale or IPO, which affects deal-dependent market activity and investment banking fees.
  • Owners have not finalized a listing venue, leaving cross-border market reception and timing uncertain for any potential IPO.

More from Stock Markets

Market Turbulence Reinforces Case for Broader Diversification Feb 21, 2026 NYSE Holdings UK Ltd launches unified trading platform to streamline market access Feb 21, 2026 Earnings Drive Weekly Winners and Losers as Buyout Headlines Lift Masimo Feb 21, 2026 Barclays Sees 'Physical AI' Scaling to Hundreds of Billions by 2035 Feb 21, 2026 Germany's Wind Expansion Accelerates Amid Growing Questions Over Durability Feb 21, 2026