Merlin Entertainments chief executive Nick Varney has identified a window of late 2013 or early 2014 as possible time to float his company on the stock market.
He withdrew a plan to make Merlin a public company in 2010, citing turmoil in the London Stock Exchange as reason for the u-turn.
“It is our aspiration – Merlin’s ultimate destiny is to be a public company,” he told the Financial Times newspaper.
“Late 2013 or early 2014 is the next window to float the company [but] we would like to see a bit of stability in the market before we test the water.”
The talk of stock market flotation re-emerged today when Merlin announced a 12% increase in net profits, making £222 million in 2011.
The Financial Times article stated that Merlin generates 65% of its income from ticket sales, with the remainder coming from food and retail spending at its attractions.