Moonpig owner sent greetings by buyout firms

THE OWNER of online card retailer Moonpig.com may change its plans for a flotation on the London stock market after reports emerged yesterday that several private equity firms are interested in buying the company. Photobox, which operates a group of online businesses, including PaperShaker, Sticky9 and its core Photobox brand, has hired advisers at Goldman Sachs to explore a sale of the business, according to the Sunday Telegraph. Several suitors including private equity firms TPG and KKR are said to have expressed an interest. The company hired banks last year to pursue a £500m London-listing but was forced to shelve those plans after the appetite for initial public offerings cooled. Chief executive Stan Laurent told City A.M. in September he remained committed to pursuing a listing. However, interest from private equity buyers means it may now opt for a sell-out, following in the steps of other companies including Center Parcs and United Biscuits which both initially explored plans to list.