Wise Moves: Why UK Companies Are Looking West for IPOs – and What ESG Has to Do With It

In 2021, fintech unicorn Wise made headlines when it chose to go public on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) through a direct listing — a vote of confidence in the UK capital markets. Fast-forward to 2025, and the company is now considering a switch to the US, joining a wave of UK firms drawn to the deeper pools of capital across the Atlantic.