Card Factory to sell around 400 million pounds of shares in IPO

By Freya Berry LONDON (Reuters) - British greeting cards retailer Card Factory is set to sell around 400 million pounds of shares in a stock market listing, two sources familiar with the matter said on Thursday, the latest in a string of UK retail flotations. Card Factory has priced its initial public offering at 250-300 pence a share, the sources said, which would give the company an equity value of 764-954 million pounds after its market debut. The offer consists of 90 million pounds of new shares being sold by the company and 310 million being sold by existing shareholders, the sources said. European private equity owner Charterhouse [CHCAP.UL] is aiming for a minimum of 40 percent of Card Factory's shares to be listed, with an option to for up to 50 percent if there is strong demand. Card Factory declined to comment. The card company, which targets the value end of the market, is following hot on the heels of retailers such as KKR-backed Poundland, which floated last month. (Reporting by Freya Berry Editing by Kirstin Ridley and Mark Potter)