New Look is preparing for an inital public offering in March that could value the fast fashion retailer at up to £2bn.

New Look could post an intention to float as early as this week, with marketing to potential investors due to begin immediately afterwards, according to the Sunday Times.

Last week the retailer’s board reportedly met to decide whether to go ahead with the flotation.

A listing would return the company to the public markets for the first time since it was bought by Apax and Permira six years ago. The retailer has 956 shops, 586 of which are in the UK.

The retailer could still consider a sale after Pets at Home was sold last week for £955m, well above the initial asking price.