The group has been in private ownership since 2007 and hopes the initial public offering will raise around £200m.
The UK’s biggest estate agency chain plans to use the funds to pay down debts before looking to make a number of strategic acquisitions.
Countrywide has also announced its full year results for 2012 with the group posting a 6% rise in revenue to £539.8m. This meant its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization stood at £63.0m, up from £56.4m in 2011.
During the last 12 months the business closed a number of underperforming estate agency branches but expanded its Hamptons chain by 10%.
Grenville Turner, group chief executive officer, said of the decision to float: “Over the past six years we have transformed Countrywide into the UK’s largest integrated property services group.
“We have worked hard to secure significant growth opportunities via acquisitions and by opening new high street branches. We have built market leading positions in each of our core businesses.
“I am delighted that we are able to make this step today, as it will help us continue our growth strategy with further investment in both distribution and quality of service.”
The chain’s lettings operation also grew during the past year and Turner said that the group planned to expand this side of the business.
“In a broadly flat housing market, albeit with some encouraging signs, we are delighted that our focus and drive in the lettings division – a key driver of our business – has continued to deliver strong momentum resulting in record financial performance in 2012,” he said.
“Buy-to-let landlords remain a rising force in the sector, as they seek to capitalise on the growing rental market as young adults and families struggle to get on the housing ladder.
“Due to demand and in anticipation of future growth, we heavily invested in our Lettings division undertaking thirteen acquisitions in the year and completing 176 news starts since 2010. We have also budgeted £20 million for strategic lettings acquisitions in 2013.”
