European movie-theater chain Vue said it is considering an initial public offering, a move that could give a boost to London's beleaguered stock exchange.

Vue said Thursday that it was exploring "all strategic options available," including a possible IPO or a private sale. It has hired investment bank Rothschild & Co to advise it as it considers its future.

"No decision has been made so there is nothing further to comment on at this stage," a spokesperson said.

The London-headquartered group didn't say where it was considering listing, nor did it provide a time frame for any decision. However, London would be the company's preferred destination, Vue Chief Executive Tim Richards said in an interview with the Financial Times.

"If we did [an] IPO, I personally believe in the country and would want to list on the London Stock Exchange," Richards told the FT.

The U.K. is enduring a drought of public listings. Only one company has listed on London's main exchange this year--excluding corporate restructures and closed-ended investment funds--despite a sweep of reforms aimed at making London a more attractive listing destination.

"A decision by Vue to pursue a London IPO would signal a constructive vote of confidence in London as a viable listing venue and that issuers are again prepared to test London's public markets," said Brent Sanders, partner at law firm Travers Smith.

A Vue IPO would show that large companies still want to list in the city, and "mark an important step in rebuilding London's IPO pipeline," Sanders said, adding that this alone wasn't enough to revive London's fortunes.

Vue said it was exploring its future options from a position of strength, following a strong year for global box offices.

"We have delivered consistent year-on-year growth in recent years, gaining market share and cementing our position as Europe's largest privately owned cinema operator," a Vue spokesperson said.

Vue was taken over by asset manager Barings and hedge fund Farallon Capital in a 1 billion pound ($1.34 billion) debt restructuring deal in 2022, after the Covid-19 pandemic closed theater doors across the world.

Both Barings and Farallon Capital would prefer an IPO to a private sale, the FT reported, citing sources. The pair estimated Vue could list for as much as 1.5 billion pounds, the report said.

Barings and Rothschild declined to comment, while Farallon Capital didn't respond to a request for comment.