Walmart International chief executive Judith McKenna told 1,200 staff at Asda’s head office, McKenna that the business would give serious thought to re-listing the UK as a public company in a bid to achieve “long-term success” for the grocer.

McKenna said a potential return to public ownership could “take years” and that Walmart was “not rushing” the move. However, as the dust settles on Asda’s mooted merger with Sainsbury’s, its clear that Walmart is concocting its plan B.

We take a look at what a possible float would mean for Asda and its US parent company.