A Ferrari-driving computer expert has made £162 million from the sale of his stake in Moneysupermarket.co.uk, Europe’s largest online price comparison website, to his estranged former business partner.

Simon Nixon, co-founder and chief executive, bought Duncan Cameron’s 42 per cent stake to clear the way for a £1 billion flotation of Moneysupermarket. Mr Cameron, who dropped out of university to provide the technological expertise behind the venture, will also take a 5 per cent stake in a new company set up by Mr Nixon.

UBS, the investment bank, has been appointed alongside Credit Suisse, Moneysupermarket’s main financial adviser, to list the company on the stock market later this year.

The pair founded the business in 1998 while Mr Nixon was dating Kate, Mr Cameron’s sister.

Mr Nixon, a former mortgage consultant, dropped out of his accounting and finance course at Nottingham University and convinced Mr Cameron, an IT expert, to do the same and join forces with him.

Mr Cameron, 35, who shuns the limelight, stepped back from the running of the business more than five years ago, leaving Mr Nixon at the helm of the company. The pair went their separate ways amid reports of a falling out over strategy and management, and have not spoken since parting company.

Mr Cameron has remained a “silent” partner in the business. He is making less money on his shares than if he had waited for the planned flotation. However, it is understood he was told that it was unlikely that the float would happen while he was a sleeping partner in the company.

The removal of a “sleeping” investor with control of nearly half the company is expected to make the company more attractive to potential investors.

The company, whose brands include Travelsupermarket and Insuresupermarket, compares prices on a range of products and is estimated to have made profits of £30 million last year on turnover of £1 billion.

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