Media

Publisher weighs €760m IPO but still open to trade sale

The Frankfurt stock exchange , where Springer Science shares will start trading before the summer break. Photograph: Janine Eggert/Reuters
The Frankfurt stock exchange , where Springer Science shares will start trading before the summer break. Photograph: Janine Eggert/Reuters
Wed Jun 05 2013 - 20:45

German academic publisher Springer Science and Business Media says it plans to raise about €760 million in its initial public offering.

Shares of Springer Science, controlled by Swedish buyout firm EQT Partners, are set to start trading in Frankfurt before the summer break, according to a statement yesterday.

EQT is still accepting takeover offers for Springer Science this month and may scrap the IPO, people familiar with the matter said last week.

The buyout firm has not made a final decision whether to do the IPO or sell the German publisher, according to the people.

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Buyout firms BC Partners, which is most interested, as well as KKR and Providence Equity Partners, have until about next Monday to hand in takeover offers, sources said. – (Bloomberg)