BERLIN, Sept 12 (Reuters) - German academic research
publisher Springer Nature plans to list on the Frankfurt Stock
Exchange in an initial public offering that could be completed
by the end of 2024, the company said in a statement on Thursday.
The offer is intended to consist of a 200 million euro
capital increase and a sale of existing shares, it added.
The company also intends to pay a dividend of 25 million
euros ($27.5 million) for this year, and thereafter an annual
dividend of around 50% of annual adjusted net income.
Reuters previously reported a deal could value the publisher
of science journal Nature and Scientific American at up to 9
billion euros ($10 billion) including debt.
Shareholders Holtzbrinck Publishing Group and BC
Partners own 53% and 47% stakes, respectively.
The primary proceeds from the listing are intended to
further reduce debt and optimise the company's financing
structure, according to the term sheet, which listed the
bookrunners as BNP Paribas, Commerzbank,
Goldman Sachs ( GS ) and UniCredit.
Springer Nature planned an IPO in 2020 but the COVID-19
pandemic forced it to postpone.
In 2023, it reported group revenues of 1.85 billion
euros and adjusted operating profit of 511 million euros.
($1 = 0.9078 euros)