European bourses could welcome a string of new companies in the coming months, with at least five major listings pencilled in for launch before the summer, people familiar with the matter told Reuters.
German perfume retailer Douglas, Swiss skincare giant Galderma, Italian clothing brand Golden Goose, Spanish travel technology firm Hotelbeds, and Spanish fashion group Puig are all considering going public as soon as the first half of the year if market conditions allow, the sources said.
No final decisions have been made, and the timing and structure of the deals might change, the people, who spoke on condition of anonymity, cautioned.
Still, the plans reflect warming market sentiment towards initial public offerings (IPOs), after high interest rates and economic uncertainty all but froze transactions over the last two years.
They also illustrate how private equity groups are moving to take advantage of improving market conditions to return capital to their funders.
Galderma, backed by private equity firm EQT, is preparing to kick off its IPO as early as next month, four people close to the deal said.
The Swiss group could fetch a valuation of about $20 billion in a listing, one of them said.
Meanwhile, Douglas, majority-owned by CVC Capital Partners, is gearing up to go public as soon as this quarter, in a deal that could value it at up to €7 billion, sources have told Reuters.
Permira-backed Golden Goose, known for its worn-looking sneakers, is working towards a Milan IPO in the first half, two people familiar with the plans said.
The offer is expected to comprise around €1 billion of shares, Reuters previously reported.
In Spain, family-owned Puig, known for brands like Carolina Herrera and Paco Rabane, is eyeing a listing before the summer if markets allow, three people familiar with the plans said.
Meanwhile, Hotelbeds, a business-to-business booking solutions provider, is also considering an IPO as soon as the first half, two people familiar with the matter said.
However, there is a chance it may wait until after the summer, as holiday numbers are important for the business, one of them added.
