Home 5 News 5 Waterstones Eyes London Stock Exchange Debut

Waterstones Eyes London Stock Exchange Debut

by | Dec 5, 2023 | News

 

Waterstones may be floated on the London Stock Exchange, according to the Financial Times.  James Daunt, MD of Waterstones and Barnes & Noble, has told the newspaper that a stock exchange listing “would be a very sensible place” for the bookseller group.

 

Daunt said: “In terms of the ownership of a business which is growing, but not now dramatically, I would have thought it would be in the public markets.  We will pay a very nice dividend for a pension fund-type investment rather than being in private equity.  [A workforce that “is extremely vocational and extremely committed” [lends itself to a] “stable ownership focused on the medium to long term”.

 

Daunt added that he had explored an IPA (initial public offering) for the group in 2018, but the timing wasn’t right because their owners, the private equity group Elliott, was tied-up with the acquisition of Barnes & Noble.

 

According to the Bookseller, Waterstones’profits after taxation soared 1,352% to £42.1m in the year to end April 2022 from £2.9m in 2021 – a massive recovery after the company’s finances plunged during multiple lockdowns.

 

 

Recent News

02Jun
Celebrating Austen Across England

Celebrating Austen Across England

This year marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of famous author Jane Austen. Jane Austen was famous for her books on middle class English society, and is seen as a direct influence on the modern fiction books we read today. This is despite only publishing four books in her lifetime – Pride and Prejudice, […]

02Jun
Shakespeare’s Private Life: A Rediscovered Mystery

Shakespeare’s Private Life: A Rediscovered Mystery

New analysis of a letter fragment has possibly shed light on William Shakespeare’s marriage – suggesting it may have been less fractious than previously suggested. The wordsmith, it has long been assumed by some scholars, had a largely unhappy marriage with his wife, Anne Hathaway. It was said that he left her in Stratford-upon-Avon while […]

02Jun
English Editions Undermine Local Publishing

English Editions Undermine Local Publishing

The rise of the English language driven by social media and, chiefly American, popular culture, is affecting sales of locally published editions.  In a number of markets, notably the Netherlands and the Nordic countries where knowledge of English is often greater than that of English people, it means it is very difficult to sell original […]

Related Posts

Shakespeare’s Private Life: A Rediscovered Mystery

Shakespeare’s Private Life: A Rediscovered Mystery

New analysis of a letter fragment has possibly shed light on William Shakespeare's marriage - suggesting it may have been less fractious than previously suggested. The wordsmith, it has long been assumed by some scholars, had a largely unhappy marriage with his wife,...

English Editions Undermine Local Publishing

English Editions Undermine Local Publishing

The rise of the English language driven by social media and, chiefly American, popular culture, is affecting sales of locally published editions.  In a number of markets, notably the Netherlands and the Nordic countries where knowledge of English is often greater than...

“Bad Words” Sparks 10-Way Auction

“Bad Words” Sparks 10-Way Auction

HarperFiction UK and St Martin’s Press in the US have acquired the perfect debut for anyone who works in the publishing industry.  Entitled Bad Words it is set in the world of publishing and follows the fall-out from a poisonous review.   The synopsis says: “Parker...

Previous Next
Close
Test Caption
Test Description goes like this