(Corrects spelling of Diethelm Keller from Dieter Keller
throughout)
* DKSH currently valued at around 5 bln Swiss francs
* No new shares being sold, only existing stock
* Major shareholder Diethelm Keller looking for partial exit
ZURICH, Feb 15 (Reuters) – DKSH, a Swiss firm that
helps companies market and distribute their goods in Asia, plans
to list on the Swiss stock exchange by the end of June, in what
could be the first major initial public offering in Europe since
the middle of last year.
While DKSH is valued at around 5 billion Swiss francs ($5.4
billion) on Bern’s over-the-counter exchange, chief executive
Joerg Wolle would not comment on any expected valuation.
The IPO, which will not see any new shares sold, will allow
existing shareholders to cut their stakes.
Europe has seen no major listings during market volatility
brought on by the euro zone debt crisis. Firms put IPO plans on
ice because they would not have achieved the price they wanted.
Majority shareholder Diethelm Keller Holding, which owns 63
percent of DKSH, plans to diversify its investment portfolio,
Wolle told Reuters in an interview on Wednesday.
Continued…
