German generics firm Stada Arzneimittel, backed by private equity owners Bain Capital and Cinven, is preparing to launch an initial public offering (IPO) this autumn—provided market conditions remain favourable, CEO Peter Goldschmidt has confirmed. The renewed focus on a public listing comes after the company paused plans earlier this year due to volatile markets and trade-related uncertainty.

Stada and its owners are also considering alternative ownership options, including a potential sale. The company previously held talks with private equity firm CapVest, which would have valued Stada at around 10 billion euro including debt. Those discussions have since stalled, prompting a stronger push toward the IPO route.

The company’s strong performance underpins this decision: first-half EBITDA (excluding special items and adjusted for currency effects) rose by 5 percent year-on-year to 481 million euro. Analysts see Stada as a compelling IPO candidate as European equity markets—particularly in Frankfurt—gain momentum, especially in the healthcare and pharmaceuticals sectors.

The planned autumn IPO marks a strategic pivot for Stada as it seeks liquidity for its owners while capitalising on improving investor sentiment and sector stability.