Reflection on the Springer Nature initial public offering attempts in an evolving academic publishing market. Issue 4 (4th March 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Teixeira da Silva, Jaime A.; Fassin, Yves
• Is Part Of: Learned publishing. Volume 35:Issue 4(2022)
• Page Start: 448
• Page End: 453
• Publication Date: 2022-03-04
• Subjects: academic publishing -- competitiveness -- initial public offering -- sustainable development goal; Scholarly publishing -- Periodicals; 070.5
• DOI: 10.1002/leap.1453
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0953-1513

Abstract

Abstract: Springer Nature became a formidable market leader in academic publishing after a 2015 merger. In 2018, Springer Nature made an initial public offering (IPO) attempt to reduce company debt and fortify company value. Three media sources (Reuters, Bloomberg and Nasdaq) indicated that there was a second IPO attempt in 2020, but neither of those IPO attempts reached fruition. This paper summarizes the main events surrounding those IPOs and offers some possible discussion points about them, including economic and market fluctuations. This case also highlights the highly competitive nature of the commercial publishing landscape in a non‐profit academic environment.