THE WHAT? Douglas is said to be preparing to list on the stock market. The German perfumery chain’s owner, CVC Capital Partners is rumored to be working with advisors to prepare an initial public offering (IPO).

THE DETAILS If it goes ahead, the IPO could take place early in 2024, with Douglas said to be valued at some €7 billion.

THE WHY? Activity on the international IPO markets is recovering from a slump caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and subsequent interest rate hikes. Rumors swirled around a possible sale or IPO pre-pandemic; presumably plans that were shelved during the Covid crisis have now been revived.