UPDATE 1-Springer Nature to launch IPO next week, if markets hold -sources

(Adds details on scope of potential listing, industry
background)

By Arno Schuetze

FRANKFURT, March 2 (Reuters) - Springer Nature, the
publisher of science magazines Nature and Scientific American,
is preparing to launch its stock market listing next week, but
may delay plans if the coronavirus continues to roil markets,
people close to the matter said.

Its owners, buyout group BC Partners and publisher
Holtzbrinck, plan to send out a so-called intention to float on
March 9, with a view of listing the company in Frankfurt before
Easter, the people said.

"But they will monitor markets closely until the last minute
and it would not come as a surprise if they postpone," one of
the people said.

Another person said that so far, only companies whose
specific markets have been impacted by the spread of coronavirus
were prone to cancelling a listing, but now a broader slide in
stock markets is denting overall investor appetite for IPOs.

"Right now, Springer is all set for the launch. But if
markets continue to fall if may not be the right moment", the
person said.

BC Partners, Holtzbrinck and the banks declined to comment
or were not immediately available.

The deal is being organised by Goldman Sachs and
Morgan Stanley, helped by BNP Paribas, HSBC
, Barclays and Jefferies.

Springer Nature is targeting offering shares worth roughly
1.5 billion euros ($1.67 billion) in a deal that could value the
company at 7 billion-8 billion euros, including debt, one of the
people said.

Springer Nature cancelled a planned stock market listing in
2018, citing weak demand. Investors had balked at the sellers'
high price expectations and the large debt of Springer Nature.

Ninety One, asset management arm of South Africa-based
banking group Investec, said on Monday it was pressing ahead
with its March listing, while Germany's chemicals group Atotech
and Indonesia's Lion Air postponed IPOs due to coronavirus.

Springer Nature was formed in 2015 through the merger of
Holtzbrinck's Macmillan Science and Education unit with BC
Partners' Springer business, which publishes scientific,
technical and medical books and journals.

The tie-up was designed to make it easier to compete with
the likes of RELX and Informa as publishers
increasingly shift to digital content and readers use
smartphones and tablets to access information. The two peers
trade at 12 and 15 times their expected core earnings.

In 2019, Springer Nature posted sales of 1.72 billion euros.
The group has annual earnings before interest, tax, depreciation
and amortization of about 620 million euros.

Springer Nature is a separate company from German publisher
Axel Springer.
($1 = 0.8972 euros)
(Reporting by Arno Schuetze in Frankfurt
Editing by Edward Taylor and Matthew Lewis)