The Germans battery maker plans to raise that amount from the sale of shares in the company on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange as it seeks to grow into the energy storage market. Varta is eyeing a €200 million IPO on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. Flickr/scalespeeder Varta AG, a Germany-based developer of microbatteries and energy storage solutions, is preparing for a €200 million ($222 million) initial public offering (IPO) on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, the company confirmed today. Having made its name in the consumer battery market – particularly in producing batteries for consumer electronics, headphones and hearing aids – the company has recently made strides in home storage devices in light of the growth of residential solar in many European and international markets. After flotation, Varta will invest €50 million in a new automated fab for small batteries, and will seek to acquire rival energy storage system developers and technologies to smooth its growth into the energy storage sector. The markets of Italy and Australia – both of which have high residential PV penetration rates – have been targeted by Varta. The company is owned by Switzerland’s Montana Tech Components, which will remain Varta’s majority owner post IPO. Varta expects flotation to place its value at around €400 million, and expects to enjoy rapid growth over the coming years following a strong first three quarters in 2016, which have seen sales top €160 million. "We will continue to strive to develop high-performance technologies for microbatteries and individual energy storage solutions for our target markets in the future," said Varta CEO Herbert Schein. "Our goal is to optimize our production processes while, at the same time, increasing our profitability."
Germans battery maker Switzerland is looking to instigate a €200m ( €400m ) IPO on IPO to fund a €400m investment in a new automated factory for small batteries and the purchase of rival energy storage system companies and technologies. The manufacturer expects its flotation to put its value near €400m .