From LBO to IPO: How to Take Neopost Public on the First French Market (A)

The case presents the IPO of Neopost SA, manufacturer of document handling and postage meter equipment on the Paris Stock Exchange. This IPO constitutes the exit for the buyout specialist, BCPartners, who invested in the company during its spin-off from Alcatel, and subsequently took over the majority of the equity in a secondary buyout.

The case illustrates the process to prepare and conduct an IPO in France. It provides material to evaluate the IPO business plan and to value the company according to various methods. It puts students in the position of the key decision makers who need to decide on the price, the size and the timing of the offer.