German language app Babbel to list in Frankfurt

BERLIN (Reuters) - German online language learning company Babbel said on Tuesday it would list on the Frankfurt stock exchange this year to raise more than 180 million euros ($214 million).

The Berlin-based company, which had revenue of 147 million euros in 2020, said it would use the proceeds to introduce new learning experiences, access new markets and to settle certain claims under existing employee incentive schemes.

Sources familiar with the deal said Babbel, which was founded in 2007, could be valued at 1-2 billion euros under the deal.

Babbel is selling new shares worth 180 million euros, while some existing shares will also be on offer.

Babbel, which has sold more than 10 million subscriptions, said it hoped to complete the listing this year, subject to market conditions.

Larger rival Duolingo floated recently in the United States and is now worth $6 billion.

BNP Paribas and Morgan Stanley are organising Babbel's IPO with the help of Citi and Berenberg.

($1 = 0.8422 euros)

(Reporting by Emma Thomasson and Nadine Schimroszik; additional reporting by Arno Schuetze; editing by Kim Coghill and Jason Neely)