Siemens Healthineers Supports Potential Stake Reduction
(Reuters) - Siemens Healthineers' CEO said on Thursday that the medical-technology company had a "very positive" view on considerations by parent Siemens to reduce its stake.
A higher free float would be "very good for the company in the long term as well as for the share price," Healthineers CEO Bernd Montag said in a call after the release of first quarter results.
In December, Siemens's Chief Financial Officer Ralf Thomas said that the parent company, which currently holds a 75% stake, is reviewing its majority stake, with an update to be given at a capital markets day at the end of 2025.
Healthineers said in an analyst call that while most of its debt financing was provided by Siemens, there would be a grace period during which refinancing would take place in case of a large stake reduction.
"We have already refinanced a certain aspect of it over the last years at higher interest rates than they were beforehand," Chief Financial Officer Jochen Schmitz said, "I feel very well prepared to go through that process if it comes and we will be well prepared for this".
(Reporting by Alexander Hübner and Marleen Kaesebier; Editing by Ludwig Burger)
