Chinese e-commerce giant Shein is likely to launch its initial public offering on the London Stock Exchange. This would be a huge boost for the UK stock market given the huge investor interest, which dates back to when Shein’s IPO was expected in the US. It would also be one of the largest IPOs on a UK stock exchange for several years.
About Shein
Shein is a Chinese online retailer that specializes in selling clothing, shoes, cosmetics and other fashion accessories. It was founded in 2008 and very quickly became one of the most famous and fastest growing online stores worldwide.
The company is known for selling trendy clothes at affordable prices, thus targeting the younger generation and Gen Z. It is also famous for its well-targeted marketing, as the products are primarily promoted on social media by collaborating with influencers.
Shein has long been present not only in the Chinese market – it is also incredibly popular in the US and Europe. At the same time, the company has also started opening physical stores. In 2022, there were over 40 PopUp short-term store openings around the world, and this trend continued in 2023.
What we know about Shein’s IPO
Shein has been trying to go public since the beginning of the year. It first turned to the US stock exchanges, but efforts to establish itself in the US stalled after US politicians raised objections over the practices and alleged slave labour involved in the production of the Chinese company’s products.
The company is now attempting a public offering on the UK stock exchange and is reportedly preparing to file a prospectus with the local Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The company is keeping most details of its upcoming public offering under wraps, but according to leaked information, the IPO will be valued at around GBP 50 billion (EUR 58.7 billion) and is expected to go public in the summer or early autumn.
