- Fast-fashion giant Shein is contemplating relocating its initial public offering (IPO) from New York to London due to regulatory complexities in the US, according to sources familiar with the matter. While Shein prefers a US listing, it's exploring the London option amid doubts about gaining approval from the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The company, originally from China and now headquartered in Singapore, faces challenges in the US, prompting a consideration of alternative venues. London emerges as a potential destination for Shein's IPO, offering a lifeline to a market that saw subdued IPO activity last year.
- With only about $1 billion raised through IPOs in the UK in 2023, the lowest in decades, a Shein listing could inject vitality into London's IPO landscape. However, the UK struggles to retain firms domestically, with companies like Arm Holdings opting for New York listings, exacerbating concerns about the flight of capital and talent. The prospect of Shein shifting its IPO to London reflects broader challenges for Chinese firms navigating US regulatory scrutiny amid geopolitical tensions. While US IPOs by Chinese companies have been rare since Didi Global's delisting.