Behind the Money

The wrinkle in Shein’s IPO plans

Jun 12, 2024

FT's China tech correspondent Eleanor Olcott discusses Shein's stalled IPO plans due to its ties with Beijing. Shein considers shifting focus to London for IPO listing amid US-China tensions. The podcast explores challenges faced by Chinese tech companies amid geopolitical issues and how alternative markets like the UK are being explored for IPOs.

16:18

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Episode guests

Eleanor Olcott

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Quick takeaways

Shein's IPO delay attributed to US-China tensions, forcing it to explore London as an alternative listing venue.

Efforts to distance Shein from China for IPO approval highlight challenges faced by Chinese companies in global markets.

Deep dives

Xian's Struggle for US IPO Approval

Xian, a fast fashion giant, aimed for a US IPO but faced challenges due to tensions between Beijing and Washington. Despite exponential growth and profitability, securing approval for its IPO proved elusive. Regulatory hurdles stalled its listing in the US, emphasizing the widening gap between the two superpowers.

Navigating Listing Challenges for Chinese Companies in the US

01:15

Geopolitical tensions impacting Chinese tech entrepreneurs

01:29

Intro

2min

Challenges of Shein's IPO Amid US-China Tensions

10min

Challenges and Opportunities: Shein's Shift to a London IPO

2min

Challenges and Opportunities for Chinese Tech Companies Amid IPO Geopolitics

2min

Shifting Foreign Investor Perceptions Through Xi'an's London IPO

3min

In November, online fast-fashion giant Shein filed paperwork to go public in the US. Since then the process has not moved forward at all — and it looks like Shein’s ties to Beijing could be to blame. The FT’s China tech correspondent Eleanor Olcott explains how Shein has tried to distance itself from China to appease US regulators, and where it might go public instead.

Clips from Reuters, Bloomberg, Yahoo Finance

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For further reading:

Shein switches focus to London after New York IPO stalls

Shein’s London IPO flirtation

Shein profits double to over $2bn ahead of planned listing

Fund managers give cool reception to prospect of Shein London IPO

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On X, follow Eleanor Olcott (@EleanorOlcott) and Saffeya Ahmed (@saffeya_ahmed).

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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