Shein postpones Hong Kong debut to September, SCMP reports

Shein, the Chinese fast-fashion retailer, has delayed its highly anticipated Hong Kong Initial Public Offering (IPO) debut to September, according to a report by the South China Morning Post. The delay comes after Shein experienced a slight setback in collecting investor orders for its IPO at a lower valuation than initially expected.

The company plans to introduce multiple cornerstone investors, with most positions likely to be filled by existing shareholders, according to sources familiar with the situation. However, Shein did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Initially, the firm aimed to launch its Hong Kong IPO later this week at a valuation roughly one-quarter of the $100 billion price tag it commanded in a share sale four years ago.

The projected valuation for the IPO is now expected to be around $25 billion, down from the previously speculated range of $30 billion to $40 billion earlier this month. Established in China in 2012, Shein is renowned for its affordable clothing, offering items such as $5 dresses and $10 jeans to a global customer base of about 160 countries.

The South China Morning Post further reported that the company has now decided to commence the book-building process for its IPO from August 24, originally aiming to finalize the entire IPO procedure by the end of August. Investment banks participating in the deal are exploring the possibility of arranging their own funds to act as cornerstone investors.