Shein Aims for London IPO by Mid-2025

Shein plans to list on the London Stock Exchange in the first half of the year, pending regulatory approvals, according to Reuters. The initial public offering (IPO) could be finalized around mid-April, near Easter, according to a source.

The timeline coincides with a visit to China by UK Finance Minister Rachel Reeves, set to begin this weekend. Reeves is scheduled to meet Chinese Premier He Lifeng to discuss economic and financial cooperation–a meeting that could help secure regulatory approvals for Shein’s IPO, the source added.

Shein’s decision to pursue a London listing comes after withdrawing from a previous IPO attempt in the United States. That effort faced opposition from US lawmakers over concerns about China-related risks and allegations of labor malpractice. The head of the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), responsible for evaluating and approving IPOs like Shein’s, will accompany Reeves on her trip to Beijing and Shanghai for discussions with Chinese regulatory counterparts.

Founded in China in 2012, Shein relocated its headquarters to Singapore in 2022. Despite this move, the company remains subject to Chinese regulations, as most of its 5,800 contracted manufacturers operate within China.

China’s Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) oversees international listings for companies with significant domestic operations. New rules enacted by the CSRC in 2023 grant the body the authority to review and potentially block overseas IPOs.