// Made.com exploring plans for a potential IPO that could value it at over £500m
// It has sought advisers from banks to explore a range of options, including an IPO, a sale of a stake, or sale of the business
// Should it go head, it would do so amid a flurry of retailers choosing to float on the LSE
Made.com is reportedly the latest ecommerce retailer exploring plans for a potential stock market flotation, a move that could value it at over £500 million.
According to Sky News, the online furniture and homewares retailer has sought advisers from banks to explore a range of options, including an initial public offering to take place in the coming months.
The other options being explored are reportedly a sale of a stake in Made.com to an investor, or a sale of the business.
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However, it’s thought that no formal decision has been made as yet on whether to push ahead with the stock market listing.
Made.com, which sells furniture directly from designers to undercut traditional retailers, was founded in London in 2010 and has since expanded across Europe.
Sources speaking to Sky News suggested that Made.com’s strong trading performance in the past year, amid surging demand for online retail and furniture sales, made it suitable for a flotation – should it proceed.
The retailer’s most up to date accounts in Companies House, for the 2019 financial year, show that revenue rose 22 per cent to £211.8 million while loss before tax widened to £19.3 million.
Made.com chief executive Philippe Chainieux has previously played down speculations about a stock market listing.
In October 2019, he said a £43 million fundraising at that time meant there was no need for one.
Meanwhile last December, Made.com handed share options worth at least £10,000 each to its 650-strong staff.
A spokesman for Made.com said: “The rapid acceleration in the shift to online shopping, with three to five years change in the past 12 months, meant that 2020 was extremely successful for Made, despite the challenging environment.
“As we move into 2021, we are exploring the best way to ensure that the business has all the resources required to build on our momentum and seize this unique moment of opportunity.”
Should it go head with the stock market flotation, it would do so amid a flurry of retailers choosing to float on the London Stock Exchange.
In recent weeks, Moonpig and Dr Martens have kickstarted flotations, while In The Style and Beauty Bay have expressed interest in going public.
Meanwhile in late 2020, The Hut Group made its stock market debut with a market capitalisation to £5.4 billion – making it one of the biggest stock market listings of a UK firm.
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