As a landmark first for the continent, Pan-African technology and e-commerce business Jumia are launching their IPO on the New York Stock Exchange. The filing is a first for e-commerce in Africa, but the repercussions may cause a wave of detrimental effects.
Jumia Prospects
With four million dedicated customers, Jumia may appear excellent on paper, and in a good position to enter the New York Stock exchange. Despite the rapport, entering the New York Stock Exchange is anticipated to cause Jumia’s parent company, Rocket Internet, to withdraw.
The withdrawal of Rocket Internet would not only divide existing shareholders and their stakes, but it will cause a flow-on effect for Jumia’s revenue, which is experiencing hundreds of millions of US dollars in losses year on year.
Huge Losses
2018 saw Jumia declare a revenue of almost $150 million, with a record loss of over $195 million. The company spans across 14 different African regions including Morocco and Egypt and will be entering the New York Stock exchange while still operating on negative cash flow, amounting to almost £160 million.
Jumia has been transparent regarding the risk factors that future shareholders face when investing in them. Citing primary reasons such as political instability and changing regulatory laws in the African market. Jumia is presenting a high risk, high reward opportunity.
Claiming to be “only e-commerce businesses successfully operating across multiple regions in Africa,” Jumia proudly reference their four million committed customers regularly.
Rocket Internet itself would appear to be ambivalent about the launch of Jumia on the New York Stock Exchange.