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Rocket Internet IPO

September 10, 2014

Germany's Rocket Internet, an e-commerce venture capital group, plans to float on the stock exchange sometime this year. The long-awaited IPO would be Germany's second major e-commerce listing in 2014.

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Deutschland Holding Rocket Internet Logo
Image: Rocket Internet

Rocket Internet, a German venture capital firm that replicates Silicon Valley business models for non-US markets, wants to raise around 750 million euros ($970 million) through an initial public offering (IPO).

The listing will comprise new shares only and value the company at around 5 billion euros, according to estimates. The company wants to use the money for further expansion.

Rocket Internet, which was founded by online entrepreneurs Oliver Samwer and his two brothers, Alexander and Marc, has launched about 70 companies - ranging from online fashion to food delivery and marketplaces for real estate - in more than 100 countries.

Cloning e-commerce

"The IPO is the next logical step for us, as we are determined to become the leading Internet platform outside the US and China," Oliver Samwer said in a statement.

It would be Germany's second big e-commerce IPO this year. Last week, online retailer Zalando, which was also launched by Rocket Internet, also announced plans to list shares at the Frankfurt stock exchange.

Germany has not seen a big Internet and e-commerce listing since Deutsche Börse's Neuer Markt segment for the then-nascent online industry collapsed in 2003.

ng/msh (Reuters, dpa, AP)