London (CNN Business)Iconic footwear brand Dr. Martens is considering a listing on the London Stock Exchange amid a bullish outlook for the UK IPO market in 2021.
The company, which sells 11 million pairs of shoes a year in more than 60 countries, said in a filing on Monday that an IPO would entail the sale of at least 25% of its shares by existing owners, including private equity firm Permira. No new shares would be issued.Dr. Martens joins a growing list of companies that could IPO in London this year. While none have confirmed listings, food delivery company Deliveroo, McLaren Group, Jaguar Land Rover and craft brewer BrewDog could be looking at IPOs, according to stockbroker IG.The Brexit trade deal and an early rollout of Covid-19 vaccines have boosted sentiment towards UK investments, said Susannah Streeter, senior investment and market analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown. After losing 14.3% in 2020, the FTSE 100 (UKX) is up 5.5% this year compared to the S&P 500’s (SPX) 1.8% gain, data from Refinitiv shows. The S&P 500 climbed 16.3% last year.Read More”The interest in IPOs has also been boosted by the frenzy surrounding the Airbnb and Doordash IPOs in the US which were hugely oversubscribed,” Streeter told CNN Business. Dr. Martens has profited from a shift towards online shopping during the pandemic, but it is also reliant on “fickle fashion tastes,” which could change in future, she added.
Photos: Just what the doctor ordered: Musicians rocking Dr. Martens
Photos: Just what the doctor ordered: Musicians rocking Dr. Martens Japanese heavy metal idol band Babymetal show that even the clunkiest boot can look adorable. Hide Caption 1 of 10
Photos: Just what the doctor ordered: Musicians rocking Dr. Martens The now late Joe Strummer, lead singer and guitarist of The Clash.
Famous for their black ten-hole DM’s, The Clash’s style was as varied as their music. Hide Caption 2 of 10
Photos: Just what the doctor ordered: Musicians rocking Dr. Martens Synthpop poster girl Ellie Goulding performs at Wembley stadium in London. Hide Caption 3 of 10
Photos: Just what the doctor ordered: Musicians rocking Dr. Martens British band Blur.
Their third album released in 1994, Parklife, would later define the Britpop movement. Hide Caption 4 of 10
Photos: Just what the doctor ordered: Musicians rocking Dr. Martens Tim Armstrong of the California punk band Rancid formed in Berkeley, California in 1991. Hide Caption 5 of 10
Photos: Just what the doctor ordered: Musicians rocking Dr. Martens English alt-rock band Suede formed in 1989. Hide Caption 6 of 10
Photos: Just what the doctor ordered: Musicians rocking Dr. Martens American pop punks All Time Low formed in 2003 in Towson, Maryland. Hide Caption 7 of 10
Photos: Just what the doctor ordered: Musicians rocking Dr. Martens Seminal ska band The Specials at the World Trade Center in New York. Hide Caption 8 of 10
Photos: Just what the doctor ordered: Musicians rocking Dr. Martens The Stranglers bassist JJ Burnel was a keen wearer of the black 1460s DM boot. Hide Caption 9 of 10
Photos: Just what the doctor ordered: Musicians rocking Dr. Martens English rock band You Me at Six formed in Weybridge, Surrey in 2004. Hide Caption 10 of 10
The British brand launched its signature eight-holed 1460 boot in 1960. According to the company’s website, it was initially worn by postmen and factory workers but later picked up by ska-loving young people who championed British working class style. Pete Townshend of English rock band The Who became the first celebrity to wear them, changing a work-wear boot into a symbol of rebellious youth culture.Permira bought Dr. Martens in 2014 for €380 million ($462 million) and has invested in its direct-to-consumer channels, including company-owned physical stores and e-commerce.Despite the majority of its stores being closed for months due to the pandemic, revenue over the six months to September 30 increased 18% to £318 million ($428 million) compared with the same period in 2019, according to the filing.The company sold 5.5 million pairs of shoes during that period — 700,000 more compared to the prior year — and doubled its revenue from e-commerce.CEO Kenny Wilson said the brand has “significant global growth potential” in the future. “Our iconic brand appeals to a diverse range of consumers around the world who wear our footwear to express their individual style,” he added.— Julia Horowitz contributed reporting.
Source: edition.cnn.com
