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Great Sea Interconnector Advances Cyprus-Israel Investment Process

by News Editor

The Great Sea Interconnector (GSI) has taken another step forward after Greece’s Independent Power Transmission Operator (Admie) submitted an investment request for the Cyprus-Israel electricity link to the energy regulators of both countries.

Marking the next stage of the project under the European Union’s Trans-European Networks for Energy (TEN-E) framework, the application comes amid renewed efforts to advance the strategic connection between Greece, Cyprus and Israel. French infrastructure investment group Meridiam recently became the majority shareholder in the GSI project company, while Greek and Israeli officials have also stepped up discussions on the Cyprus-Israel section.

Investment Framework Moves To Regulatory Review

Admie said the request follows completion of the required cost-benefit analysis (CBA) and cross-border cost allocation proposal (CBCA). Authorities and grid operators in Cyprus and Israel were consulted during the studies, which also incorporated updated forecasts for electricity demand, renewable energy development and future grid requirements.

According to the findings, the Cyprus-Israel interconnection remains economically viable under all scenarios examined. The project is also expected to strengthen electricity supply security, support renewable energy integration and connect the eastern Mediterranean electricity market more closely with the wider European grid.

Regulators in Cyprus and Israel will now formally assess the investment request and jointly determine how the project’s costs will be allocated between the two countries and recovered through regulated revenues.

Following approval of the investment framework, the project can move towards a final investment decision, allowing financing arrangements to proceed. Admie also plans to attract additional investors to the Cyprus-Israel section, following the model used for the Greece-Cyprus leg.

1,000MW Link To Connect Cyprus And Israel

Designated by the EU as a Project of Common Interest, GSI will have a transmission capacity of 1,000MW using a 500kV high-voltage direct current system. A planned submarine cable between Cyprus and Israel will stretch approximately 324 kilometres at depths of up to 2,400 metres, allowing electricity to flow in both directions.

Last week, Energy Minister Michael Damianos welcomed Meridiam’s entry into the project and said Cyprus would await the European Investment Bank’s due diligence assessment before considering whether the Republic should become a shareholder.

Separately, a bipartisan group of US lawmakers has urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US International Development Finance Corporation chief executive Ben Black to prioritise GSI, citing its importance for regional energy security and cooperation.

Shein Targets $25 Billion Valuation In Hong Kong IPO As Growth Slows

by News Editor

Shein is reportedly targeting a valuation of around $25 billion in its planned Hong Kong IPO, a sharp decline from the nearly $100 billion valuation the online fashion retailer achieved in a 2022 fundraising round.

Two people familiar with the plans said the company was likely to target about $25 billion, while another source put the expected range at $25 billion to $28 billion based on the proposed price band.

IPO Valuation Falls Sharply

Shein plans to sell up to 8% of its shares in the offering, according to a person familiar with the plans. At a $25 billion valuation, that would translate into an IPO of as much as $2 billion.

The latest target is also below the $30 billion to $40 billion valuation the company was seeking earlier this month as it began meeting with potential investors.

Founded in China in 2012 and now headquartered in Singapore, Shein sells low-cost clothing to consumers in about 160 countries. The company is expected to launch its long-awaited Hong Kong IPO later this week.

Trade Restrictions Weigh On Growth

Shein’s valuation has come under pressure as major markets tighten rules affecting low-cost e-commerce shipments. The European Union, for example, has moved to impose additional fees on cheap parcels from platforms such as Shein and Temu. EU Tightens Rules On Low-Cost E-Commerce Parcels

In the U.S., the removal of an import duty exemption for small packages has also affected the company. Shein reported a $99 million quarterly loss in the first quarter of 2026 as sales growth slowed, while a one-time accounting charge further weighed on its results. Shein Reports First-Quarter Loss Ahead Of IPO

Investors Question Shein’s Growth Prospects

The steep reduction in valuation reflects growing concerns over slower growth, higher trade costs, regulatory pressure and stronger competition across global e-commerce.

Some investors who reviewed Shein’s recent financial statements or attended IPO presentations told Reuters they were skeptical that the company could return to the growth rates that supported its $98.2 billion valuation in 2022. Shein’s Slowing Growth Tests Investor Appetite

A lower IPO valuation could also affect Shein’s existing investors. Under the terms of its IPO filing, the company may have to issue additional shares to certain pre-IPO investors if its valuation falls below agreed thresholds.

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