Stock Markets May 8, 2026 02:06 PM

Ninja Lines Up Banks for Potential $1 Billion Riyadh IPO

Quick-delivery firm engages global and regional banks as plans remain preliminary amid regional tensions

By Caleb Monroe C GS UBS

Saudi quick-delivery startup Ninja has retained Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, Riyad Capital and UBS to advise on a possible Riyadh initial public offering that could seek about $1 billion in proceeds, with a potential timetable toward the end of 2026 or early 2027. The company is still weighing its options and could opt for alternative capital-raising routes.

Ninja Lines Up Banks for Potential $1 Billion Riyadh IPO
C GS UBS

Key Points

  • Ninja has appointed Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, Riyad Capital and UBS to advise on a potential IPO in Riyadh.
  • The company is seeking approximately $1 billion in proceeds, with a possible timing toward the end of 2026 or in early 2027.
  • Plans are preliminary and Ninja may opt for alternatives such as a private capital raise; investor outreach took place in March amid regional tensions.

Saudi Arabia-based quick-delivery startup Ninja has appointed a quartet of banks to advise on a possible initial public offering in Riyadh, people familiar with the matter told reporters. The financial institutions named to work on the proposed deal are Citigroup Inc., Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Riyad Capital and UBS Group AG.

Those people, who requested anonymity because the discussions are confidential, said Ninja is targeting roughly $1 billion in proceeds from the offering. The potential IPO is tentatively scheduled for toward the end of 2026 or in early 2027, according to the same sources.

Company and bank representatives declined to provide comment, the people added. The planning remains at a preliminary stage, and Ninja's leadership has not ruled out pursuing other alternatives, including raising private capital instead of proceeding with a public listing if executives decide that an IPO is not the preferred path in the near term.

Sources said Ninja began gauging investor demand earlier in March, including outreach at a London conference. That investor outreach coincided with a period of heightened regional tensions, when Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states were dealing with Tehran's retaliation for U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran. The process of selecting banks and testing the market comes against the backdrop of a fragile, monthlong U.S.-Iran ceasefire, the people said.

At this stage, no final decision has been announced and the timetable for any listing remains subject to change. The choice of Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, Riyad Capital and UBS places both global and regional advisory capabilities on the table as Ninja evaluates investor appetite ahead of any formal filing or mandate.


Summary

Ninja has engaged Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, Riyad Capital and UBS to work on a potential Riyadh IPO that could raise about $1 billion, with a possible window toward late 2026 or early 2027. The company continues to consider alternatives, including private funding, and previously tested investor interest in March amid regional geopolitical unease.

Risks

  • Execution risk - Plans remain preliminary and Ninja could decide not to proceed with an IPO, opting instead for private funding, affecting capital markets and the delivery/logistics sector.
  • Market appetite uncertainty - Investor demand gauged in March may not translate into sufficient support, influencing financial-sector underwriting and pricing for a potential Riyadh listing.
  • Geopolitical instability - The company's outreach and bank selection occurred during heightened regional tensions and a fragile monthlong U.S.-Iran ceasefire, which could weigh on investor sentiment in Gulf equity markets.

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