E-retailer Jumia uncovers fraud as losses widen

Jumia Technologies has identified cases of improper transactions at the Africa-focused online retailer’s Nigeria business that amounted to as much as 4% of first quarter sales.

While the Berlin-based company says it’s taking measures to cut out instances of corruption, the findings backed up warnings made by short-sellers Citron in a report three months ago, which brought an abrupt end to a share price rally following Jumia’s initial public offering in New York the previous month.

Jumia found cases where “improper orders were placed and subsequently cancelled”. These included deals made through a team of independent Nigerian sales consultants called J-Force. The transactions in question amounted to 2% of 2018 gross merchandise volume — a term for sales used in online retailing — rising to 4% in the first quarter of 2019.

In advertising for candidates to join J-Force, Jumia promises the opportunity to “earn unlimited income” while having “complete freedom and control over your activities”. Nigeria is ranked 144th on a list of 180 countries on the Corruption Perceptions Index, compiled by Transparency International.

The report of dubious sales practices comes after Citron called Jumia “an obvious fraud”, wiping out early gains from the IPO. The stock has lost more than half its value since, and closed Monday at US$14.75 — just above the $14.50 listing price.

Quarterly loss

Jumia said second quarter operating losses widened by 60% to €66.7-million (R1.1-billion), mainly due to an increase in costs related to the vesting of share options following the IPO. Customer numbers across its 14 countries rose to 4.8 million, up from 3.2 million a year ago.

The “business model has severe vulnerabilities”, Tellimer Markets analysts led by Nirgunan Tiruchelvam said in a note following the results. “The business is intensely cash-flow negative and we have concerns about its viability.”  — Reported by John Bowker and Loni Prinsloo, (c) 2019 Bloomberg LP