IPO Process - 5 Steps for Successful Listing in India

The last two years have proven to be very fruitful for the IPO (Initial Public Offer) market. Investors have cashed in the opportunity and made huge returns in the IPO. The journey of the company to offer its shares to the public is exciting and at the same time, it also offers an opportunity to the investors to reap the benefits of IPO. Seeing the performance of recent IPOs, the attention of investors towards it is at an all-time high and they are always on a lookout for the new opportunities to arrive.

When a private company decides to go public, the initial public offering process starts. The companies go public to raise a huge amount of capital in the exchange of securities. An IPO is an important stage for the growth of any company because they have access to public capital which enhances their credibility and exposure. The initial public offering process in India is regulated by the ‘Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). In this article, you will learn about 5 steps of the IPO process for a successful listing on the Indian stock exchange.

• IPO Process in India
• Step 1: Selection of an Investment Banker for Underwriting Process

Before understanding the IPO process, let us understand what underwriting is. Underwriting is a process in which the shares of the companies are issued and sold during the initial public offering. During this process investment bank advices and gives suggestions to the company against a fee. The investment banker understands the financial situation of the company and accordingly suggests them plans to meet their financial needs. They sign an underwriting agreement with the company. The agreement has all the details about the deal and the amount that will be raised by issuing securities. The companies may select an investment bank after determining various factors such as the reputation of the bank, expertise in the process, quality of their equity research and experience in the sector they deal. All these factors help in selling the IPO to the investors, traders and retailers.

Step 2: Due Diligence and Regulation Process

After the selection of the investment banker, the company is required to make an initial registration statement as per the regulations of the SEBI. In this process, the company and the underwriters submit the SEBI its fiscal data and the future plans of the company. The company is also required to give the declaration about the usage of funds that will be raised from IPO procedure. This declaration ensures that the company has given each and every disclosure that an investor must know. The company must file various versions of the prospectus from the initial stage to the final stage with the investors. The prospectus consists of the company’s details like valuation of the company, risk and rewards of the investment along with other details. This IPO process ends with the filing of the above-mentioned documents.

Step 3: Pricing

The final price of the Initial Public Offering is determined by the investors. The investment bank markets the IPO. To attract the public to the IPO application process, they are priced at a discount. By issuing shares at discount, the share performs well when they are listed on the stock exchanges. The price of the stock during IPO procedure can be a fixed price with the price mentioned in the order document. On the other hand, a book building issue will have a price band within the bids that can be made by the investor.

Step 4: Stock Listing and Price Stabilization

When the shares of the company are listed on the stock exchange and trading begins, the investment bank takes measures to establish the price of the securities. When there are not enough buyers, the bank will purchase the shares. The role of the investment bank in stabilizing the share price is essential. However, one must remember that such buying would last only for a short period of time because the IPO process already consumes a huge amount of capital investment.

Step 5: Transition to Market Competition

When the company's transition period to the normal competitive environment is over, the company is required to make disclosures like its financial results, significant news, etc. that is material in nature and can affect the price of the shares. The role of the investment bank is still significant. It can continue as an advisor to the company and assist in increasing the price of the shares over a period of time.

Conclusion

The above mentioned are the IPO process steps for a successful listing. An IPO can change the fortunes of the company and it can grow at a rapid pace. Apart from the company, investors can also reap the benefits of an IPO by investing in them. Since there are many risks and uncertainties associated with a company going public, good research before investment can be fruitful. The investors can compare the company with its peers and check its fundamentals before investing. An investor must also consider his risk appetite and availability of funds before investing money in the IPOs. If you are an investor and need any assistance regarding investing in the stock market, you can contact IndiaNivesh.Disclaimer: "Investment in securities market and Mutual Funds are subject to market risks, read all the related documents carefully before investing."