Volatility doesn’t matter, more aspirants likely to hit IPO market after LIC
Live MintNow that the stage is set for India’s biggest-ever initial public offering, with the Life Insurance Corp. of India floating its public issue on 4 May to raise ₹21,000 crore at a valuation of about ₹6 trillion, a large number of companies waiting in the wings to avoid a clash with the mega issue are expected to make a beeline to initiate their share sale process, said experts. Many companies have the regulatory approval for their public issue, but were waiting for the LIC IPO to be completed as it is likely to suck out a considerable amount of liquidity from the primary markets, they added. After a record 2021, when companies raised ₹1.18 trillion through public issues, only six companies, including Adani Wilmar Ltd, Vedant Fashions Ltd and AGS Transact Technologies Ltd, have launched their IPOs, raising just ₹7,819 crore so far in 2022, according to data from primary market tracker Prime Database. To be sure, even as the primary market may breathe a sigh of relief with the LIC IPO passing through, a section of experts said headwinds, such as volatility, continue to plague overall sentiments, and deal activity may not see a substantial pick up even after the LIC share sale.