Recent trend shows that Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) has become one of the popular and dependable methods of raising funds. According to an EY report, eight Indian companies came out with IPOs worth $850 million in the three months to September and the second half of this year is likely to be ‘significantly better’ in terms of raising funds from the primary market. The EY India IPO Trends Report Q3 2020 also stated that real estate, hospitality & construction and technology & telecommunications were the most active sectors with two IPOs launched in each sector.

In terms of volumes, the number of IPOs at eight in the 2020 September quarter is lower than 12 recorded in the year-ago period. However, the amount involved in the 12 IPOs was only $651.98 million. At current exchange rates, $850 million is little over Rs. 6,200 crore. During the latest September quarter, IPO by Mindspace Business Park REIT was the largest with an issue size of $602 million.

“In the main markets (BSE and NSE), there were four IPOs in Q3 2020 versus three IPOs in Q3 2019 and no IPO in Q2 2020, representing an increase of 33 percent compared to Q3 2019 and a significant increase in IPO activity as compared to Q2 2020,” EY India said in a release on Sunday. There were four IPOs in the 2020 third quarter in the SME markets compared to nine in the

The EY India IPO Trends Report Q3 2020 also stated that real estate, hospitality & construction and technology & telecommunications were the most active sectors with two IPOs launched in each sector

same period a year ago.

“We have seen Covid-19-backed under-performance in the first half of 2020, while the second half looks significantly better. IPO’s attraction might continue to allure investors in the primary market after successful IPO subscriptions in recent times,” stated Sandip Khetan, Partner and National Leader of Financial Accounting Advisory Services (FAAS) at EY India.

He noted that Indian shares have rallied recently led by upbeat investor sentiment as businesses opened up and economic activities restarted after stringent lockdown restrictions due to the coronavirus. He also added “September has seen the most activity as compared to the second quarter when the pandemic hit India”.

Globally, the latest September quarter bucked the traditionally slow IPO period as the markets were awash with liquidity resulting in the most active third quarter in the last 20 years by proceeds, and the second highest third quarter by deal numbers. “Globally, YTD (Year-To-Date) IPO activity accelerated, resulting in a 14 percent increase in the total number of IPOs to 872, and an impressive 43 percent rise in proceeds of $165.3 billion,” the release stated. Further the release also added that India ranked ninth globally in terms of the number of IPOs year-to-date in 2020.