- India has emerged as the global leader in the number of IPOs year-to-date in 2023.
- Q4 2023 witnessed a staggering 72% increase in IPOs compared to the same period in 2022, signaling robust market activity.
- Sectors such as Power & Utilities, Health, Automotive & Transportation, and Banking & Capital Markets led the IPO surge.
Mumbai: EY India, a leading global professional services organization, has released its Q4 IPO Trends report, highlighting India’s outstanding performance in the Initial Public Offering (IPO) market. According to the report, the Indian stock exchanges, including the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and the National Stock Exchange (NSE), have emerged as global leaders in IPOs for the year 2023. India’s stock exchanges have secured the top position worldwide in terms of the number of IPOs, with no cross-border deals reported.
In a notable development, the primary markets, comprising BSE and NSE, recorded 31 IPOs (including one InvIT) in the fourth quarter of 2023, marking a significant uptick compared to the same period in 2022 and the third quarter of 2023. This represents a remarkable 72% increase over Q4 2022 and a substantial 41% increase over Q3 2023.
Similarly, the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) markets showcased remarkable growth, witnessing 61 IPOs in Q4 2023, as compared to 34 and 47 IPOs in Q4 2022 and Q3 2023, respectively. This demonstrates a robust 79% and 30% increase compared to Q4 2022 and Q3 2023, respectively.
Adarsh Ranka, Partner and Financial Accounting Advisory Services Leader, member firm of EY Global, said, “Looking ahead to Q4FY24, the Indian IPO market is anticipated to continue its upward trajectory, buoyed by optimistic investor sentiment, a robust economy, and expectations of lower inflation and rate cuts in 2024. This positive environment is expected to fuel further growth in both the number and average size of mainboard and SME IPOs.”
The fourth quarter of 2023 emerged as the standout period of the year, accounting for nearly 40% of the total listings in 2023. Following a slow start in the first half of the year, there was a significant surge in IPO activity during the second half, with over 18 companies filing their Draft Red Herring Prospectus (DRHPs) in Q4 2023, signaling a potentially brighter outlook for 2024.
From a sectoral perspective, the Power & Utilities, Health, Automotive & Transportation, and Banking & Capital Markets sectors have emerged as the most active, based on recent DRHP filings. Furthermore, the recent amendment by SEBI to the Real Estate Investment Trusts Regulations, 2014, facilitating the creation of Small & Medium Real Estate Investment Trusts (SM REITs), is poised to spur further growth and innovation in the market.
In Q4 2023, Consumer Products & Retail, Diversified Industrial Products, Automotive & Transportation, and Technology sectors were particularly active, accounting for 21, 14, 9, and 9 IPOs, respectively, across main and SME markets. Tata Technologies Limited led the issue size as the largest IPO (US$ 0.37 billion) in Q4 2023.
