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SME IPO Introduction

IPO stands for Initial Public Offering. This is a process whereby a company that is privately owned and may have been run by family members, friends, or selected investors, now wants to expand its business and raise capital. It then wants to go public for the first time and sell a portion of its shares to the general public in the form of stock.

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SME stands for small and medium-sized enterprises. It is a classification made by the Indian government. These companies have revenues, assets or a number of employees below a certain threshold (see below):

SME Business Classification

Criteria

Small Enterprise

Medium Enterprise

Investment in Plant and Machinery or Equipment

Not more than Rs 10 crore

Not more than Rs 50 crore

Annual Turnover

Not more than Rs 50 crore

Not more than Rs 250 crore

Small and medium enterprises raise funds to develop and expand their business. The most common ways SMEs raise funds are through debt financing, bank loans, and initial public offerings. Fundraising helps SMEs expand their business and prevents them from failing due to lack of funds.

A SME IPO is an initiative in which a small and medium-sized company decides to sell shares to the public for the first time in order to raise funds and list itself on the stock exchange. Technically, it is a public capital raising tool where the company reaches a stage where it proves to be capable of growth and wants to raise funds that contribute to a faster growth rate of the SME.

Yes, the IPO platform for SMEs (small and medium enterprises) was introduced by SEBI in 2012 to provide a separate platform for listing. The listing requirements are more relaxed and the cost is lower than a mainboard IPO. This is a useful way for SMEs to raise capital, as IPOs provide a platform for SMEs to:

  • Gain credibility with the public,
  • Increase their market presence, and
  • Establish a long-term foundation.

From an investor's perspective, they can invest in smaller companies with faster growth potential.

Content:

  1. SME IPO Meaning
  2. Objects of the issue
  3. SME IPO Benefits
  4. SME IPO Disadvantages
  5. SME IPO vs Mainline IPO
  6. Post-Issue Paid-up Capital Restructuring
  7. Key Takeaways
  8. FAQs

SME IPO Meaning

An SME IPO is the first time a small and medium-sized company sells shares to the public. SME IPOs help companies raise capital and get listed.

SME IPO is the acronym for Small and Medium Enterprise Initial Public Offering. Raising funds through IPOs helps SMEs do the following:

  • It creates wealth for promoters, shareholders, and the public.
  • It creates demand for the company's stock.
  • It also increases the credibility of the company.
  • It helps in business expansion.

In 2012, the NSE Emerge and BSE SME platforms were launched in India. This enabled small and medium enterprises to raise equity through public offerings. The process for SME IPO takes 3 to 4 months in most cases.

The issuing company must choose one of the two SME platforms. Unlike the mainboard IPO shares, the SME shares are listed on only one exchange.

Objects of the issue for SME IPO

The object of the issue tells investors how the company intends to use the funds raised from the public. They are stated in the offer documents. At a high level, they are divided into two parts:

  1. Fresh Issue

    Fresh issue is the issuance of new shares of the company and their sale to investors. The funds raised are intended for use in the company.

  2. Offer for Sale (OFS)

    Offer for Sale is the sale of shares by an existing promoter or investor. The company does not receive any proceeds from the OFS. All proceeds go to the selling shareholders in the amount of their pro-rata contribution for the offer for sale.

The Fresh Issue and the OFS may be used individually or in combination. Most companies intend to use the proceeds of the offering for the following purposes:

  • To meet working capital needs.
  • General corporate purposes.
  • Offering for sale [x] shares by the selling shareholders.
  • Obtaining the benefits of listing the shares on a stock exchange.
  • Acquisition of plant and machinery.
  • Acquisition of businesses in similar or complementary fields.
  • Investment in strategic acquisitions/joint ventures.
  • Spending on marketing and branding.
  • Financing expenses for opening new stores.
  • Repayment of loans.
  • To cover issuance costs.

Advantages of SME IPOs

An SME IPO helps companies raise low-cost capital in the capital market. This helps the companies to expand their business and provides adequate capital infusion. This route also creates wealth for the promoters and shareholders of the company.

Here are some important reasons why an SME company should seek an IPO:

1. Raise interest-free capital

IPOs help companies raise capital by selling shares to the public. The issuer has to pay the expenses incurred in going public. But, there are no recurring costs or interest payments associated with the funds raised through an IPO.

2. Improved value creation

An IPO increases financial stability and improves the credibility of the company. This leads to:

  • Increased demand for the company's stock.
  • Higher valuation based on industry and company performance.
  • Creation of shareholder value and wealth.
  • Increase in valuation of a company.
  • Improvement in the company's overall equity.
  • Creation of leveraged assets with healthier and stronger balance sheets.

3. Expansion and growth

An IPO increases the investor base for the shares of the company. It provides growth opportunities such as expansion through secondary offerings, including private placements.

SMEs play an important role in social and economic development. SME growth and expansion increase business and employment opportunities in a country.

4. Facilitating liquidity for shareholders

An IPO provides liquidity to shareholders and promoters. This results in providing companies with several growth opportunities, such as expansion and mergers and acquisitions.

5. Easy exit option

A capital increase provides existing investors with easy exit options. It also allows new investors to invest in the company. Shareholders and investors in the company can sell their shares and exit through an offer for sale.

6. Lowers the debt burden

Raising funds through an IPO helps reduce the company's debt by refinancing or paying off the company's debt.

7. Visibility and image building

Going public gives the company greater visibility in the media and helps promote the brand. This improves the credibility of a company over an unlisted company.

8. Easy migration to the main board

SME IPOs help companies grow their business and expand their operations. They also facilitate access or migration to the main board platform for a stable and long-term future and expansion.

SME IPO Disadvantages / Risks

Like all financial instruments, SME IPOs also have some risks. These should also be understood:

1. Costs of the SME IPO

There are costs associated with raising funds through an IPO. Direct costs include merchant banker fees, underwriting commission, market maker fees, registrar fees, legal fees, audit fees, and filing fees. In addition, the company must also spend money on advertising, road shows, and PR activities.

The costs of an SME IPO vary depending on the size of the IPO, the services used, and the expenses incurred for advertising the IPO. They range from Rs 50 lakhs to a few crores.

2. Exposure to sensitive data

When a company goes public, information about financial details, executives, corporate transactions, violations related to management, and any other important information becomes public.

3. Loss of Valuation

When listed shares do not perform well on the stock market, the company's valuation decreases. This affects the reputation of the company, the promoters and its brands. It also affects the promoters, management and employees.

4. External factors for poor performance

Many challenges can affect the company, such as poor industry performance, poor industry outlook, newly introduced higher taxes, low industry profitability that may lead to poor stock performance.

5. IPO withdrawal

Often SME IPOs are withdrawn at the last minute, due to various reasons. These include:

  • Disputes between the company and its house bank,
  • Lack of agreement with the underwriter or other fund managers,
  • Lack of disclosure of key information in the DRHP, etc.

In this case, the company has to bear the cost of the IPO.

6. Hiring fund managers to stabilize the price after listing

In a SME IPO, 40% to 70% of small investors sell the shares in the first 2 weeks. This is done to make a quick profit or to book losses and invest the funds in another IPO.

The massive selling of these shares leads to sharp fall in prices. Some companies hire fund managers or wealthy investors to buy such shares to stabilize the price. Once the price has stabilized, the fund manager's responsibility comes to an end.

The role of such hired fund managers is very limited which comes at an additional cost. This is beyond the role of the market maker in a SME IPO.

SME IPO vs. Mainline IPO

SMEs with a minimum post-issue capital of Rs 1 crore and a maximum capital of Rs 25 crore can apply for an IPO through the SME platform. Mainboard companies are the large companies with paid-up capital of at least Rs 10 crore after the issue.

Although the shares of both, SMEs and mainboard companies, are listed on the proposed exchanges, the listing criteria and procedure for mainboard and SME IPOs are different. The main differences between mainboard IPOs and SME IPOs are described below:

Listing parameters

Mainboard IPO

SME IPO

Post-issue paid-up capital

A minimum of Rs 10 crore is required.

Minimum of Rs 1 crore and a maximum of Rs 25 crore.

Minimum allottees in the IPO

Minimum number: 1000 allottees

Minimum number: 50 allottees

IPO underwriting

Non-mandatory

Mandatory: Merchant Banker underwrites 100% of the risk, with the company doing 15% of the underwriting.

Offer document vetting

By SEBI

By Exchange

IPO Timeframe

6 months onwards

3 to 4 months.

IPO application size

INR 10,000 -15,000 Lakh

Min: INR 1 Lakh

Participation of the QIB

50% compulsory subscription by QIBs

Not Mandatory

Market making (acting as an agent for the purchase and sale of shares)

Not mandatory

Mandatory (for 3 years from the date of listing)

Track Record

Stringent track record norms

Relaxed track record norms

Listing

Can list on both exchanges

Can list on only one exchange.

Post-Issue Paid-up Capital Restructuring

Company's paid-up capital is restructured in the pre-IPO phase. SME companies use Bonus Issue or Buyback to bring the post issue paid-up capital between Rs 1 Crore to Rs 25 Crores.

Example of how an SME company reallocates capital to be eligible for SME IPO:

Let's say an SME Company has:

  • Paid-up Capital: Rs 1 Lakh.
  • Total Equity Shares: 10,000.
  • Face Value (FV): Rs 10.
  • Reserves: Rs 10 Cr.
  • Net Worth: Rs 10.01 Cr (Rs 10 Cr + Rs 1 Lakh).

To increase paid-up capital:

  • Company issue Bonus to promoters of Rs 10.00 Cr / Rs 10 FV = 1 Cr shares.
  • Total Promoters holding: 1 Cr + 10,000 = 1.001 Cr shares (100% holding).

SME IPO Public Issue:

  • Fresh Issue - Additional shares issued to the public: 33.5 lakhs (reverse calculated as 25% of 1.001 Cr + 33.5 lakhs shares).
  • In case of OFS, the shares are deducted from promoters holding.

Post-IPO shareholding:

  • Total Share After public issue: 1.001 + 0.335 = 1.336 Cr.
  • Total Public holding = 33.5 lakhs shares (25%) (Out of this 1.6 lakh shares (5% of public issue) are given to Market Maker).
  • Total Promoters holding = 1.001 Cr Shares (75%).

Thus:

Post-Issue Paid Up Capital = 1.336 Cr * Rs 10 FV = Rs 13.36 Cr (which is below Rs 25 Cr).

If the company issues shares at Rs 100 price (Rs 10 FV + Rs 90 Premium), the Rs 90 goes to reserve and surplus.

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Key Takeaways

  • SME IPOs were introduced in India in 2012 and have since become an important investment tool.
  • For investors, they are a good investment opportunity. This is because SMEs are responsible for at least 60% of the jobs and business created in India.
  • SME IPOs have similar advantages and disadvantages as regular IPOs.

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. The process by which small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) raise money from the public is known as SME IPO.

    Companies with a minimum post-issue capital of Rs 1 crore and a maximum of Rs 25 crore are eligible for SME IPO in India. BSE SME and the NSE Emerge platforms enable SMEs to raise money and get listed on the stock exchange through SME IPO.

    Unlike main board IPOs, SME IPOs are small. They are governed by different rules set by regulators and exchanges.

     

     

  2. The biggest challenge for SMEs is raising capital. Going public allows SMEs to expand their operations while increasing public interest in their services or products.

    When SMEs go public, the shareholder's value also increases.. It also provides investors and companies with additional investment instruments at their disposal.

    SMEs can go public to raise funds for a variety of purposes:

    • Expanding business operations.
    • Pay off debt.
    • Making investments.
    • Covering current expenses.

    Additionally, issuing an IPO also helps SME companies with:

    • Improved valuation.
    • Wealth Creation for shareholders, promoters, and existing and new investors.
    • Enabling the exit of promoters, shareholders or investors.
    • Improved brand value and awareness.

     

     

  3. For SME companies

    SMEs may opt for IPO to raise funds and get listed on the stock exchange. If they raise funds through bank loans, they have to pay interest or repayments. SMEs do not have to pay interest when they go public to raise funds. The IPO process increases the visibility of the company's products and creates a brand image. The IPO roadshow makes the company known to people who are not yet aware of its operations.

    The reasons why SMEs should go public are the following:

    • They can raise money from the public without paying interest.
    • Going public increases the net value of the company.
    • Increase the visibility and promote the brand.
    • An IPO provides an easy exit opportunity for existing shareholders.
    • Helps raise money to expand business operations.
    • Empowers the company to become prosperous.
    • Provides easy access to the secondary market for equity financing after the IPO.
    • To improve the company's brand awareness, corporate image and brand growth.

    For investors

    SME IPOs offer retail investors the opportunity to invest money in an SME company. These companies are in the early stages of growth and can offer high returns in the future.

    If selected carefully, SME IPO can offer better returns compared to mainboard IPOs on the stock market or other investments.

    Once listed on the stock exchange, SME shares are traded in the same way as any other listed shares. The only difference is that SME shares are traded in a minimum lot size of Rs 1 lakh. For example, if an SME share costs Rs 40, you have to buy at least 4000 shares. The share for this company is traded in a lot size of 4000 shares.

     

     

  4. SMEs can raise money through IPOs and grow their businesses in every way, including:

    • Operations, expansion, and acquisitions.
    • Conducting day-to-day business operations.
    • Repaying debts.
    • Purchase of machinery.
    • Investment purposes.
    • General corporate purpose.

    The IPO provides an opportunity for new investors to participate in the IPO, while current shareholders can sell their shares through a tax-efficient exit route.

    An IPO has a positive impact on a company's name recognition, image, and brand expansion.

    Information about the company's product range, management and finances is made available to investors in the offering documents. This increases the level of awareness of the company.

     

     

  5. SME IPO was launched in India in 2012.

    The NSE Emerge and BSE platforms were launched with the aim of enabling fundraising for SMEs through IPOs.

     

     


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