Companies raise Rs 48,952 crore via various instruments in FY16

Despite stock market volatility and a negative return of 9.4 per cent from the Sensex, 2015-16 saw good participation in new equity issuances and companies raised a total of Rs 48,952 crore through various instruments, says a report.

“In financial year 2015-16, a total of Rs 48,952 crore was raised through various equity market instruments including initial public offers, qualified institutional placements, follow-on public offers and offers-for-sale,” a report by Centrum Wealth Research said today.

This was, however, lower than Rs 58,801 crore raised in fiscal 2015.

IPOs garnered Rs 14,772 crore in fiscal 2016, a massive leap from Rs 2,769 crore raised in the previous fiscal.

Money raised through QIPs stood at Rs 14,438 crore, lower than Rs 29,102 crore in the last fiscal, but rights issues raised Rs 8,785 crore, a 30 per cent jump from Rs 6,750 crore in FY15.

Despite the turmoil, the BSE IPO index performed relatively better than the benchmark Sensex. In 2015-16 fiscal, the Sensex shed more than 9 per cent, while the BSE IPO index was down only 1.8 per cent.

“While the year was good in terms of quantum of money raised and out performance of the IPO index, it turned out to be a mixed bag in terms of individual stock performances,” the report titled ‘Performance of New Equity Issues in FY16’ said.

Shree Pushkar Chemicals was the biggest gainer with an over 100 per cent return from its offer price, followed by VRL Logistics which gained 81 per cent.

Dr Path Labs, Syngene and Manpasand Beverages were all up 45-65 per cent each. Amongst the key drags were MEP Infra, UFO Moviez, Quick Heal and Coffee Day, that were down 30-40 per cent each.

“Even though new equity issuances witnessed robust participation in FY16, the Indian IPO market had to go through a slump at the start of 2016. This was in line with global IPO activity, which saw a sharp drop in Q1, 2016 led by worldwide economic slowdown,” the report added.

On the future outlook, the report co-authored by Sweta Chawla and Siddhartha Khemka said, “Central banks across the world are likely to maintain an accommodative monetary policy through the year and that should help check global market volatility. Earnings are expected to show an improvement in the second half of the year.

“A lot will depend on monsoon though. An overall positive market sentiment will keep the interest alive in primary market issuances and we could see lot more money raising.”

Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/51648033.cms

SEBI puts in place new form for ASBA

With a checklist regime kicking in for initial public offerings (IPOs), capital markets regulator the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), has put in place a new form for ASBA (Application Supported by Blocked Amount) facility.

ASBA facility has become mandatory for all categories of investors applying for a public issue for making payment from Friday. The facility allows the bid amount to remain in the applicants account till the time the shares are finally allotted.

In a circular, SEBI said that the application form for ASBA would be printed in a booklet form of A4 size paper.

Besides, SEBI has prescribed white colour form for Resident Indian, NRIs applying on a non repatriation basis and blue colour form for NRIs, Foreign Venture Capital Investor, Foreign Institutional Investors, their Sub-Accounts (other than sub-accounts which are foreign corporates or foreign individuals bidding under the QIB Portion), on a repatriation basis.

It further said that top of the application form will have a coloured identifier strap incorporating the name of the issuer, ISIN (An International Securities Identification Number) and type of form (Repatriation, Non- Repatriation). Besides, the main application should have information about eight digit application number, PAN number, bidders depository account details, investor category, among others.

A confirmation by the applicant (on behalf of joint bidders) that he/she has read, understood and agrees to such confirmations is also required.

The regulator said that application should also highlight about different category of investors (retail, non-institutional and QIBs), number of equity shares (reservation if applicable), percentage of issue available for allotment, basis of allocation in case of over-subscription, mode of allotment and terms of payment.

The new circular will be applicable for all public issues opening on or after January 1, 2016, SEBI said.

The regulator, in August, had made ASBA facility mandatory for all categories of investors applying for a public issue.

In order to enhance the points for submission of applications, SEBI had also allowed Registrar and Share Transfer Agents (RTAs) and Depository Participants (DPs) to accept application forms (both physical as well as online) and make bids on the stock exchange platform.

This will be over and above the stock brokers and banks where such facilities are presently available. The number of bank branches with ASBA facility has now increased to about 95,500, from 9,800 when this facility was introduced.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/business/Industry/new-form-for-asba-in-place/article8055065.ece

SEBI to allow soon mutual funds sale on e-commerce platforms

SEBI Chairman, U K Sinha said sale of mutual funds on e-commerce platforms could become effective in a month, a move which will help deepen the respective market. He said sale of mutual funds on e-commerce platforms could become effective in a month, a move which will help deepen the respective market. The markets regulator has set up a committee under Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani to deliberate ways in which electronic means can be used better for sale of mutual funds (MF).

The committee is also working to make sale of mutual funds possible on e-commerce platforms, the SEBI Chairman said. “My guess is that in the next one month, this will be done (permitting sale of mutual funds on e-commerce websites),” he said while speaking to media on the sidelines of the launch of Bandhan Bank’s 600th branch.

According to Sinha, mutual fund growth in the country has been “very good” and that an ever-growing number of consumers flock to e-commerce websites for shopping. “However, electronic means are not used as well as they should have been and the growth is not happening using such means. We have some experts deliberating on how the electronic means can be used better,” Sinha said.

Targeting the young and educated people with high salaries and disposable income, Sinha said, the move would help them invest easily. “If these people are doing e-shopping, and they know financial markets, then they should also invest in MFs and that is the direction in which we are thinking,” the SEBI Chairman said.

On listing of start-ups, Sinha said it will take its own time. “Important thing to note is that the regulations are in place. If there is a company under pressure, there is alternative before the company to raise(funds),” Sinha noted, adding that the markets regulator was in dialogue with start-ups related to the issue.

Sinha also noted that some start-ups have raised issues concerning taxation but the same is beyond the jurisdiction of SEBI. On initial public offers (IPOs), the SEBI chief said that the pipeline by companies for the coming year is “very healthy”. “You might have noticed that the time taken by SEBI in providing its observations, has come down substantially. Earlier, matters went up to one year, now it is three months on an average for IPOs.”

Sinha noted that SEBI had allowed Rs 60,000 crore worth of IPOs in 2013-14, but the promoters had decided to withdraw the offers implying lack of desire to make investments. “In 2014-15 we saw around Rs 9,500 crore worth of IPOs and this year already Rs 18,000 crore has been garnered through IPOs, while the pipeline going forward is very healthy”, Sinha said.

Source: http://yourstory.com/2015/12/sebi-mutual-funds-e-commerce/

SEBI cuts IPO paperwork drastically

From December 1, companies filing for a public issue of securities (IPO/FPO and the like) have to come out with abridged prospectus containing all material and appropriate information on the issue to enable informed decision-making by investors.

Amending its public issue regulations, equities and commodities market regulator SEBI said the abridged prospectus should consist of five sheets of paper printed on both sides in A4 size booklet form.

SEBI has mandated that information given in tabular format should not be repeated in text format in the abridged prospectus. The abridged prospectus would also contain the application form in a manner by which tearing off the application form would not mutilate the prospectus, SEBI said.

Generic information not specific to the issuer shall be brought out in the form of a General Information Document, said SEBI.