An initial public offering or IPO is the way by which a private company raises funds by issuing shares on the stock exchange for the first time. Since these IPOs offer an early entry into a reputed company, their value in the Indian market has gained wide popularity.
If you are interested in diversifying your investment portfolio by investing in IPO shares then this article takes you through all the details of IP, including the allotment process, strategies, IPO bidding, etc.
What is an IPO Subscription?
You must have come across the term IPO subscription. IPO subscription is the rate that is used to measure the number of times shares offered by a company in its IPO are subscribed by the investors. In a nutshell, know that an IPO subscription represents the demand for the shares under an IPO.
Additionally, remember that when a company’s IPO is oversubscribed it means that the demand for the company’s shares is higher than what the company can provide.
How Does IPO Subscription Data Help Investors?
As discussed above, IPO subscription represents the number of times shares offered by a company have been subscribed by investors. This data helps investors get an insight into the company's shares demand that can be used to gauge the value of its shares.
Investors often rely on IPO subscription data for the following reasons:
Gauge Market Demand
IPO subscription data represents the interest of market participants in the company shares thus helping in understanding market sentiment.
Assess Pricing
IPO subscription data reveals the demand for shares in the market thus helping investors determine whether the upcoming IPO is fairly priced or not.
Predict Potential Listing Gains
In cases where IPO subscription data reveals oversubscription, it is an indication that the stocks will appreciate significantly once listed.
What is the IPO Process?
Know that the IPO process involves multiple steps that the company has to mandatorily follow before listing its shares on the stock exchange. Let’s take a quick look at the stages in the IPO process.
Preparation: The company decides to raise funds for its expansion strategies through an IPO.
DRHP Filing: The draft red herring prospectus or DDRHP is issued by the company featuring essential information like the company's overview, business strategies etc. DRHP is used to get approval from the Sebi.
Choosing the Stock Exchange: Once the company has approval it decides on which stock exchange the company intends to list its shares.
Road Show: This step primarily involves marketing the IPO to attract potential investors.
Pricing: Based on the reaction and demand in the market the final price of the shares is determined.
Allocation: Once the application process is complete the company allocates shares to investors.
Listing: The company list is shares on the stock exchange.
Trading Commences: Once the shares are listed on the stock exchange they are open to be traded.
Lock-in Period: Remember that there are certain restrictions imposed on investors when it comes to selling or transferring shares under an IPO.
Stabilisation Period: This is basically the period under which underwriters adapt different strategies to stabilise the price of shares in the market.
Steps of IPO Bidding Process
Remember that participating in the IPO bidding process is crucial in ensuring IPO allotment. Here’s everything you need to know about the IPO bidding process:
Prerequisites
Online Bidding Process
To participate in the online bidding process you just have to login into your trading account to find the IPO section on the broking portal.
Select the IPO you wish to bid for and specify the number of lots and the bidding amount within the provided price range.
Complete the process by making a payment.
Submit the IPO application form and wait for the allotment.
Offline Bidding Process
To participate in an offline bidding process you can visit the nearest branch of your bank or download the IPO application form from the stockbrokers website.
Fill in the essential details and submit the form physically along with all the documents and a cheque for the amount bidded.
IPO Subscription Timing
To apply for IPO allotment you need to be aware of its timing, charges etc.
Here’s what you need to know about IPO subscription timing:
Once an IPO is open, it remains open for a minimum of three days and a maximum of 10 days.
You can apply for a subscription on any of the stock exchanges between 10 AM to 5 PM.
If you are participating in an offline IPO application process then remember that banks and stock brokers usually allow except the form between their working timings.
The deadline for submitting an IPO application form on the last day depends on the respective bank and stockbroker.
IPO Subscription Types
IPO subscription types primarily talk about the level at which the IPO shares have been subscribed in the market.
IPO subscription types can be broadly categorised into two:
Oversubscribed IPO
An Oversubscribed IPO indicates that the demand for the share has exceeded the number of shares the company is offering. This indicates a pAn oversubscribed IPO indicates that the
Under-Subscribed IPO
As the name suggests an under-subscribed IPO represents that the demand for the shares in the market is falling short of the number of shares that the company is offering under its IPO. Since the demand is less it indicates a negative market sentiment for the IPO.
IPO Subscription and Listing Price
Now that you have a fair understanding of IPO subscription you must have also understood that there is a correlation between IPO subscription and the listing price.
A simple rule that you must remember is that an oversubscribed IPO indicates a higher demand and a positive market sentiment, and an undersubscribed IPO indicates a lower demand and negative market sentiment.
There are certain other factors also that influence the listing price:
IPO Subscription and GMP
Another interesting part of IPO subscription is the grey market premium. Know that there are certain kinds of IPO stocks or shares that are traded unofficially or over the counter before they get listed on the stock exchange.
Now the premium at which these IPOs are subscribed is called the grey market premium. Since the grey market premium or GMP indicates the amount investors are willing to pay for IPO shares, GMP also becomes a reliable indicator of the value of a company's IPO shares.
Strategies for Successful IPO Subscriptions
A successful IPO allotment can be rewarding and a profitable addition to your investment portfolio. However, since the demand for IPOs in the Indian market is significantly high it is important for you to build strategies that can enhance your chances of getting an IPO allotment.
Let’s take a quick look at some tried interest strategies:
Thorough Research
Remember that when a company issues an IPO it ensures to market its shares in a way that attracts investors. Therefore it is important to not make an emotional decision based on the company‘s marketing or road show rather conduct thorough market research to understand the company‘s fundamentals, industry trends, IPO pricing, IPO subscription rate and ensure that an investment in the company's IPO aligns with your investment goals.
Prioritize Strong Demand
A reliable indicator of a profitable IPO is a strong demand in the market. If you identify over subscriptions of IPO remember that such IPO shares have a high investor demand in the market. Additionally you can also look for the grey market premium.
Efficient Application Process
Before you get into the application process make sure that you are well versed with the online and offline application methods. Remember that IPO subscriptions are allowed only between specified time frames that you must not miss out on.
Diversify Your Portfolio
A simple rule of investment is to create a diverse portfolio as this helps you mitigate through risk easily. Make sure that you are investing in those IPOs that help you in diversifying your portfolio.
Stay Informed
Your work as an investor is not over once the IPO is allotted in your name. You have to stay updated with the market trends to ensure returns from the shares allotted to you.
How to Check IPO Subscription Status?
Once you have applied for an IPO subscription you would probably want to know the status of your IPO subscription. Here’s how you can now check the IPO subscription status:
Visit the official website of the National Stock Exchange or Bombay Stock Exchange.
Find the “Market Data” section and select the “New Public Issues” option.
Look for the IPO for which you want to check the status from the list of active subscriptions.
You’ll be redirected to a new page from where you have to click on the “Bid Details” menu and you will be able to see the IPO subscription status.
How to Check IPO Allotment Status?
After applying for an IPO it is obvious that you are eagerly waiting for the allotment status. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you check the IPO allotment status:
Login into your broking platform using your credentials.
Find the IPO section and select the “Order Book” to check the IPO allotment status.
Remember that if you have been allotted an IPO the status will be marked as “Alloted” and if there has been a partial allotment status will be “Partially Alloted” and if it shows “No Allotment” then shares have not been allotted under your name.
Conclusion
Understanding the process of IPO subscription is crucial before you fill in the IPO application form. Remember that regardless of the market sentiment and IPO subscription data it is important for you to make an investment decision based on your investment goals and a thorough market research.