It is the process by which a company can go public by sale of its stocks to general public.
It is when the company decides to be listed on an exchange and hence goes public.
HOW DOES IT HELP A COMPANY?
An IPO is a big step for a company.
It provides the company with access to raising a lot of money.
This gives the company a greater ability to grow and expand.
The company which offers its shares, known as an ‘issuer’, does so with the help of merchant bankers. (Underwriters)
After IPO, the company’s shares are traded in an open market.
Those shares can be further sold by investors through secondary market trading.
ABOUT THE IRCTC IPO OFFER
WHAT WAS THE VALUATION OF IRCTC MADE BY UNDERWRITERS?
Here the underwriters were IDBI Capital Markets, SBI Capital Markets and Yes Securities.
They valued the company at over Rs 5,000 crore.
Thus, the government raised Rs 645 crore for a 12.6% stake.
WHY THIS PROTEST?
Since on the first day the share of IRCTC was listed at more than double the issue price of 310.
This means the market pegged the valuation of IRCTC for more than Rs.11,000 crore.
This led the IRCTC to lodged a protest about the price at which shares were offered to investors and has sought better due diligence for future transactions.