Happiest Minds IPO 8th most subscribed public issue of the last decade

To say Happiest Minds Technologies' initial public offering was a hit on D-Street would be an understatement. The Rs 702-crore public issue was subscribed 150.98 times, making it the eighth biggest IPO of the last decade.

Qualified Institutional Buyers (QIB) during September 7-9. Retail demand for the issue was strong as well, garnering 70.94 times subscription.

Salasar Techno Engineering currently holds the spot for the most subscribed IPO of the last decade, notching 277.28 times subscription in its July 2017 issue, data shows.

Apollo Micro Systems, which launched IPO in January 2018, witnessed 248.51 times subscription, followed by Astron Paper & Board Mill's IPO which was subscribed 243.29 times in December 2017.

The subscription figures indicate that with all said and done, big money always chases quality.

"Demand in primary markets is a function of what is on offer. Even during the lockdown, we have seen an insatiable appetite for quality Indian businesses – so many listed companies have raised capital via QIP, and were oversubscribed," Sameer Kaul, CEO & MD of TrustPlutus Wealth Managers (India) told Moneycontrol.

Capacite Infraprojects with 183.03 times subscription in September 2017 was at the fourth position, followed by Central Depository Services with 170.16 times subscription in June 2017. Ujjivan Small Finance Bank's 165.68 times subscribed issue in December 2019 and Amber Enterprises India's 165.42 times issue in June 2018 also saw major participation in their public issues.

Also, Quess Corp (July 2016), MAS Financial Services (June 2018), BGR Energy Systems (September 2011), Dixon Technologies (September 2017), Advanced Enzyme Technologies (July 2016), IRCTC (October 2019) and Avenue Supermarts (March 2017) saw 104-144 times subscription.

Ten-year data shows, 15 mainboard IPOs witnessed a subscription of more than 100 times. (Note: Capital First which was merged with IDFC Bank is not considered in this copy, though IPO was subscribed 133.44 times in September 2011.)

Even though not many companies have come out with their IPOs this year, experts expect things to change soon on the D-Street as multiple media reports anticipate 6-10 public issues by December 2020. CAMS, Angel Broking, UTI AMC, LIC, NSE, Equitas Small Finance Bank, Gland Pharma are some of the IPOs the Street expects to see before 2020 ends.

"We do see capital market intensity and activity. The need for confidence capital - more than growth or opportunity capital (in most cases), will keep that market active. We also believe it's a good thing – and a very good way of moderating risks in the economy, and providing the firepower for economic expansion - when the time is right," Aditya Narain, Head of Research – Institutional Equities at Edelweiss Securities said.