What is an IPO or Initial Public Offering?

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  • Updated On:
    30-Jan-2021
  • Replies:
    8

Short Answer

IPO or Initial Public Offering is the process through which a private company goes public by offering its shares to the public for the first time.

Detailed Answer

IPO or Initial Public Offering is a great way of raising funds by a private company from the public sector for the first time. It helps the business to elaborate and widen its wings in its respective field. A challenging way as well, as it is really difficult to attract people for investments.

The name of the Company gets listed on stock exchange. It can be a new company or an old company that thinks of going public by selling its shares.

Reasons for raising IPO by companies:

  • Raise funds for expansion of its business and services, invest in infrastructure or repay loans etc.
  • Increase liquidity
  • Adds to its credibility
  • Open new doors for mergers and acquisitions

As an investor, you should keep in mind the following points while putting your money in an IPO:

  • Check the Red Herring prospectus for the IPO details and fund utilisation plans.
  • Be cautious and go through the fine prints before putting money.
  • Analyse the credit background and company's financial performance.

If you are looking for better opportunities to buy shares of a company before they go public, then Initial Public Offering or IPO is the ideal option. It is an accessible mode of investment as your wealth grows manifold within a short time.

The next thing to do in IPO account is subscribing for one.

How to invest in IPO? Account Opening Process:

For this reason, you need to follow the mentioned steps:

  1. Obtain a follow-on public offer application form. It is available for share brokers, lead managers, syndicate members, and collecting banks.
  1. The physical copy is available at major commercial streets in most towns. They are also available outside BSE.
  1. In case of fixed-rate prices, you must deposit the duly filled application form, demand draft or cheque for the desired amount.
  1. The names and addresses are present in the application form. Remember, applications get accepted if payment is done through DD or cheques.
  1. Before submission, screen the application, as any typo could reject your application.

You could also apply for IPO through your trading or bank account. Some banks have a 3-in-1 deal where you can open bank, trading, and Demat Account in one place.

You don't have to become a financial expert. Just get a brief idea of the basics to make yourself financially aware of where you are investing your money.

Tagged With: ipoinitial public offering
Categories: Stock Market
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Discussion (7)

IPO, is the first sale of stock by a company to the public. A company can raise money by issuing either debt or equity. If the company has never issued equity to the public, it's known as an IPO. Why do the company go public? 1. The existing private shareholder might want to make an "exit" and sell their shareholders to public. 2. The company might want to make an expansion or an acquisition or to have some more money in the bank 3. Both the combination of the above point.

The Initial Public Offering or IPO is an investment scheme wherein private start-ups distribute shares to the public, usually in the form of equities. IPO stocks allow the public sector an ownership in the company’s profits, while also providing strong financial backing to incipient private firms. A lot of investors are skeptical about investing in IPO due to the risks involved. But here are some benefits you may want to consider: 1. Possibility of high returns as IPO is a stock investment. 2. Suitable for long-term goals such as post-retirement plans and buying property. 3. Minimal investment rates as small start-ups usually offer huge discounts. 4. Transparencies in dealings, as companies are required to provide extensive details about themselves in their prospectus. 5. Good for beginner investors due to low investment rates.

Initial Public Offering (IPO) also known as “going public” is a complex decision which calls for appropriate planning and careful consideration. It’s a process wherein a privately held company for the first time, issues its stock to the public. IPO is a dream for many small businesses as it transforms a private company into a public entity thereby helping the company get exposure and improved credibility. IPO financing is crucial when a private company seeks to take its business to the next level. With IPO financing, the company becomes a part of the stock market whose shares are made available to the general public for investment. Therefore, a significant reason why people opt for IPO financing is for growth and expansion. However, founders or venture capitalists may always influence this decision if they are eager to cash out on their investment.

A good way to select an IPO is to go through the Company's Red Herring prospectus. You can get a brief idea about its business plan and objectives of issuing an IPO. Going through its financial statements and analysing them might not be possible for common man. But, you can have a quick review of debts, whether the IPO is to repay debts? Check for Company revenues, profits etc. Most important, at what price the shares are being offered? Price Earning or PE ratio is a good indicator.

An IPO or an Initial Public Offering is when a company decided to go public. Basically a company issues its shares to the public through an IPO. Through the shares that are made public, the company earns the capital investment, which is utilized by the company for its functioning. There are a number of reasons as to why a company goes public. The reasons could be to raise capital for growth, increase public awareness, allowing early investors to sell their stake to earn money, etc. Once an IPO issue has happened, investors therefore have the opportunity to earn a share in the company.

As a retail investor, choosing an IPO seems to be a difficult task especially for me. Company raises funds through an IPO. But, it's not easy to select the best IPO. I have heard that one needs to be cautious while putting money in IPOs. Is it true and to what extent? Not every IPO is a good choice. So, how to decide which IPO to subscribe? If an IPO is oversubscribed on day 1 does that mean its doing fairly good? I have very less idea on IPOs, mentioned what info I have gathered from friends. Can anyone guide in this.

IPO or Initial Public Offering is an excellent way of involving the mass public within your company. This is a good way of expanding your horizons. The money generated through it can be used for expanding the companies operations. But before launching an IPO, the PR team needs to run a strong campaign.

Related FAQs
What is the life cycle of an IPO prospectus?

IPO prospectus is the document which gives information to the investors about the company statistics before they issue shares in public. It is mainly a 3 step process. For detailed description, read through the blog below.

What is the life cycle of an IPO? Process

An IPO or Initial Public Offering is where for the first time an earlier unlisted company sells new or existing securities and offers them to the public in the primary market.

How to Check IPO allotment in Zerodha?

There are many ways to check the IPO allotment status but Zerodha doesn't provide this facility on their website.** To check the allotment status you can visit the website of the registrar of the IPO**, for example, Link Intime, Karvy. With the help of a PAN number, you can easily check the status.

Can we sell IPO shares immediately?

In an Initial Public Offering (IPO) a company sells its shares to investors in order to raise money. As a retail investor, you can apply for an IPO from the primary market in order to get the shares offered by the company. Once the shares get listed on the secondary market, you can sell your shares provided you have received an allotment in the primary issue.

Can I apply an IPO application in the name of Minor or HUF? I want to increase my allotment so can I apply using the demat account of a minor or HUF?

Yes, you can apply for an IPO application under a minor or HUF's name, provided they have different PAN card numbers. Minors can open a Demat account with their parent’s PAN Card and bank account.

How many days an IPO remain open for public?

IPO is the primary stage where the company goes public and starts gaining investments from people. It is essential for the company to manage the details properly. For Public, IPO should remain open for at least 6 days and for maximum 10 days.

Is IPO investing good for new investors?

IPOs can be a good option for beginners as they provide an opportunity to get the shares of good companies at an attractive price. Though IPOs can provide good listing gains and quick profits, good companies can help you to create massive wealth in the long term.

Do I have to pay any brokerage at the time of applying for an IPO?

No, the application process for an IPO can be availed with zero brokerage fees. Applying in an IPO is free of cost and you don't have to bear a fee.

Is it mandatory to have a PAN Number to apply in an IPO?

Yes, it is mandatory to have a PAN number to apply for an IPO since July 2006 as per Securities and exchange board of India (SEBI).

What happens to the money if I don't get the allotment in an IPO?

While applying for an IPO a person either uses the UPI or ASBA facility for the payment and in both the process the total amount of money remains blocked by the bank under a "Mandate" until the allotment process is finalized hence the amount remains in the bank account of the investor and only gets debited if he/she receives the allotment of the shares.