SMEs raise Rupees 317cr from IPOs

Mumbai: As many as 37 small and medium enterprises got listed on Indian bourses in 2013-14, with public issues worth Rs 317 crore.

It was 32.63 per cent more than Rs 239 crore garnered by 24 companies on the SME platform of the stock exchanges in 2012-13, as per the latest data with market regulator SEBI.

Month-wise, the stock exchanges saw five initial public offerings each in August, September, October and March, on the SME platform.

Anisha Impex, Shri Krishna Prasadam, Oceanaa Biotek Industries, R&B Denims and Women’s Next Loungeries made public debut on the SME segment in March.

The issues of these firms amounted to a total of Rs 21 crore. February saw the highest number of 6 IPOs on the SME platform raising Rs 38.7 crore.

In terms of value, initial public offer of five companies amounting to Rs 84 crore in October was the highest amount recorded for a month last fiscal. Leading bourses BSE and the NSE had launched the SME platforms in March 2012, the only two bourses with such a segment in the country.

The BSE has 57, and the NSE has five firms listed on their respective SME platforms.

The platforms provide an opportunity to SME entrepreneurs to raise equity capital for growth and expansion.