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The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has tightened its scrutiny on the objectives for raising fresh capital through initial public offerings (IPOs), said two people in the know.
The regulator has expressed its displeasure over companies opting to raise money largely for debt repayment and is asking for more disclosures.
‘Need clarification’
“SEBI did an analysis of several IPO offer documents some time back and found that the majority had stated repayment of debt as the primary objective for raising fresh capital. This prompted the regulator to dig deeper into the reasons why fresh capital was being raised,” said an investment banker.
Companies need to clarify if there have been delays, defaults, and evergreening of outstanding borrowings for which a part of the net proceeds will be used for repayment. Firms need to give reasons why the promoter lock-in should not be increased if the issue object is to repay loans to fund capital expenditure and the amount to be used for repayment and capex is more than 50 per cent of the amount being raised for a fresh issue.
“The regulator has made it clear that companies cannot be vague about the objects of the issue, which I think is fair. It wants adequate details and some comfort level on how the fresh capital will be spent,” said an industry official.
An email sent to SEBI did not get an immediate response.
Companies wanting to raise fresh capital for expansion need to give granular details on how the proceeds will be utilised. For example, if the company is setting up a plant, the land has to be in the company’s name with the necessary purchase agreements. Valid orders and quotations to suppliers and vendors need to be disclosed.
“Companies need to be ready to divulge granular details. Otherwise, it is better not to raise a fresh issue, as it will lead to additional scrutiny and delays. SEBI also has the right to ask the company to change the objects of the issue, which will require fresh shareholder approval,” said the banker quoted above.
Non-manufacturing companies may find it particularly difficult to give details on how the fresh issue proceeds would be utilised, added the industry official.
Fresh capitals
The amount of fresh capital raised in IPOs in CY23 was ₹20,662 crore, or 42 per cent of the total amount raised, the highest in terms of percentage share in seven years, according to PRIME Database. A third of the fresh capital raised was for working capital needs. Retirement of debt (22 per cent), expansion or setting up of new plants and machinery (15 per cent), general corporate purposes (11 per cent) and issue expenses (9 per cent) were the other major reasons.
At an industry event last month, the SEBI chief said the regulator was deliberating on giving greater flexibility to companies that want to set aside a higher portion of the objects of the issue for an unspecified purpose.
As per current norms, companies can raise up to 25 per cent of their IPO proceeds under the head general corporate purpose (GCP). Companies looking to deploy the proceeds towards unidentified future acquisitions can earmark a maximum 35 per cent combined limit (including the portion for GCP).
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