National Stock Exchange (NSE) has cleared its biggest hurdle to an initial public offering planned since 2016 with the imposition of a fine this week by SEBI for allowing preferential access to some high-frequency traders.

“Even as the regulator bars us from raising funds through the capital markets for six months, the fact that an order has been delivered finally is a big positive as it removes a big overhang on our IPO,” said Vikram Limaye, Chief Executive Officer at Mumbai-based National Stock Exchange of India Ltd.

The Securities & Exchange Board of India’s (SEBI) penalty totals $158 million (₹1,100 crore), he said.

Also read:NSE found guilty in co-location scam; asked to pay ₹1,000-cr fine

The IPO was delayed after the NSE’s December 2016 offer document disclosed an independent auditor report stating that its trading system was prone to manipulation and allowed some brokers to gain unfair access from December 2012 to May 2014. The NSE has since closed the loophole, according to the regulators order.

“We are seeking legal advise on the order and all we can say is that the penalty is much bigger than what we anticipated,” Limaye said.

The fine must be paid within 45 days from April 30 to the regulators Investor Protection and Education Fund.

Competition from BSE

The delay led rival Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) to beat the NSE to a listing, raising Rs.1,240 crore through an IPO in February 2017. Still, the NSE –backed by investors including Temasek Holdings Pte and Goldman Sachs Group Inc.– dominates most of the nations equity market trades, handling nearly all derivatives orders and 91 per cent of cash transactions.

Group net income of NSE for the nine months of the financial year from April 2018 rose 22 per cent to Rs 1,340 crore from a year earlier, according to the latest presentation on the exchanges website. Revenue increased 17 per cent to Rs 2,560 crore.

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