D-Mart’s Blockbuster IPO: 5 Things You Need To Know

Avenue Supermarts Ltd, the parent company of supermarket retail chain D-Mart, made a stunning debut on Dalal Street more than doubling in value from its issue price. The stock listed at 600 rupees on the National Stock Exchange on Tuesday compared with a price band of 295- 299 rupees. It touched as much as 648.90 rupees during trade while ending the day about 8 percent higher from its list price. The company now has a market capitalisation of 40,000 crore rupees. Here are five things you need to know.

IPO FINE PRINT

Avenue Supermarts hit Dalal Street earlier in the month looking to raise 1,870 crore rupees. The issue which had a price band of 295 to 299 rupees was subscribed 104.48 times.

RETAIL DETAIL

The company runs 118 outlets across 45 cities under its D-Mart brand offering items from food to apparel and general merchandise. D-Mart plans to deepen its store network in southern and western India and gradually expand to other parts of the country. The company targets densely-populated residential areas with a majority of lower-middle, middle and aspiring upper-middle class consumers.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

The company generated revenue of 8,784 crore rupees on profit after tax of 387.4 crore rupees for nine months ended Dec. 31, 2016, according to its prospectus. It generates majority of its sales from its stores in Maharashtra and Gujarat.

STREET CRED

Private equity firm General Atlantic and Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund GIC are said to be some of the anchor investors of the issue. Anchor investors are institutional investors who accept a one-month lock in for a sizeable allocation of shares. Their participation signals investor confidence in the company.

PROMOTERS

D-Mart is owned and operated by Avenue Supermarts Ltd,– a company founded by Radhakishan Damani. Damani is a veteran investor based in Mumbai and is also considered a mentor to billionaire investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala. Forbes pegged Damani’s net worth as $2.3 billion on Monday. He holds a range of other investments, from tobacco firm VST industries to cement maker India Cements.