A wave of offer-for-sale (OFS)-heavy IPOs has sharpened investor focus on seller intent versus growth capital. Veteran investor Madhusudan Kela lays down a simple rule of thumb: prefer IPOs where meaningful primary issuance funds future growth; be cautious when OFS dominates and pricing leaves little on the table.
Kela’s stance centers on capital allocation quality, governance, and long-term compounding. When proceeds mainly go to existing shareholders, investors should scrutinize business visibility, promoter discipline, and valuation headroom. In contrast, primary capital deployed to capex, technology, talent, or market expansion can unlock durable earnings. He also flags the importance of post-listing supply dynamics, anchor quality, and realistic guidance, urging investors to resist momentum if fundamentals don’t justify it.
Notable updates
• OFS-heavy deals raise questions on seller intent and valuation discipline
• Prefer IPOs with clear primary capital use: growth capex, tech, or market expansion
• Assess governance, capital allocation track record, and earnings visibility
• Watch post-listing supply: anchor mix, lock-in expiries, and delivery data
• Avoid momentum traps; insist on margin of safety and long-term compounding potential
Major takeaway
In an OFS-heavy market, Kela’s rule is crisp: chase growth capital and governance, not exits and hype—price, purpose, and prudence matter most.
Sources: Moneycontrol, Economic Times, CNBC-TV18, Mint