Brainbees Solutions, the corporate entity behind the popular online e-commerce platform FirstCry, has officially submitted its application for an initial public offering (IPO) to the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) on December 28.
Brainbees Solutions IPO: KeyHighlights
· Brainbees Solutions, the parent company of FirstCry, has submitted IPO papers to SEBI, planning to raise Rs 1,816 crore through a primary issue.
· Existing investors, including Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M), SoftBank, and others, will collectively sell 5.44 crore shares via an Offer for Sale (OFS).
· The funds raised will be utilized for opening new stores, warehouses, and international expansion, as per the Draft Red Herring Prospectus (DRHP).
· Notable stakeholders like M&M, SoftBank, Apricot Investments, Valiant Mauritius, TIMF, Think India Opportunities Fund, Schroders, and PI Opportunities are set to sell stakes in FirstCry.
As outlined in the Draft Red Herring Prospectus (DRHP), the Pune-based company aims to generate Rs 1,816 crore through a primary issue. Additionally, existing investors, including automotive giant Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M), private equity firms such as TPG and NewQuest Asia, and technology conglomerate SoftBank, are set to collectively sell 5.44 crore shares in Brainbees through an Offer for Sale (OFS).
M&M to Sell 0.58% Stake in Brainbees Solutions
In a strategic move, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd (M&M) plans to divest a 0.58 percent stake, equivalent to 28 lakh shares, in Brainbees Solutions.
Notably, FirstCry is gearing up to raise approximately Rs 4,200 crore through its IPO, with 60 percent allocated for the Offer for Sale (OFS) component and the remaining for the primary phase. The company is expected to make its market debut in 2024.
Investors to Offload Shares for Expansion and International Growth
According to the DRHP, the funds garnered from the IPO will be utilized for the expansion of new stores and warehouses, as well as to fuel international growth.
Diverse Stakeholders Participating in the OFS
The DRHP reveals a lineup of diverse stakeholders participating in the OFS, including M&M and SoftBank, alongside Apricot Investments, Valiant Mauritius, TIMF, Think India Opportunities Fund, Schroders, and PI Opportunities.
SoftBank, in particular, is set to offload 2.03 crore shares in an effort to adjust its holdings in the e-commerce giant following a recent sale of shares worth Rs 630 crore.
Financial Snapshot and Potential Challenges
FirstCry’s consolidated net loss experienced a sixfold increase from Rs 79 crore in FY22 to Rs 486 crore in FY23, as per regulatory filings. However, its consolidated revenue witnessed a substantial surge of 135 percent to reach Rs 5,633 crore, placing the SoftBank-backed company among the rare startups with revenues exceeding Rs 5,000 crore.
The selling price of shares will be determined in consultation with the Book Running Lead Managers once the IPO’s price band is established. Notable lead managers for FirstCry include Kotak, Morgan Stanley, Bofa Securities, JM Financial, and Avendus.
Ratan Tata’s Divestment in FirstCry IPO
Renowned industrialist Ratan Tata, an early investor in FirstCry since 2016, is set to divest his entire holding of 77,900 shares in Brainbees Solutions Ltd through the IPO. Tata’s initial investment of Rs 66 lakh secured him preference shares in the company.
In summary, Brainbees Solutions’ IPO is poised to be a significant financial event, attracting a diverse set of investors and paving the way for the expansion and global reach of FirstCry.
Source- moneycontrol.com
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