PUBLIC ISSUES – VALUATION THAT MATTERS, NOT MERCHANT BANKERS

The government, stung by the poor response to stake sale in NTPC, REC and NMDC has decided to review the performance of the investment bankers in the earlier issues managed by them, before it gives them the mandate. Under the new rules being considered, 70% Weightage for quality aspects and 30% for transaction fees. Currently, the merchant bankers are selected purely based on bids. Again, the thinking of the government on the above matters is off the track. Although the credibility and reputation of the merchant bankers are required, you cannot sell an issue on that alone. Pricing and valuation are very important.

UBS Securities, CITI group global, Edelweiss Capital, Kotak Mahindra Capital, Morgan Stanely, managed NMDC FPO. These private merchant bankers are reputed and have good track record in issue management. However, the FPO of NMDC got poor response and had to be bailed out by government controlled financial institutions. As compared to that, in the same week NMDC FPO opened for public, SBI capital Markets Limited, a public sector out fit, managed the public issue of DQ international which was over subscribed by 86 times. There was nothing wrong with the timing of NMDC issue. Then what went wrong? Definitely, there was some thing wrong with the pricing. NMDC FPO issue had all the plus points – operating margin is in excess of 75%, net profit margin of 51% and RNOW is around 40%. Zero Debt Company. Healthy dividend pay out record. The bonus component in the capital is 66.66%. However, the investor response to the issue was poor. In the FY 2010-11, government plans to mobilize Rs 40,000cr from disinvestment. The valuations of the issues have to be attractive to get good investor response. Government should think on this aspect instead of blaming the merchant bankers.

Other than preparing a quality offer document and giving sound investment advice, the strength and capability of all the merchant bankers, so far as attracting/inducing the investors for subscription for an issue, are the same. I don't think that there is any merchant banker in the country, who can sell an issue, only on his strength, irrespective of valuations and market conditions.