Equity market defies pandemic blues with record fundraising

Despite the pandemic-induced disruptions, fundraising through the public equity markets reached an all-time high of Rs 1,77,468 crore in 2020. This was 116 per cent higher than Rs 82,241 crore that was raised in calendar 2019.

15 main-board IPOs came to the market collectively raising Rs 26,611 crore. This was an increase of 115 per cent from the Rs 12,362 crore raised through 16 IPOs in 2019.

Activity in this segment further declined in 2020 in comparison to 2019; there were only 27 SME IPOs, which collected a total of Rs 159 crore, in comparison to 51 IPOs in 2019 that collected Rs 624 crore.

FPOs made a comeback after several years. This was primarily on account of the mega YES Bank FPO that raised Rs 15,000 crore. Overall, two companies mobilised Rs 15,054 crore through FPOs.

26 companies mobilised Rs 84,501 crore through QIPs, highest ever in a calendar year. This was 140 per cent higher than Rs 35,238 crore raised in the previous year.