Alkem Laboratories Ltd, a generic and specialty drug manufacturer, will open its initial public offering (IPO) next week, making it one of the biggest public market floatations by a drugmaker in India.
Most large public-listed drugmakers floated their IPOs long ago when they were much smaller companies. Two significant proposed IPOs of PE-backed pharma companies Intas and Emcure were withdrawn over the last two years as investors struck secondary PE deals to make way for exits for previous backers.
Alkem has not raised any PE money in the past.
The company had filed its draft red herring prospectus with SEBI in August this year. It had received the approval last month.
Although the firm is yet to finalise a price band, it is expected to raise around Rs 1,500 crore through an offer for sale by its promoters and other public individual shareholders.
Alkem operates in acute and chronic therapeutic segments. It has extensive brand share in central nervous system, anti-diabetic, anti-malarial, cardiovascular, immunosuppressants, nutraceuticals and pain management products. It claims to be the top player in the domestic market for anti-infectives and has a strong position in gastro-intestinal and analgesic segments.
Established in 1973 in Patna, the company is promoted by chairman emeritus Samprada Singh and his family.
Nomura, Axis Capital, JP Morgan and Edelweiss are acting as the bankers for the IPO.
