July 30: Twenty-one companies are preparing to float a total of 53.8 million units of shares in the stock market soon. The companies are getting ready to issue 33.5 million units of shares in Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) and 23.2 million units in Follow-on Public Offerings (FPOs). Out of the 21 companies, 19 have sought permission from the Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON) while two – Pokhara Finance and Nepal Hydro Developer – have already received share issuance permission.

Till date, 21 companies have been permitted by the securities market regulator to issue 54.1 million units of shares worth Rs 12.74 billion. The two companies that have received the permission are yet to issue the shares to the general public.

Pokhara Finance has been permitted to issue 983,682 units of share in FPO at the rate of Rs 220 (Rs 100 minimum and Rs 120 premium) per unit. Likewise, Nepal Hydro Developer has been permitted to float 390,000  units of shares in IPO.

Among the 19 companies seeking permission to issue shares, five have applied for FPO while the remaining 14 the applicants for IPO. Premier Insurance, Butwal Power, Bank of Kathmandu, Nepal Gramin Bikas Bank and NMB Bank are the companies to issue shares in FPOs. Meanwhile, hydropower companies lead the pack of companies preparing to issue shares in IPOs. Twelve of the 14 companies interested in issuing shares in IPOs are hydropower companies.

The process of buying of shares has become convenient after SEBON adopted Applications Supported by Blocked Amount (ASBA) System. Also, the mandatory provision to issue 10 units of shares is likely to encourage small investors to buy shares.