Vishal Mega Mart said to pick Kotak, ICICI Bank for mega IPO: Report

By Baiju Kalesh

Indian supermarket chain Vishal Mega Mart Pvt. has picked banks as it presses ahead with a planned initial public offering in Mumbai this year, according to people familiar with the matter.

Vishal Mega Mart chose banks including Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd., ICICI Bank Ltd and Jefferies Financial Group Inc. to help arrange a share sale as early as in the fourth quarter of this year, the people said, asking not to be identified because the deliberations are private. It is owned by private equity firms Partners Group Holding AG and Kedaara Capital, and the IPO would allow them to pare their stakes, the people said.

 

Other banks are likely to be added to work on the IPO, the people said. The Gurugram-based company could raise between $850 million to $1 billion in the offering, they said. 

Representatives for Kedaara, Partners Group, ICICI and Jefferies declined to comment, while Kotak and Vishal Mega Mart did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Partners Group, based in Switzerland, and India-focused private equity firm Kedaara bought Vishal Mega Mart from investment firm TPG Capital in 2018 for an undisclosed amount. Vishal Mega Mart offers a private label, fashion and general merchandise, and food and groceries.

India has turned into a booming market for deals including IPOs as global investors seek to tap its growth potential. Automakers, electric-scooter makers and information technology companies are among those considering IPOs this year.
 

(Disclaimer: Entities controlled by the Kotak family have a significant holding in Business Standard Pvt Ltd)