Business
Lenskart IPO Receives 1.13x On Day 1: Should You Apply? Check GMP, Price, Recommendations
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Lenskart IPO News: On Day 1, the IPO receives a 1.13x subscription. Its retail category receives a 1.32x subscription, while the NII quota gets 0.41x subscription.
Lenskart IPO GMP Today.
Lenskart IPO GMP Today, Lenskart IPO News: Eyewear retailer Lenskart Solutions opened its initial public offer (IPO) today, Friday, October 31. The price band of the Rs 7,278-crore IPO has been fixed in the range of Rs 382-Rs 402 apiece. On the first day of the IPO, its GMP has increased to 18.41% despite high valuation concerns.
On the first day of bidding on Friday, the IPO has been fully subscribed and has received a 1.13x subscription, garnering bids for 11,25,11,487 shares as against the 9,97,42,748 shares on offer. Its retail category has received a 1.32x subscription, while the NII (non-institutional investor) quota has received a 0.41x subscription. The QIB category received a 1.42x subscription.
A day before the IPO, Lenskart Solutions on Thursday garnered a blockbuster response from anchor investors, receiving bids of around Rs 68,000 crore. This is nearly 10 times the issue size of Rs 7,278 crore, and 20 times the anchor book size of more than Rs 3,200 crore.
Lenskart IPO: Opening, Closing, Allotment, Listing Dates
The IPO will be opened on October 31 and closed on November 4. Its allotment will be finalised on November 6, while the stock listing is scheduled to take place on November 10 on both BSE and NSE.
Lenskart IPO GMP Today
According to market observers, unlisted shares of Lenskart Solutions Ltd are currently trading at Rs 476 apiece in the grey market, a GMP of Rs 74 over the upper IPO price of Rs 402. It means a grey market premium (GMP) of 18.41%, indicating decent listing gains for investors.
The GMP is based on market sentiments and keeps changing. ‘Grey market premium’ indicates investors’ readiness to pay more than the issue price.
Lenskart IPO: Brokerage Recommendations
Analysts point towards the high valuation of the company. SBI Securities said that at the upper end of the price band, Lenskart’s valuation stands at 10.1 times its FY25 EV/Sales and 68.7 times EV/EBITDA on a post-issue basis. The IPO comes at a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 230x.
The analysts at SBI Securities cautioned that the issue appears stretched on valuation, which may cap potential listing gains. However, they highlighted the company’s strong business model and the significant growth opportunity in India’s expanding eyewear market as key positives.
The brokerage also noted that profitability metrics will need close monitoring as the company continues to scale its operations. Lenskart’s EBITDA margin has notably improved from 7% in FY23 to 14.7% in FY25, reflecting operational efficiency. Considering the company’s long-term prospects, SBI Securities has recommended subscribing to the IPO for the long term at the cut-off price.
Brokerage firm SIMFS recommends subscribing to the IPO, highlighting the strong growth runway in India’s eyewear market and Lenskart’s tech-enabled business model. It pointed to the company’s “vertically integrated manufacturing ecosystem” and profitability turnaround.
The firm noted that India’s eyewear industry is “poised for exceptional growth… projected to reach Rs 1,483 billion by FY30, clocking a 13% CAGR.” It emphasised Lenskart’s scale advantages, saying the firm produces “30-40 million lenses and 25 million frames annually… eliminating 2.5-4x middlemen markups, enabling 70% gross margins.”
SIMFS recommended that the IPO is a “high-risk, high-potential opportunity” given long-term growth tailwinds and Lenskart’s execution track record.
Choice Broking emphasised the expensive valuation, noting that “at the upper end of its price band, LSL is valued at an EV/Sales of 9.9× (TTM basis), which appears significantly high.” While acknowledging Lenskart’s steady revenue growth and improving store economics, it highlighted that “profitability remains weak, with a positive PAT mainly driven by other income and lower expenses.”
Choice Broking observed that around 40% of revenue now comes from international markets and referenced marquee investor interest, noting Radhakishan Damani’s Rs 90-crore pre-IPO investment.
Given growth prospects but high valuation, the brokerage said the issue “is best suited for investors with a higher risk appetite and a long-term investment horizon,” assigning a ‘Subscribe for Long Term’ rating.
Nirmal Bang highlighted Lenskart’s omnichannel strategy, centralised manufacturing, and technology leverage as core strengths, saying these enable the company “to remain cost competitive in the highly fragmented market” and “scale faster than the industry.”
The brokerage noted strong financial momentum — revenues and EBITDA grew at a CAGR of 32.5% and 92.3% over FY23–25 — and said the company has “become PAT positive in FY25.” However, it flagged valuations, saying, “At FY25 P/E of 235x and EV/EBITDA of 68x, issue prima facie looks expensive.”
Still, when compared with other listed retailers like Metro and Trent, it said valuations “seem fair,” and future expansion plans “provide cushion.” Nirmal Bang recommended subscribing “with long-term view.”
SBI MF Invests Rs 100 Crore In Lenskart
SBI Optimal Equity Fund (AIF) and SBI Emergent Fund (AIF), invested Rs 100 crore in eyewear retailer Lenskart Solutions Limited through a pre-IPO transaction at a transfer price of Rs 402 per equity share.
Last week, Billionaire investor Radhakishan Damani, founder of Avenue Supermarts (DMart), invested around Rs 90 crore in eyewear retailer Lenskart through a pre-IPO transaction.
Lenskart IPO Price Band and Size
The company has fixed the price band at Rs 382-402 per share for its IPO. At the upper end of the price band, Lenskart is seeking a valuation of around $7.91 billion (about Rs 72,700 crore).
The issue includes a fresh issue of shares worth Rs 2,150 crore, while the offer-for-sale (OFS) segment will see promoters and investors offloading more than 12.75 crore equity shares.
Key Selling Shareholders in the OFS
Along with founders and promoters (Peyush Bansal, Neha Bansal, Amit Chaudhary, and Sumeet Kapahi), several major investors are participating in the OFS. These include SoftBank’s SVF II Lightbulb (Cayman), Schroders Capital, PI Opportunities Fund, MacRitchie Investments, Kedaara Capital Fund, and Alpha Wave Ventures.
Notably, Schroders Capital Private Equity Asia (Mauritius) is set to make a complete exit, selling 1.9 crore shares, which represent a 1.13% stake in the company.
About Lenskart
Founded in 2010, Lenskart began as an online eyewear retailer and has since grown into one of India’s leading omnichannel eyewear brands with both online and offline presence. The company was valued at $6.1 billion as of September 2025, according to Tracxn data cited by Reuters.
In June 2025, the company transitioned into a public limited entity — changing its name from Lenskart Solutions Private Limited to Lenskart Solutions Limited after an extraordinary general meeting held on May 30.
Lenskart IPO Lead Managers and Objective
The fresh issue will be used for business expansion, new investments, acquisitions and general corporate purposes.
The IPO will be managed by a consortium of top investment bankers, while the registrar and book-running lead managers will be responsible for allotment and investor coordination.
With strong brand visibility, a robust online-offline model, and solid investor backing, the Lenskart IPO is expected to generate significant interest among both retail and institutional investors.
Haris is Deputy News Editor (Business) at news18.com. He writes on various issues related to personal finance, markets, economy and companies. Having over a decade of experience in financial journalism, Haris h…Read More
Haris is Deputy News Editor (Business) at news18.com. He writes on various issues related to personal finance, markets, economy and companies. Having over a decade of experience in financial journalism, Haris h… Read More
October 31, 2025, 09:33 IST
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Business
Panel questions IndiGo, DGCA babus, gets ‘unconvincing’ replies | India News – The Times of India
New Delhi: IndiGo was quizzed on Wednesday by a parliamentary committee over the misery inflicted on passengers by its mass-cancellation of flights, but it blamed a variety of factors, including system glitch and adverse weather conditions, while DGCA and the aviation ministry parried off criticism of their role in the fiasco.Some committee members termed replies of different stakeholders as “unconvincing” and aimed at washing their hands of the crisis, encapsulated by the response of a govt official that he first came to know of the unfolding ordeal through media reports.The panel, headed by JDU’s Sanjay Jha, decided to wait for the report of an inquiry ordered by DGCA before coming to a conclusion and make its recommendation. It will hold another meeting and is expected to call these stakeholders again. The DGCA-ordered committee was constituted on Dec 5 and was asked to submit its report in 15 days.Captain Sam Thomas, president of Bengaluru-based Airline Pilots Association of India, created flutter at the meeting by alleging corruption in DGCA and was asked by members to refrain from making sweeping allegations without producing evidence. He alleged that one can commit any wrong, but stay safe if he touched right feet.A committee member said IndiGo, which has offered apology for the ordeal, was far from apologetic in its response before the panel. It told the panel that several factors combined to derail its operation, including a glitch in system, which needed rebooting, and adverse weather that had their pilots stuck in different zones.IndiGo was represented by its COO Isidre Porqueras, while officials of Air India, Akasa Air, Spice Jet and Air India Express appeared before the panel as well. Civil aviation secretary Samir Kumar Sinha and top functionaries of other stakeholders were part of the deliberations.Replying to a query, IndiGo said all luggage, except 52 which remained unclaimed, have already been delivered.The panel’s meeting came against the backdrop of the suspicion, subject of investigation, that IndiGo remained resistant to the implementation of guidelines (Flight Duty Time Limitation) that allowed more rest for pilots in line with global norms aimed at ensuring flyers’ safety.It has been accused of engineering the disruption, leveraging its market dominance, to force the ministry to roll back the regulation as implementing it would have required the airline to hire more pilots. Faced with chaos caused triggered by disruption of IndiGo’s operations, DGCA had to relax the implementation of the guidelines.IndiGo management is reported to have denied allegation in meetings with ministry.
Business
Historic Green Milestone: Indian Railways Achieve 99.2% Electrification, Leaves UK, Russia And China Far Behind
New Delhi: Indian Railways has reached a milestone in its journey toward sustainable transportation, achieving electrification of 99.2 per cent of its broad gauge network. This puts India ahead of major rail economies such as the United Kingdom, which stands at 39%, Russia at 52% and China at 82%, according to a press release from the Ministry of Railways.
The achievement brings the country closer than ever to operating a fully electrified railway system. Fourteen railway zones, including Central, Eastern and Northern Railways, have already achieved 100% electrification. In addition, 25 states and union territories have completed electrification across their rail networks.
Data provided in a written reply to the Lok Sabha highlights the rapid pace of this transformation. Between 2014 and 2025, India electrified 46,900 route kilometres, more than double the 21,801 route kilometres completed in the previous six decades.
In the past two years alone, 7,188 route kilometres were electrified in 2023-24 and 2,701 route kilometres in 2024-25.
The environmental benefits of this transition are major. Rail transport emits 89% less CO2 than road transport, and Indian Railways is complementing electrification with renewable energy initiatives. So far, 898 MW of solar power has been commissioned at 2,626 stations, reinforcing India’s commitment to a greener transportation network.
Electrification is advancing consistently across zones. The Central, East Coast, East Central, Eastern, Konkan Railway, Kolkata Metro, North Central Railway, North Eastern Railway, Northern Railway, South Central Railway, South East Central Railway, South Eastern Railway, West Central Railway and Western Railway have achieved full electrification.
Other zones, such as North Western, Southern, Northeast Frontier and South Western Railway, have crossed 95% electrification.
The progress is equally impressive state-wise as well. Most states are fully electrified, while Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka are nearing completion. In the North Eastern region, the broad gauge networks in Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Tripura and Mizoram have been 100% electrified, while Assam stands at 92%, with work underway to complete the remaining sections.
All new rail lines and multi-tracking projects are now being sanctioned with electrification integrated from the beginning. According to the Ministry of Railways, the completion timeline for electrification projects depends on factors such as forest clearances, relocation of utilities, statutory approvals, geological and topographical conditions, law and order situations and climatic constraints, which can affect progress at different project sites.
Beyond expanding connectivity, electrification is central to India’s sustainability agenda. The move to electric rail corridors is helping dramatically cut carbon emissions. For instance, transporting 1 tonne of freight over 1 km emits 101 g of CO2 by road, compared with just 11.5 g by rail, an almost eightfold reduction.
The Indian Railways aims for 100% electrification while contributing to the nation’s goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2030. Every new rail project now includes electrification from the outset, ensuring that India’s railway system grows greener, more efficient and globally competitive.
Shares of U.S. medical supplies giant Medline jumped more than 30% in its debut on the Nasdaq on Wednesday after the biggest initial public offering of the year globally.
The stock opened at $35, up from its $29 IPO price.
The private equity-owned company sold a little over 216 million shares on Tuesday, raising $6.26 billion in an upsized offering that finished off a strong year for new listings and bolstered optimism about the IPO market in 2026. Shares of Medline will trade under the symbol MDLN.
That IPO pricing gives Medline a market value of at least $37 billion, based on the shares listed in its regulatory filings.
“Historically, we’ve done very little advertising, very little marketing, and this gives us a way to amplify our voice and actually expand really the receptivity of who we are,” Medline CEO Jim Boyle told CNBC’s “Squawk Box” earlier Wednesday. “We are the largest company you’ve never heard of, and we happen to be everywhere. And that’s a really interesting thing.”
The U.S. IPO market has held steady despite market volatility in the spring, driven by President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs, and the longest U.S. government shutdown in history in the fall. Just over 200 IPOs have priced this year, including Medline, which is the largest U.S. listing since Rivian‘s $13.7 billion deal in November 2021, according to data compiled by CNBC.
But Medline’s IPO is also among the biggest private equity-backed listings. Three private equity firms — Blackstone, Carlyle and Hellman & Friedman — acquired a majority stake in the company in 2021 for a whopping $34 billion. At the time, the deal was the biggest leveraged buyout since the financial crisis.
CEO Jim Boyle celebrates with others as medical supplies giant Medline (MDLN) holds it’s IPO at the Nasdaq stock market site in Times Square in New York, Dec. 17, 2025.
Shannon Stapleton | Reuters
Medline, founded in 1966, is based in Northfield, Illinois. The company manufactures and distributes roughly 335,000 different medical and surgical supplies — from gloves, masks and scalpels to wheelchairs. Medline has customers in more than 100 countries and, as of the end of 2024, employed more than 43,000 workers worldwide.
Medline’s total debt was around $16.8 billion as of late September 2025. The company raked in $25.5 billion in net sales in 2024.
Medline’s earlier plans to go public this year were postponed due to uncertainty around tariffs affecting products from Asia. The majority of the company’s products are sourced or manufactured in Asian nations, particularly China.
Medline expects a $150 million to $200 million hit from tariffs to income before taxes in fiscal 2026.
The company competes with names like McKesson and Cardinal Health.
— CNBC’s Gina Francolla contributed to this report
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