"The present system of grading requires to be amended. Even the performance of nine IPOs that were given four grades out of five (highest) is worse than those graded at three points," said Jagannadham Thunuguntla, equity head of Nexgen Capitals.
Zee News Dec 17, 2008 Mandatory Ipo Grading To Continue Sebi
1. Mandatory IPO grading to continue: SEBI
NEW DELHI: Market regulator SEBI has decided to continue with the mandatory grading of
initial public offers, amid doubts on the relevance of the
present system as the gradings do not reflect in the performance of these issues in the markets.
In the absence of sufficient experience to vouch for the current system of mandatory grading or
to counter it, the SEBI Board earlier this month decided to maintain the status quo, a source close
to the development said.
quot;We have decided to maintain a status quo -- that is to continue to have a mandatory grading for
IPOs,quot; the source said.
The decision was taken as members of the Primary Market Advisory Committee (PMAC) felt
that it is too early to come to a conclusion on the effectiveness of the present policy of mandatory
IPO grading, the source added.
However, many analysts believe that mandatory grading requires amendment since grading does
not reflect in the performance of issues in the market.
quot;The present system of grading requires to be amended. Even the performance of nine IPOs that
were given four grades out of five (highest) is worse than those graded at three points,quot; said
Jagannadham Thunuguntla, equity head of Nexgen Capitals.
The market regulator should change the grading system suitably to help small investors take
suitable decisions on investing in IPOs, he added.
SEBI had made grading mandatory for all IPOs where draft offer documents were to be filed
with the regulator on or after May 1, 2007, and made issuers responsible for the cost of grading.
Since then, about 100 IPOs have been graded by credit rating agencies. It was decided that the
decision would be reviewed, based on the experience gained.