What is QIP - Meaning, Process and Benefits

Vedanta recently announced it plans to raise Rs 8500 crore via QIP. Eventually, the company received a bid for Rs 23,000 crore. What does QIP mean, and why do companies use this method to raise money? To know the answers to these questions, continue reading the blog.

What is a QIP?

Qualified Institutional Placement is a fundraising tool used by companies to raise capital by issuing equity shares or fully convertible debentures that are convertible to equity shares. The concept was introduced in India in 2006. Since then, companies have been using it to raise capital.

QIPs are typically offered to Qualified Institutional Buyers (QIBs), which include mutual funds, pension funds, venture capital funds, and other institutional investors.

Companies issue shares in IPO also, so how is it different? You will understand as you read along.

How does QIP work?

Here is all you need to know about the working of QIP:

Eligibility

• Only listed companies can use QIP to raise capital. As mentioned above, QIBs are eligible to participate in the offering.

Process

• A company that wants to raise funds via QIP will first appoint an investment banker to manage the process.
• The banker will evaluate the company's health and determine how much capital it can or should raise. A document is created that has details like the issue price, the number of shares offered, and the purpose of raising funds.
• Once created, the document is circulated among QIBs, and then QIBs submit their bid.
• The company, in consultation with the investment bankers, allocates the shares or securities based on the bids received.

Advantages and Disadvantages of QIP

Still, wondering why companies opt for this route?

Advantages of QIP:

• Faster Capital Raising: Processes like IPO and FPO are time-consuming processes. QIP gives companies a faster and more streamlined process to raise capital compared to traditional methods.
• Reduced Costs: The costs associated with QIP are lower compared to IPOs/FPOs as the marketing and regulatory requirements are less strict.
• Targeted Audience: By focusing on institutional investors, companies can access large pools of capital efficiently.

Disadvantages of QIP:

• Small Investor Base: QIPs are only for QIBs, and retail investors cannot be part of it. It can limit the investor pool and amount raised.
• Market Dependency: The QIP's success depends on prevailing market conditions. QIBs are less likely to invest large sums of money if the market sentiments are not positive and there is significant volatility. In such situations, the company may not be able to raise the money it intends to raise.
• Dilution Concern: When new shares are issued under the QIP process, there is a possibility of dilution of ownership stake of existing shareholders - a reduction in voting rights and control over the company.
• Discount on Offer Price: To attract QIBs, companies can offer new shares at a discount to the prevailing market price. This discount can also put downward pressure on the share price.

Regulations for Qualified Institutional Placement

Though less stringent than IPOs, QIPs are still subject to regulations by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). SEBI ensures companies meet specific financial criteria and provides investor protection guidelines. Here is a quick summary of the regulations:

• Only listed companies can come to QIP
• Only QIBs can participate in QIP
• The issuing company needs to prepare a placement document that has all the details related to the issue - size, type of security, issue price, purpose, financial performance, risks, etc.
• The placement document is only circulated among qualified institutional buyers. Public disclosure through advertisements is not permitted.
• Investors may be subject to a lock-in period where they cannot sell the allotted securities for a specified time. It helps to ensure long-term investment by QIBs.

How is QIP different from QIB?

By now, you would have already figured out that the two are different. However, we would still like to sum up the difference so it is clearer to you.

Conclusion

QIP offers a valuable mechanism for companies to raise capital, but it's not without limitations. Companies should carefully weigh the advantages and disadvantages, considering factors like market conditions and the potential impact on existing shareholders before opting for a QIP offering. Retail investors should keep themselves educated on the QIP process and track if companies they are invested in are coming with QIP. At what prices - is it lower than market price? We already covered what happens in such a case!