Post by : Badri Ariffin

Orkla India made a modest entry into the stock market on Thursday, opening nearly 3 percent above its issue price — a softer debut than anticipated by investors and grey market trends.

The company’s shares were listed at ₹750.10 apiece on the National Stock Exchange (NSE), reflecting a 2.75% premium over the upper price band of ₹730 per share. On the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), the stock opened slightly higher at ₹751.50, up 2.95%.

The ₹1,667-crore initial public offering (IPO) had seen strong investor demand, being subscribed 48.73 times during October 29–31. The issue price band was fixed between ₹695 and ₹730 per share, with the company also raising around ₹500 crore from anchor investors ahead of the public offer.

At the time of listing, Orkla India’s market capitalization stood at approximately ₹10,294.74 crore. Despite the solid fundamentals and brand recognition, the debut fell short of expectations, as grey market indicators had pointed to possible listing gains of around 9 percent.

Formerly known as MTR Foods, Orkla India is a diversified packaged food company with a strong presence in southern India. It operates across categories like spices, ready-to-eat meals, sweets, and breakfast mixes, under household brands such as MTR, Rasoi Magic, and Eastern.

While the listing lacked fireworks, investors continue to view Orkla India as a well-established player in India’s fast-growing convenience food segment — a space expected to see strong growth in the years ahead.

#Global