NSE - Corporate Updates

Tablesh Pandey to lead NSE IPO committee plan

The National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) has taken a major step toward going public, as its board approved plans for an initial public offering (IPO) and formed a special IPO committee to oversee the process.

The IPO will be conducted via an offer-for-sale (OFS) route, in which existing shareholders sell their stake rather than the exchange issuing new shares. This approach helps determine NSE’s market valuation while retaining its overall ownership structure.

Former LIC Managing Director Tablesh Pandey has been appointed chairman of the IPO committee, bringing decades of experience in financial management, corporate governance, and regulatory compliance. Pandey is widely respected for his leadership at LIC, India’s largest insurance company, where he successfully steered growth, improved operational efficiency, and strengthened investor trust.

The IPO committee will include NSE’s Managing Director & CEO and public interest directors, ensuring strategic oversight of key steps such as finalizing the issue size, appointing merchant bankers, and preparing the Draft Red Herring Prospectus (DRHP).

A significant milestone for the exchange was the no-objection certificate (NOC) from SEBI, which clears a major regulatory hurdle for the listing. NSE aims to file the DRHP by end of March or early April, subject to audited financial statements and regulatory approvals.

The IPO is expected to unlock shareholder value and increase participation in India’s premier stock exchange. Analysts believe that with Pandey leading the committee, the process will benefit from strong governance, credibility, and smooth execution.

Pandey’s appointment is seen as a signal of the NSE’s commitment to transparency and regulatory compliance, given his proven track record in managing large public-sector financial institutions. Experts expect the IPO to be closely watched by both retail and institutional investors in India.

With the IPO committee now in place under Pandey’s guidance, NSE is on track to achieve a long-awaited listing, marking a major development in India’s capital markets.

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NSE receives SEBI approval for IPO launch

The National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) has finally received approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to proceed with its initial public offering (IPO), ending almost ten years of delays. This clearance allows the exchange to submit its draft prospectus and move toward listing, a significant milestone for India’s capital markets.

NSE first filed for an IPO in 2016, but its plans were stalled amid regulatory scrutiny and legal challenges. The exchange faced allegations regarding co-location facilities and dark fibre services, which reportedly gave select brokers faster access to trading data. Over the years, these issues delayed NSE’s path to listing, even as other Indian exchanges, like BSE, successfully went public.

The recent SEBI approval follows settlement applications submitted by NSE to resolve these long-standing cases. Officials from the regulator had indicated that the NOC would likely be granted after these matters were addressed. With the nod now in hand, NSE is expected to submit the IPO draft prospectus by end of March 2026, with the listing process projected to take six to eight months, potentially making NSE a publicly listed company by late 2026.

Unlike conventional IPOs, NSE’s offering is expected to be an offer-for-sale (OFS). Existing shareholders, including LIC, SBI, and other financial institutions, will sell part of their holdings to the public, meaning the exchange itself will not raise fresh capital from the IPO. This approach allows existing investors to realize part of their gains while introducing NSE shares to retail and institutional investors.

NSE chairperson Srinivas Injeti described SEBI’s approval as “a significant milestone in our growth journey,” highlighting the exchange’s commitment to transparency and market development. Market experts say the IPO will not only enhance NSE’s public profile but also boost investor confidence in India’s capital markets.

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