Sai Life Sciences IPO Opens: Key Highlights and Should You Subscribe?

Sai Life Sciences IPO opens at ₹522-₹549 per share to raise ₹3,042.62 crore. Explore its valuation, financial performance, and expert recommendations for long-term investors.

The Sai Life Sciences IPO opened for subscription on December 11, 2024, with a price band of ₹522-₹549 per share. The offering includes a fresh issue of ₹950 crore and an offer for sale (OFS) of ₹2,092.62 crore. The IPO will close on December 13, 2024, with shares set to list on the BSE and NSE on December 18, 2024.

IPO Details

  • Issue Size: ₹3,042.62 crore
  • Price Band: ₹522-₹549 per share
  • Lot Size: Minimum 27 shares
  • Reservation:
    • 50% for Qualified Institutional Buyers (QIBs)
    • 15% for Non-Institutional Investors (NIIs)
    • 35% for Retail Investors

Sai Life Sciences: Business Overview

Incorporated in 1999, Sai Life Sciences is a leading Contract Research, Development, and Manufacturing Organization (CRDMO) specializing in small-molecule new chemical entities. The company operates globally, serving clients in the US, UK, Europe, and Japan, including 18 of the top 25 pharmaceutical companies by revenue.


Financial Highlights

  • FY24 Performance:
    • Revenue: ₹6,500 crore
    • Operating Margins: 19%
    • ROE: 8.5%
    • ROCE: 11.6%
  • H1 FY25:
    • Revenue: ₹693.35 crore
    • Net Profit: ₹28.01 crore

The company has shown strong growth, with a CAGR of 29.8% in revenue, 53.4% in EBITDA, and 264.7% in PAT between FY22 and FY24.


Use of Proceeds

  • Debt Repayment/Prepayment: ₹720 crore
  • General Corporate Purposes

Debt reduction is expected to lower finance costs by ₹56 crore annually, boosting profitability.


Anchor Investors

Sai Life Sciences raised ₹912.78 crore from marquee anchor investors, including:

  • Fidelity
  • BlackRock
  • Goldman Sachs
  • Morgan Stanley

Expert Opinions

SBI Securities

  • Rating: Subscribe (Long-Term)
  • Analysis: Strong financial growth with potential for improved profitability post debt repayment.

Swastika Investmart

  • Rating: Cautious
  • Analysis: High valuation and significant OFS reduce direct benefits to the company.

Nirmal Bang Securities

  • Rating: Subscribe (Long-Term)
  • Analysis: Operational margin improvements and strong R&D investments provide growth potential.

StoxBox

  • Rating: Subscribe
  • Analysis: High P/E of 121.2x but favorable industry trends make it attractive for medium to long-term investors.

Aditya Birla Capital

  • Rating: Subscribe (Long-Term)
  • Analysis: Positioned to benefit from supply chain diversification trends and growing demand in the pharmaceutical sector.

Industry and Valuation

  • Valuation: P/E of 121.2x at the upper price band.
  • Peer Comparison: Sai Life Sciences has lower operating margins than peers but potential to improve through R&D and operational excellence.

Should You Subscribe?

Why You Should Subscribe:

  1. Strong Financial Growth: Demonstrated robust revenue and profit growth in recent years.
  2. Global Presence: Established client base, including top pharmaceutical companies.
  3. Debt Reduction: Proceeds from the IPO will lower finance costs, boosting profitability.
  4. Favorable Industry Trends: Positioned to benefit from global supply chain diversification.

Cautionary Factors:

  • High valuation compared to peers.
  • Significant proportion of OFS, reducing direct company benefits.

Conclusion

 

Sai Life Sciences IPO presents an attractive opportunity for long-term investors due to its strong growth trajectory, global presence, and favorable industry dynamics. However, the high valuation may pose a concern for short-term investors.

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