AIBI Prioritizes Capacity Building in 13th Annual Convention, Launches Transformative Initiatives

Indian IPO market takes centre stage as a global hub

· India emerges as the global hub for IPOs, with over 1000 anticipated IPOs in the next two fiscal years.

· New initiatives unveiled to strengthen India’s capital markets ecosystem and further strengthen merchant banking ecosystem.

Chandigarh, 21 January 2025: The Association of Investment Bankers of India (AIBI) successfully hosted the 13th Annual Convention at the Jio World Convention Centre, Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai. This prestigious event, themed “IPOs in Emerging Global Superpower,” brought together over 1000 delegates, including industry stalwarts, regulators, and market experts, to discuss the pivotal role of IPOs in India’s economic ascent.

Graced by esteemed leaders such as Ms. Madhabi Puri Buch, Chairperson, SEBI, Mr. Ashwani Bhatia, Wholetime Member SEBI, Mr. Manoj Kumar, Executive Director, SEBI, Mr. Ashishkumar Chauhan, MD & CEO, NSE, and Mr. Sundararaman R., MD & CEO, BSE, the convention spotlighted India’s record-breaking IPO achievements and its emergence as a global hub for capital market activity.

Keynote sessions from NSE and BSE leadership underscored the transformative role of stock exchanges in driving economic growth, while an interactive session with the Chairperson of SEBI focused on regulatory innovations shaping India’s IPO ecosystem. Engaging panel discussions explored critical themes, including scaling startups to IPO success, growth opportunities in SME IPOs, enhancing India’s IPO framework for global competitiveness, global benchmarking of IPO diligence, and market trends shaping the future of capital markets.

AIBI unveiled a series of landmark initiatives designed to further strengthen the merchant banking ecosystem and support India’s growing capital markets:

· AIBI 1st Annual Magazine: A publication featuring industry insights, legal updates, and an overview of India’s primary market, along with a report on AIBI’s past and future initiatives.

· SME Manual: A guide to standardising the preparation of offer documents for SME IPOs, developed in consultation with stock exchanges.

· White Paper on Capital Formation: An exploration of India’s journey toward becoming a ten-trillion-dollar economy, highlighting liquidity trends and the role of merchant bankers in economic growth.

· AIBI Membership Database: A tool for tracking merchant banker performance, including operational metrics and transaction track record.

· Certificate Program in Merchant Banking: A six-month residential program in collaboration with NISM to address the growing need of skilled investment banking professionals in merchant banking.

· MOU between AIBI and MBAN: A partnership with the Merchant Bankers Association of Nepal to foster cross-border collaboration.

Elaborating on insights from the 13th Annual Convention, Mr. Mahavir Lunawat, Chairman, AIBI, said, “The initiatives launched at this year’s Convention mark a significant step toward building a robust and future-ready merchant banking ecosystem. New initiatives aim to address critical gaps, such as growing need of skilled professionals and the need for standardising practices. These efforts underscore AIBI’s commitment to fostering innovation, transparency, and cross-border collaboration to support the nation’s ambitious economic growth agenda.”