MUMBAI: The direct to home (DTH) arm of Videocon group, Videocon d2h has decided to withdraw its Rs 700 crore Initial Public Offer (IPO) proposal since the company is looking to start the process afresh.
In September 2014, the company had decided to file draft offer documents with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). However, Videocon d2h, through its lead banker Axis Capital, withdrew the documents on 27 March.
Meanwhile, Videocon d2h executive director Saurabh Dhoot along with Silver Eagle chairman and CEO Harry Sloan will visit the Nasdaq Market Site in Times Square and will ring the Opening Bell 7 April at 9:15 am to 9:30 am ET (6:45 pm IST).
The operator had completed its initial listing on the Nasdaq Global Select Market through a business combination transaction with Silver Eagle Acquisition Corp, which is founded by Harry Sloan and Jeff Sagansky, pursuant to which Silver Eagle contributed approximately $273.3 million to Videocon d2h in exchange for equity shares of the operator which was represented by American Depositary Shares (ADSs), which were distributed to Silver Eagle's stockholders. Public trading of the Videocon d2h ADSs on Nasdaq under the ticker ‘VDTH’ commenced at the opening of trading on 1 April this year.
On the day of the opening, the approximately $37.75 million Videocon d2h ADSs issued to Silver Eagle stockholders were valued at approximately $453 million based on the opening price of $12 per ADS on Nasdaq. Silver Eagle's capital infusion in the operator represents one of the largest platform investment deals in Indian media by US investors.
Sloan based on reports had stated that US investor interest in the transaction has been strong as it affords US investors the opportunity to participate early in the US listing of Videocon d2h. “It is the fastest growing DTH Pay-TV operator in India and the fastest growing pay TV market in the world. Beyond this very significant organic growth, we will be exploring numerous possibilities for the company to expand as a force in India's developing media business," Sloan had remarked.
The regulator SEBI in February, had decided to keep the processing of the company's offer document in "abeyance" following a request made by Videocon d2h in this regard. The company was looking at garnering Rs 50 crore through a pre-IPO placement of its shares to institutional investors, according to media reports. The funds were to be used for acquiring set-top boxes (STBs), outdoor units and accessories thereof, repayment/prepayment of certain indebtedness and general corporate purposes. In December 2012 too it had filed draft documents under the name 'Bharat Business Channel' with Sebi to raise Rs 700 crore through an IPO. But the company did not launch the same due to bad market conditions.
