NSE IPO: Five PSU Shareholders to Offload 2.37 Crore Shares

The National Stock Exchange (NSE) is moving closer to its historic market debut with the filing of its Draft Red Herring Prospectus (DRHP) with SEBI. This massive public offering is set to become one of India’s largest IPOs, as several major public sector undertakings (PSUs) prepare to monetize their significant stakes.

Major PSU Divestments in the Offer for Sale

The proposed NSE IPO is structured entirely as an Offer for Sale (OFS) of up to 14.89 crore equity shares, representing approximately 6% of the exchange's paid-up equity capital. A significant portion of this sale involves five prominent government-owned entities that will collectively offload 2.37 crore shares.

According to the DRHP, the breakdown of the PSU share sale is as follows:

Interestingly, while these PSUs are reducing their holdings, other major investors like Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), Premji Invest (2.35% stake), and Radhakishan Damani (1.58% stake) will not be participating in the sale and will retain their current positions.

Valuation and Market Impact

With an estimated unlisted market valuation of around Rs 5 lakh crore, the NSE IPO is expected to be worth approximately Rs 30,000 crore. This would position it as a landmark listing in the Indian capital markets. Once listed, NSE's shares will appear on the BSE, mirroring the existing arrangement between the two major exchanges.

The journey to this listing has been long; the process initially began in December 2016 but faced significant delays, notably due to the co-location controversy. This filing marks a pivotal step toward finally bringing the nation's largest exchange to the public domain.

Financial Performance and Global Dominance

Despite recent regulatory shifts, NSE remains a financial powerhouse. The exchange's revenue from operations climbed to Rs 16,601 crore in FY26, up from Rs 14,780 crore in FY24. While the profit after tax saw a 15% year-on-year dip to Rs 10,302 crore in FY26—partly due to tighter SEBI regulations on equity derivatives—the exchange continues to be a massive cash generator, paying dividends of Rs 35 per share in both FY25 and FY26.

Globally, NSE maintains a dominant position. According to the World Federation of Exchanges, it remains the world's largest equity derivatives exchange, having traded over 36.99 billion contracts during fiscal 2026. Its technological prowess is equally impressive, processing an average of 12 to 14 billion messages daily.

Key Takeaways