Difference Between NFO and IPO

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Every investor’s goal is to make their idle money grow through different financial instruments. Markets present myriad choices to invest with varying timespans and expected returns. Two of the popular choices in this regard are IPO and NFO. Many investors presume that Initial Public Offering (IPO) and New Fund Offer (NFO) are primary market offerings and represent similar investment opportunities and confuse the two concepts. These are different investments with different concepts, and it is crucial to understand the difference between NFO and IPO clearly.

What is an IPO?

An initial Public Offering (IPO) is a process through which a company raises funds from the primary market to grow its business. Companies offer their shares for the first time to the public through IPO and get listed on the stock exchanges.

The company's status changes from a privately owned company to a publicly owned company after issuing its IPO.

An IPO issue can be aimed at:

  • Accumulating capital for further investments in the company or repaying the debts.
  • Liquidating stakes of founders and promoters of the company.
  • Once the IPO shares are issued to the public, they get listed on the stock exchanges and are available for trading in the stock market, just like other listed shares.

What is an NFO?

A New Fund Offer (NFO) refers to how an asset management company (AMC) offers a new fund to the public. In other words, an NFO is a new fund offering where AMCs or fund houses announce new mutual fund schemes to accumulate capital from the public. AMCs use this money to buy financial securities, including equities, bonds , etc. based on the asset allocation scheme of the fund.

AMCs launch a new mutual fund during the NFO. They offer NFOs for a particular number of days, and investors can grab the opportunity during this period at a stipulated price called the offer price.

Differences between IPO and NFO

Here are the key points to understand the difference between IPO and NFO:

    ParametersIPONFO
    The IssuerIPOs are issued by companies aimed at raising funds. IPO is for issuing of new shares.An AMC (Asset Management Company) or a fund house launches NFO to raise capital. NFO is for a new mutual fund scheme launch.
    Fund UsageCompanies use the raised funds for business growth or reduce the promotor's stake in the ownership.AMCs simply use the funds to invest in various financial securities.
    Valuation
    • - Price-to-earnings and price-to-book ratios are critical for a company's valuation and IPO offer price.
    • - A high valuation can increase the IPO price
    • - NFOs do not require valuation like IPOs, as the money collected is invested in the market and split into fund units
    • - Fund houses launch NFOs at a face value of Rs.10. However, the NAV of the scheme is based on the prevailing market conditions
    Listing Gains
    • IPO stocks give the opportunity to investors of listing gains as well as profits from trading on formal stock exchanges.
    • There are no listing gains for investors
    How to Invest
    • Demat accounts are essential to apply in IPO
    • Investors can visit the fund houses/distributors' official websites to apply in NFO.

    Conclusion

    Thus, investors can benefit from financial markets in multiple ways and explore new investments, like New Fund Offers (NFOs). IPOs and NFOs can help investors build wealth with different approaches. Get clarity on NFO and IPO differences and make an informed decision. Be clear with the fund objectives and risk levels before you plan to invest in either of the two.

    Investments in the securities market are subject to market risk, read all the related documents carefully before investing

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