BSE’s Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) platform seems to be generating significant interest from investors with as many as 214 firms filing draft papers to raise funds through IPOs since the launch of the segment, nearly five years ago.

Out of 214 companies, 183 of them are already listed and have raised Rs 1,440 crore from the market. Currently, these firms have a market capitalisation of Rs 18,832 crore.

Of these 183 firms listed on BSE SME platform, 29 have migrated to BSE main board. Asia’s oldest bourse is the leader in this segment with more that 80 per cent market share.

Moreover, a total of 26 SMEs are expected to launch their initial public offerings soon.

BSE had launched its SME platform in March 2012 and since then, several companies have got listed on them and some have even shifted to the main board.

The platform provides opportunity to SME entrepreneurs to raise equity capital for growth and expansion. It also provides immense opportunity for investors to identify and invest in good SMEs at an early stage.

“BSE SME has become the first SME platform in India where 214 companies have filed their prospectus for getting listed,” the exchange said in a statement issued today.

Indian SME sector has emerged as a highly vibrant and dynamic sector of the economy over the past few years. SMEs not only play crucial role in providing large employment opportunities at comparatively lower capital cost than large industries but also help in industrialisation of rural areas.

Source: Times of India