Mukka Proteins gets Sebi nod to float IPO Mukka Proteins, which manufactures fish meal, fish oil, and fish soluble paste, has received capital markets regulator Sebi’s go-ahead to raise funds through an initial public offering (IPO). The IPO is an entirely fresh issue of up to 8 crore equity shares, according to the draft red herring prospectus (DRHP). In Sebi’s parlance, obtaining an observation letter means the regulator’s nod to float the public issue. Going by the draft papers, the company proposes to utilize up to Rs 120 crore towards working capital requirements, up to Rs 10 crore for investment in its associate, Ento Proteins Pvt Ltd, for funding its working capital requirements besides a portion will be used for general corporate purposes. According to market sources, the IPO size could be anywhere between Rs 175 crore and Rs 200 crore. The Mangaluru-based company manufactures fish meal, fish oil, and fish soluble paste, an essential ingredient in the manufacturing of aqua feed (for fish and shrimp), poultry feed (for broiler and layer), and pet food (dog and cat food). It has six manufacturing facilities, of which two are held through its foreign subsidiary, Ocean Aquatic Proteins LLC, which is based in Oman and four are located in India. Additionally, the company runs five storage facilities and three blending facilities in India. Mukka Proteins’ revenue from operations rose 27.60 per cent to Rs 770.50 crore in fiscal 2022, from Rs 603.83 crore in fiscal 2021 and profit after tax (PAT) surged 134.50 per cent to Rs 25.82 crore in the period under review, from Rs 11.01 crore in the preceding fiscal. Fedex Securities is the sole book-running lead manager. The equity shares are proposed to be listed on the BSE and NSE. Earlier, the firm had filed its draft papers with the regulator in March 2022. However, the company shelved its IPO plans at that time and withdrew its draft papers.
Logistics, good or bad, are driven by the states and the commerce ministry has a LEADS (Logistics Ease Across Different States) report, based on perceptions. The 2023 version was released in December. Since states are heterogenous, in the reporting, they are divided into four groups—coastal, landlocked, north-east, and UTs. States that do well are called achievers. Nomenclature matters. Thus, states that are middling aren’t called average. They are called fast movers. States that are sub-par are called aspirers. Let me highlight coastal states, since 75% of export cargo is estimated to originate from them. Among coastal states, ones that do well are Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. The ones that lag are Goa, Odisha, and West Bengal. While India’s logistics performance may have improved over time, that’s not true of every state. Some have slipped. Most states have a state-level logistics policy, including Goa and Odisha. West Bengal, bottom of the pecking order in the coastal category, doesn’t have one. To quote from LEADS 2023, “Looking ahead, the State (West Bengal) could benefit from formulating a State Logistics Master Plan and State Logistics Policy to drive efficiency improvements and facilitate investments within the logistics sector and undertake consultation with the logistics stakeholders for educating and informing them about the initiatives State is undertaking for the development and improvement of logistics sector.”
Logistics has been talked about for a long time and India has also focused on improving performance. We are now getting some precise data on measurement and quantification. That helps.
Bibek Debroy, chairman, EAC-PM. Views are personal.