India beauty-focussed portal Nykaa seeks $4b valuation for IPO

Mumbai: India's Nykaa is preparing to file for an initial public offering (IPO) that could value the startup at more than $4 billion. The country's top e-commerce company for beauty, founded by Falguni Nayar, is aiming to file its draft red herring prospectus (or DRHP), within the next few days.

It plans to sell just more than 10 per cent of the equity, which could raise $400 million or more. India's technology industry has turned white hot this year, with startups raising record amounts of venture capital and a flurry of IPO. The food-delivery app Zomato became the nation's first unicorn to make its stock-market debut this month, raising $1.3 billion. Its shares have soared more than 75 per cent, giving the money-losing business a valuation of $14 billion.

The online insurance platform Policybazaar, backed by Japan's SoftBank Group, is also expected to file its draft red herring prospectus in the coming days, with a more than a dozen technology startups aiming for IPOs through next year.

Nykaa, founded in 2012 by former investment banker Nayar, has grown into India's top destination for beauty products with its own chain of physical outlets and $250 million in revenue last year. Its investors include TPG and Fidelity. The company was last valued at $1.2 billion, according to CB Insights, but it's difficult to estimate its current worth given the rapidly changing market.

The startup and its investors have discussed a valuation of $4 billion or more, and anticipate its fast-growing revenue will be appealing to investors. Nykaa had targeted a valuation of $3 billion or more.