Wakefit IPO makes flat debut

Bengaluru-based home and sleep solutions company Wakefit Innovations Ltd made a muted debut on the stock exchanges on Monday, with its shares listing flat to marginally below the IPO issue price, reflecting a lukewarm investor response.

On the National Stock Exchange (NSE), Wakefit shares debuted at Rs 195 apiece, exactly at the upper end of the IPO price band. Meanwhile, on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), the stock opened at Rs 194.10, a discount of around 0.5% to the issue price.

The company witnessed a moderate response to its IPO, which was subscribed to 2.52 times overall. Both Qualified Institutional Buyers (QIBs) and retail investors subscribed to their respective portions more than three times. According to exchange data, the retail segment led demand with a 3.17x subscription, followed by QIBs at 3.04x, while the Non-Institutional Investors (NIIs) portion was subscribed 1.05 times.

The IPO was open for subscription from December 8 to December 10, with a price band of Rs 185–195 per share. The issue had a lot size of 76 shares, translating into a minimum investment of Rs 14,175. It comprised a fresh issue of Rs 377.18 crore and an offer for sale (OFS) worth Rs 911.71 crore by existing shareholders, including early investors and promoters.

Ahead of the public issue, Wakefit raised nearly Rs 580 crore from anchor investors. The anchor book included institutional names such as HDFC Life Insurance, Bajaj Allianz Life, Prudential Hong Kong, and Amundi, among others, indicating institutional interest going into the IPO.

Despite a reasonable subscription during the bidding period, the lack of a listing premium suggests investors remained cautious amid broader market volatility and a selective approach toward consumer internet listings.

In terms of financials, Wakefit reported operating revenue of Rs 724 crore and a net profit of Rs 35.57 crore in the first half of FY26. For FY25, its operating revenue grew nearly 30% year-on-year to Rs 1,274 crore from Rs 986 crore in FY24, although the company ended the year with a net loss of Rs 35 crore.

The flat listing highlights a growing trend where strong brand recall and anchor backing do not necessarily translate into listing gains in a valuation-sensitive market.