Indian eyewear retailer Lenskart seeks $8bn IPO valuation

Core Insights - Lenskart Solutions is planning an initial public offering (IPO) aiming to raise Rs72.78 billion ($828.8 million) with a target valuation of Rs727.19 billion ($8 billion) [1][6] - The IPO is scheduled to start on 31 October 2025, with a proposed share price range between Rs382 and Rs402 [1] Investment and Shareholder Details - The company will issue new shares worth Rs21.5 billion, while existing shareholders will offer 127.5 million equity shares for sale, including significant sales from co-founders [2] - Notable investors like SoftBank and Kedaara Capital will divest portions of their stakes during the IPO [3] Expansion Plans - Lenskart plans to launch 450 new stores in the fiscal year 2025, increasing its global presence to over 3,150 stores across 14 countries, representing a 34% increase from the previous year [3] Use of IPO Proceeds - Proceeds from the IPO will be allocated to various strategic initiatives, including capital expenditures for new stores, technology investments, marketing, and potential acquisitions [4] Financial Performance - For the fiscal year ending 31 March 2025, Lenskart reported a restated profit of Rs2.97 billion, a significant turnaround from a restated loss of Rs101 million in fiscal year 2024 and Rs63 million in fiscal year 2023 [5] Underwriters - The book-running lead managers for the IPO include Kotak Mahindra Capital Company, Morgan Stanley India Company, and Intensive Fiscal Services [5]