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Bengaluru-based Ola Electric, a pure EV player, has filed its Draft Red Herring Prospectus (DRHP) with capital market regulator SEBI to raise funds for its initial public offering (IPO).

The Issue is a fresh issue of equity shares up to ? 5,500 crore and an offer for sale (OFS) of 95,191,195 equity shares at a face value of ? 10.

The issue is being made through the book-building process, wherein not less than 75% of the issue shall be available for allocation on a proportionate basis to qualified institutional buyers, not more than 15% of the issue shall be available for allocation to non-institutional bidders, and not more than 10% of the issue shall be available for allocation to retail individual bidders.

As per the DRHP, the proceeds from the fresh issue will be used for capital expenditure to be incurred by the subsidiary, OCT for the Ola Gigafactory project, repayment or pre-payment, in full or part, of the indebtedness incurred by subsidiary, OET, investment into research and product development, expenditure to be incurred for organic growth initiatives  and general corporate purposes.

The leading EV player is building vertically integrated technology and manufacturing capabilities for EVs and core EV components, including cells. It manufactures EVs and core EV components such as battery packs and motors at Ola Futurefactory,  its manufacturing facility in Krishnagiri. The Ola Futurefactory is the largest integrated and automated E2W manufacturing plant in India based on production capacity, as of September 30, 2023, according to the Redseer Report. The company is in the process of building a EV hub in Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri districts in Tamil Nadu, India, which includes the Ola Futurefactory, the  upcoming Ola Gigafactory and co-located suppliers in Krishnagiri district.

It introduced its first EV model – S1 Pro in August 2021 and currently has a portfolio of 5 scooter models. Within nine months of Ola Electric delivering its first EV scooter, it surged to become the best-selling E2W player in India based on E2W registrations listed on the VAHAN Portal of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. As of three-months period ended June 30, 2023, it has an E2W market share of 31% and aims to explore exporting EVs to specific international markets in the future.

Its business model is founded on three key scalable platforms (1) R&D and technology platform with in-house design and development across EV technologies and components, (2) Adaptable manufacturing and supply chain platform, and (3) D2C omnichannel distribution platform

Research and development and technology is at the core of its business model with a focus on in-house product innovation. It undertakes R&D activities focused on designing and developing new EV products and core EV components  in India, the United Kingdom and the United States. It also operates a battery innovation centre (“BIC”) in Bengaluru, India that is focused on developing cell and battery technology and manufacturing processes for the  forthcoming cell manufacturing at the Ola Gigafactory.

It Also has a vertically integrated manufacturing and supply chain ecosystem across its core EV components and a resilient supply chain focussing on localisation and co-location of suppliers.

As per the DRHP, it operates its direct-to-customer (“D2C”) omnichannel distribution network, comprising of 935 experience centres situated across India which includes 414 service centres, as of October 31, 2023. Its D2C omnichannel distribution network comprises of an integrated company-owned sales and service network, a charging network, and an online retail platform

The company recently announced new EV scooter models, the Ola S1 X (2 kWh) and Ola S1 X (3 kWh) and  Ola S1 X+. It started delivering Ola S1 X+ in December 2023. It plans to commence delivery of the Ola S1 X (2 kWh) and the Ola S1 X (3 kWh) by the first half of the Fiscal 2025. It is also working towards delivering  the recently announced line-up of four motorcycle models: Diamondhead, Adventure, Roadster, and Cruiser in the first half of Fiscal 26.

In September 2023, the company launched MoveOS version 4, as a beta roll-out, which included new features such as navigation powered by Ola Maps, call filter, ‘find my scooter’, geofencing, time fencing, anti-theft alert, fall detection, hill hold, auto turn-off indicators, ride journal and energy insights. Its EV scooters are connected to a network and designed to transmit data through the vehicle telematics systems, this enables them to continually enhance its product features and performance.

According to the Redseer Report quoted in the DRHP, in fiscal 2023, the company topped the charts among Indian incorporated electric 2-wheelers (E2Ws) and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in terms of revenue from E2W sales.

For the fiscal year 2023, revenue from operations increased more than seven times to ? 2,630.93 crore against ? 373.42 crore a year ago. For the three months ended June 30, 2023, revenue from operations stood at ? 1,242.75 crore. The company has also been approved for India’s PLI schemes – one relating to the manufacturing of advanced automotive technology products (the “Automobile PLI Scheme”), and another relating to advanced cell chemistry batteries (the “Cell PLI Scheme”).

India is at the forefront of electrification of mobility due to the favourable total cost of ownership as compared to Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles. India is the 2^nd largest 2W market globally (by domestic sales volume) and E2Ws are projected to account for 41-56% of the domestic 2W sales volumes by Fiscal 2028, according to the Reseer Report.

Kotak Mahindra Capital Company Limited, Citigroup Global Markets India Private Limited, BofA Securities India Limited, Goldman Sachs (India) Securities Private Limited, Axis Capital Limited, ICICI Securities Limited, SBI Capital Markets Limited and BOB Capital Markets Limited are the book-running lead managers, and Link Intime India Private Limited is the registrar of the offer. The equity shares are proposed to be listed on the BSE and NSE.

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