ICICI Prudential Asset Management Company will be in the spotlight on Friday, January 16, as approximately 7 million shares become eligible for trading following the conclusion of a one-month shareholder lock-in period. According to Nuvama Alternative & Quantitative Research, these shares represent nearly 1% of the company's outstanding equity and are valued at approximately ₹1,910 crore based on Wednesday's closing price of ₹2,729.

Share Unlock Details

The end of the shareholder lock-in period does not guarantee that all shares will be sold in the open market, as they simply become eligible for trading. The unlocking represents a significant milestone for the asset management company, which has demonstrated strong market performance since its public debut.

Strong Post-IPO Performance

The stock has delivered impressive returns since its market debut, currently trading around 26% above its IPO price of ₹2,165. ICICI Prudential Asset Management Company had a robust stock market debut, listing at ₹2,600 on the National Stock Exchange with a premium of over 20% as investors showed confidence in sustained domestic inflows into mutual funds. The ₹10,603 crore public issue was priced in the range of ₹2,061 to ₹2,165 per share.

Market Leadership and Analyst Coverage

Post listing, ICICI Prudential Asset Management Company has established itself as India's most valuable listed asset management company, commanding a market capitalisation of around ₹1.12 lakh crore. This valuation positions it significantly ahead of competitors HDFC Asset Management Company and Nippon Life India Asset Management, which are valued at approximately ₹56,000 crore.

Several brokerages have initiated coverage on the stock with positive recommendations:

Recent Trading Activity

On Wednesday, shares of ICICI Prudential Asset Management Company ended the trading session 2.14% higher at ₹2,729, reflecting continued investor interest in the stock. The company's strong market position as one of India's largest asset managers continues to attract positive attention from market participants and analysts alike.

ICICI Prudential Asset Management Company delivered exceptional performance in the December quarter, reporting a robust 45% year-on-year increase in net profit to ₹917.00 crore compared to ₹632.00 crore in the same quarter last year. The asset management company demonstrated strong growth momentum with profit before tax rising 47% to ₹1,219.00 crore, reflecting strong market-linked performance and sustained growth in fee income.

Strong Financial Performance Across Quarters

The company's financial performance showcased robust growth across key metrics during both the quarter and nine-month period. Operating profit before tax stood at ₹1,110.00 crore for the quarter, compared with ₹853.00 crore in December last year, marking an increase of around 30%.

For the nine months ended December, the company maintained strong momentum with operating profit before tax rising to ₹3,043.00 crore from ₹2,370.00 crore in the corresponding period last year, an increase of about 28%. Profit after tax for the nine-month period increased to ₹2,535.00 crore from ₹1,959.00 crore, registering growth of around 29%.

Asset Growth and Market Position

Asset growth remained robust during the quarter, supported by strong inflows into equity and hybrid products. Mutual fund quarterly average assets under management rose to ₹10.76 lakh crore in the third quarter, compared with ₹8.73 lakh crore a year earlier, translating into growth of about 23%. The company maintained its market share at 13.30% during the quarter.

Equity and equity-oriented schemes remained the key growth driver, with quarterly average AUM in this segment rising about 24%, and the company's market share in the segment improving to 13.80%. Assets under actively managed schemes increased to ₹9.08 lakh crore, registering growth of around 21% with a market share of 13.50%.

Customer Base Expansion and Distribution Network

The company's unique customer base grew to 16.17 million as of December compared with 14.33 million a year earlier, reflecting growth of around 12.80%. The AMC serviced investors through more than 1,12,000 empanelled distribution partners across 278 offices, demonstrating its extensive reach and distribution capabilities.

Dividend Declaration and Corporate Developments

The Board of Directors approved an interim dividend of ₹14.85 per equity share for shareholders whose names appear in the Register of Members as on January 21, the record date fixed for this purpose. This dividend declaration reflects the company's commitment to returning value to shareholders while maintaining strong financial performance.