SoftBank-backed Oyo to file for $1 billion IPO next week: Report

SoftBank Group-backed Indian hospitality startup Oyo Hotels and Rooms is expected to file for an initial public offering (IPO) next week to raise around $1 billion, The Economic Times reported, citing banking sources.

The listing plan by the hotel aggregator follows a stellar debut by food delivery firm Zomato Ltd in July.

Berkshire Hathaway Inc-backed Paytm and private equity firm TPG-backed Nykaa have also filed for IPO. Ride-hailing firm Ola, which is also backed by SoftBank, is also set to enter markets.

Also read: IPO-bound OYO to become public limited company

The Oyo IPO, tentatively pegged at between $1 billion and $1.2 billion, will consist of a fresh issue of shares and an offer for sale from existing shareholders, ET reported.

Oyo did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

The startup, in which SoftBank owns a 46% stake and is one of its biggest bets, has endured months of layoffs, cost-cuts and losses during the global health crisis.

Its founder and Chief Executive Ritesh Agarwal had said in July that business was likely to return to levels seen before the second wave of Covid-19 infections in India and "grow from there".

Last month, Oyo received a $5 million investment from Microsoft Corp. Separately, a financial news website reported that it had shortlisted JP Morgan, Kotak Mahindra Capital and Citi for a more than $1.2 billion initial share sale.

Check out latest videos from DH: