Shares of Symbiotec Pharmalab made a lukewarm debut, listing largely flat on the bourses. The stock opened at its IPO price of Rs 988 apiece on the NSE. On the BSE, it listed at Rs 978.20 apiece, marking a 0.99% discount to the issue price.The debut fell short of unlisted market expectations, which had suggested a premium listing.The grey market premium (GMP) for the stock hovered around 19%, indicating expectations of a decent listing gain over the IPO issue price.The Rs 1,757 crore public issue was priced at Rs 988 per share. It comprised a fresh issue of 15 lakh shares worth Rs 150 crore and an offer for sale (OFS) of 1.63 crore shares amounting to Rs 1,607 crore.The IPO received an overwhelming response from investors, with the issue subscribed 75.08 times overall. The retail portion was subscribed 13.69 times, while the qualified institutional buyers (QIB) category saw subscription of 181.20 times. The non-institutional investor (NII) segment was subscribed 77.56 times.The IPO opened for subscription on August 24 and closed on August 27, 2026. Investors could bid for a minimum of 15 shares and in multiples of 15 thereafter. At the upper end of the price band, the minimum investment stood at Rs 14,820.The issue was managed by JM Financial, Avendus Capital, Motilal Oswal Investment Advisors and Nomura Financial, while MUFG Intime India Pvt. Ltd. acted as the registrar to the issue.Ahead of the public issue, Symbiotec Pharmalab raised Rs 526.20 crore from anchor investors. The anchor bidding for the IPO took place on August 21, 2026.ValuationSymbiotec Pharmalab’s IPO valuation is likely to attract close attention from investors. Based on diluted earnings per share for fiscal 2026, the price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio stands at 49.37 times at the lower end of the price band and rises to 52.00 times at the upper end.The company’s weighted average return on net worth for the last three financial years was 10.99%. With the IPO price band translating to 469 times the face value at the floor price and 494 times at the cap price, the issue is positioned as a premium offering in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology space.Where Will the IPO Proceeds Go?The Symbiotec Pharmalab IPO plans to channel Rs 112.50 crore towards the prepayment and/or repayment, fully or partially, of select outstanding borrowings, helping strengthen the company’s balance sheet and potentially reduce its debt burden.The remaining proceeds will be allocated towards general corporate purposes, providing Symbiotec Pharmalab with greater financial flexibility to support its ongoing operations and future business needs.Symbiotec PharmalabFounded in 2002, Symbiotec Pharmalab operates across the biopharmaceutical and biotechnology space, developing and manufacturing active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), nutritional ingredients, and specialised products for domestic and international markets.The company’s journey began with laboratory-scale manufacturing of steroidal-hormone APIs in 1995. Over the years, it has expanded into an industrial-scale, backward-integrated manufacturing platform serving the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and wellness sectors.Research-driven manufacturing, quality and sustainability form key elements of its business strategy. Its manufacturing operations have also secured approvals and certifications from several international regulatory bodies, including the US FDA, EU-GMP authorities, and South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.As of June 30, 2025, Symbiotec Pharmalab operated two industrial-scale API manufacturing plants. Together, these facilities had a maximum capacity of 584.67 metric tonnes (MT) for chemical synthesis and 300 kilolitres of fermentation capacity.The combination of backward integration, specialised API capabilities, and international regulatory approvals gives the company an established position in a segment where manufacturing quality and regulatory compliance can be critical differentiators.(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of Economic Times)