IPO Overview
Incorporated in 1999, Century Business Media Limited provides advertising services, mainly through Out-of-Home (OOH) media, including digital and non-digital advertising. The company operates mainly in the Airport OOH (AOOH) and Railway OOH (ROOH) segments, offering advertising spaces both within and outside airport terminal buildings as well as through digital and static hoardings across railway stations and railway land. They operate across banking, insurance, education, healthcare, FMCG, jewellery, energy, steel, mining and infrastructure sectors. The company is headquartered in Patna, Bihar, and has established a strong presence across eastern India.
The IPO will open on September 11, 2026, and close on September 16, 2026, with the company proposing to list on the BSE SME platform. The issue comprises 23.12 lakh equity shares, with a price band of ₹70 to ₹74 per share, taking the issue size to approximately ₹17.10 crore at the upper price band. The IPO is entirely a fresh issue with no offer-for-sale component, meaning all proceeds will flow directly to the company.
IPO Detailed Information
Issue Details
| Parameter | Details |
| IPO Type | Book Built – SME |
| Listing Exchange | BSE SME |
| IPO Open Date | 11 September 2026 |
| IPO Close Date | 16 September 2026 |
| Allotment Date | 17 September 2026 (Expected) |
| Refund Initiation | 18 September 2026 |
| Credit to Demat | 18 September 2026 |
| Listing Date | 21 September 2026 (Tentative) |
| Price Band | ₹70 – ₹74 per share |
| Face Value | ₹10 per share |
| Lot Size | 1,600 shares |
| Minimum Investment (Retail) | ₹2,36,800 (2 lots = 3,200 shares) |
| Issue Size | ₹17.11 crore |
| Fresh Issue | 23,12,000 shares (₹17.11 crore) |
| Offer For Sale (OFS) | Nil |
Note: The entire IPO is a fresh issue — no offer-for-sale component. All proceeds go directly to the company.
Issue Break-up
| Category | Allocation |
| Qualified Institutional Buyers (QIB) | 10,92,800 shares (~49.78%) |
| Non-Institutional Investors (NII/HNI) | 3,31,200 shares (~15.09%) |
| Retail Individual Investors (RII) | 7,71,200 shares (~35.13%) |
| Market Maker | 1,16,800 shares (Reserved) |
OFS / Selling Shareholders
There is no Offer For Sale (OFS) in this IPO. The entire issue is a fresh issue of 23,12,000 equity shares, and all IPO proceeds will be received directly by the company. Promoter holding will decline from 100% to 73.61% after the IPO.
Objects of the Issue (Fund Utilization)
The IPO proceeds will be used to purchase media assets, fund the Patna Airport security deposit, repay borrowings, and support working capital. Specifically:
- Capital expenditure towards purchase of media assets — ₹2.94 crore
- Payment of security deposit for advertising rights at Patna, Deoghar, and Darbhanga airports — ₹3.10 crore
- Repayment of existing borrowings
- Working capital requirements
- General corporate purposes
Lead Managers & Registrar
- Book Running Lead Manager: Hem Securities Ltd.
- Registrar to the Issue: Kfin Technologies Ltd.
- Market Maker: To be updated as per RHP
Promoters & Management
The company is promoted by Shashi Kumar Chaudhary, Seema Chaudhary, Sangita Dokania, and Shreya Chaudhary, who bring experience in the outdoor media advertising industry. Pre-issue promoter holding is 100% on 64,49,280 shares. As of July 31, 2026, the company employed 58 people, including Directors and Key Managerial Personnel.
Company Details
Century Business Media Limited is an Out-of-Home (OOH) advertising solutions company that manages advertising rights across airports, railway stations, metro networks, and city locations. Its offerings include hoardings, billboards, kiosks, wall wraps, gantries, Platform Screen Doors, and other media assets across various locations.
Sectors / Client Industries Served:
- Banking & Insurance
- Education & Healthcare
- FMCG & Jewellery
- Energy, Steel & Mining
- Infrastructure & Construction
Key OOH Segments:
- Airport OOH (AOOH) — advertising inside and outside airport terminals
- Railway OOH (ROOH) — digital and static hoardings at railway stations
- Metro & City OOH — hoardings, billboards, gantries, and kiosks
Key Capabilities:
- Established presence across multiple OOH advertising formats with strategic advertising rights across airports, railway stations, metro systems, and city media
- Transit advertising presence across five exclusive airports and 714 East Central Railway (ECR) stations
Geographic Presence:
- Business is concentrated in Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and the North East, with core operations anchored around Patna and eastern India
Financial Snapshot
| Period | Revenue (₹ Cr) | PAT (₹ Cr) |
| FY24 | ₹32.27 | ₹3.68 |
| FY25 | ₹36.91 | ₹4.70 |
| FY26 | ₹46.76 | ₹5.56 |
Key Financial Metrics
- Revenue grew 27% and PAT rose 18% between FY25 and FY26.
- ROCE of 30.06%, RoNW of 30.83%, and debt-to-equity of 0.44.
- Pre-issue P/E of 8.59x and post-issue P/E of 11.67x. Post-issue EPS is ₹6.34, and market capitalisation will be ₹64.83 crore. NAV is ₹27.94, with price-to-book ratio of 2.65x.
Company Strengths
- Established presence across multiple OOH advertising formats with strategic advertising rights across airports, railway stations, metro systems, and city media
- Total income increased from ₹32.27 crore in FY24 to ₹46.76 crore in FY26, while profit after tax rose from ₹3.68 crore to ₹5.56 crore — consistent and improving financial performance
- Diversified revenue from clients at multiple locations and geographies across India
- Strong client retention and repeat business, with established client relationships across multiple industries
- Entire IPO is a fresh issue — no promoter exit; all funds directed towards business expansion
- Valuation appears reasonable relative to return ratios at a post-issue P/E of 11.67x
Key Risks & Challenges
- The company is dependent on a limited number of high-revenue advertising rights and concession contracts at select airports and railway zones — any failure to retain or renew these contracts could materially impact the business
- Business is concentrated in Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and the North East — exposing it to advertising demand fluctuations in one part of the country
- Advertising spending is discretionary — it is among the first budgets companies cut when business conditions weaken
- This is a small company, with a net worth of only ₹12.47 crore as on 31 March 2025
- Certain static and digital media assets are yet to be procured — any delays could postpone implementation and increase costs
- The company and its promoters are involved in certain legal proceedings and potential litigations
Disclaimer:
This document is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as investment advice. Investors should read the Red Herring Prospectus (RHP) carefully and consult a financial advisor before investing in any IPO. Market investments are subject to risk.
