Sequoia Backed Quick Heal Files For An IPO

Anti-virus software maker, Quick Heal Technologies Ltd., which is backed by Sequoia Capital, filed a herring prospectus for a stock listing with the domestic market regulator on Wednesday.

The IPO comprises of a fresh issue of shares to rise up to $38 Mn (INR 250 Cr) and an offer for sale of up to 6.8 Mn equity shares by promoters and Indian units of Sequoia Capital, Quick Heal said in a statement.

Sequoia that currently holds more than 10% stake in Quick Heal, is looking to sell about 4.6 percent of its stake, according to a source familiar with the matter.

ICICI Securities, Jefferies and JP Morgan will be the underwriters, according to Quick Heal.

Of the proceeds of the fresh issue, around $ 16.9 Mn (INR 111 Cr) would be used for advertising and sales promotion, $6.3 Mn (INR 41.8 Cr) on capital expenditure for research and development, $4.5 Mn (INR 30.1 Cr) to buy, develop and renovate office premises in Chennai, Kolkata, Pune and New Delhi, and remaining for general corporate purposes.

Pune-based Quick Heal was co-founded by brothers Kailash (CEO and CMD) and Sanjay Katkar (CTO and technical director) in 1991. Initially called CAT Computer Services Pvt. Ltd, the company later transformed from being a computer maintenance firm to an IT security solutions provider. It was renamed as Quick Heal in 2007.

The company develops anti-virus software and has 65 offices in 37 cities across India, the UAE, Japan, Kenya and the US. A little over 2 per cent of its revenues come from outside India. Quick Heal recently entered into a preliminary term sheet to form a new joint venture to distribute, sell and market its offerings in South Africa.

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