Russian technology firm Astra, known for its dominance in the national operating system market with Astra Linux software, has set its Moscow Initial Public Offering (IPO) price range at 300-333 roubles per share. This valuation establishes a market capitalization of $632-$701 million. The company's decision to list 10.5 million shares, which equates to approximately a 5% free float, is anticipated to stimulate Russia's equity capital markets that have been inactive since the start of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022.
The firm's financial health, as indicated by InvestingPro data, shows promising signs. Astra holds a market capitalization of 1863.65M USD and a P/E ratio of 17.57, suggesting a solid valuation. It has also seen a significant revenue growth of 13.12% LTM2023.Q2, with revenues hitting 737.62M USD. The company's gross profit margin stands strong at 41.06%, further bolstering its financial position.
Astra's core clientele comprises government and state-owned entities that have been cut off from Western technology due to the ongoing conflict. The firm has seen a significant increase in its corporate client share, rising from 28% in 2020 to 70% by mid-2023. This growth was fueled by several factors including import substitution, industry-wide digitalisation, exit of Western vendors from Russia, increased information security requirements, and governmental support.
InvestingPro Tips highlight that Astra yields high return on invested capital and holds more cash than debt on its balance sheet, indicating a strong financial position. The company has also raised its dividend for three consecutive years, a promising sign for potential investors. These insights, along with hundreds of other tips, can be accessed through InvestingPro's premium service.
The IPO subscription period on the Moscow Exchange is scheduled from Thursday to October 12, with trading expected to commence on October 13. This move by Astra could potentially mark a revival in Russia's equity capital markets, which have been stagnant since the Ukraine conflict began early last year. With a strong financial standing and a promising market position, Astra's IPO is set to be a significant event in the Russian equity market.
This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.