NII Below ₹10L vs Above ₹10L: Allotment Differences
Overview
In Indian IPO allotments, the Non-Institutional Investor (NII) category includes applications from high-value individual investors and other non-institutional bidders.
SEBI and IPO registrars often analyze NII bids in two segments to ensure fair distribution:
- NII Below ₹10 Lakh
- NII Above ₹10 Lakh
This distinction becomes important especially in oversubscribed IPOs.
Why the ₹10 Lakh Distinction Exists
The ₹10 lakh cutoff is a regulatory and allocation practice used to balance allotment fairness among high-value investors.
- Retail category has a maximum application limit of ₹2,00,000
- NII category has no upper application limit
- The ₹10 lakh threshold helps structure proportionate allotment during oversubscription
This segmentation is commonly visible in IPO allotment results and probability analysis.
How Allotment Works in the NII Category
Before applying any sub-segmentation, the general NII allotment process involves:
- Pooling all valid NII applications
- Comparing total NII demand with allocated NII shares
- Applying proportionate allotment if oversubscribed
Unlike the retail category, no lottery system is used for NII allotment.
NII Below ₹10 Lakh
Applications below ₹10 lakh form the lower-value segment within the NII category.
- Typically represent smaller HNI or high-value individual investors
- Remain part of the NII pool
- May be considered separately to improve fairness
In many IPOs:
- Smaller NII bids may receive allocation without reduction if demand is manageable
- During heavy oversubscription, allotment may be adjusted to ensure minimum participation
NII Above ₹10 Lakh
Applications above ₹10 lakh represent the higher-value segment of the NII category.
- Includes large HNI and corporate non-institutional investors
- Allotment remains proportionate to application size
In oversubscribed IPOs:
- Larger bids may receive reduced proportional allotment
- Allocation may occur after accommodating smaller NII bids
Why This Segmentation Is Used
The below and above ₹10 lakh distinction is used to:
- Prevent large applications from dominating the NII quota
- Improve fairness for smaller high-value investors
- Maintain proportionate allotment principles
Important Notes
- The ₹10 lakh threshold is not explicitly defined in SEBI ICDR regulations
- Registrars may apply segmentation differently across IPOs
- Final allotment methodology is always detailed in the basis of allotment document
What This Means for Investors
- Below ₹10L bids may benefit from fairer base allocation
- Above ₹10L bids receive proportionate allotment after segmentation
- No NII application guarantees allotment
Final Summary
- NII category includes applications above the retail limit
- Many IPOs segment NII bids below and above ₹10L
- Segmentation helps balance proportionate allotment during oversubscription
- Final allotment is determined solely by the registrar