Retail vs NII vs QIB: Who Gets Better IPO Allotment?
Introduction
In an Initial Public Offering (IPO) in India, investors are divided into multiple categories for allotment purposes. The three primary categories are Retail Individual Investors (RII), Non-Institutional Investors (NII / HNI), and Qualified Institutional Buyers (QIB). Each category follows a different allotment mechanism, leading to varying levels of predictability and outcomes.
This document explains how allotment works across these categories and answers a common question: Who actually gets better IPO allotment?
Typical Share Reservation Across Categories
Most IPOs in India reserve shares separately for each investor category. While exact percentages vary by issue, a common structure is:
- QIB: approximately 50%
- Retail (RII): approximately 35%
- NII / HNI: approximately 15–25%
Retail Individual Investors (RII): Allotment Explained
Retail investors are individuals applying for shares worth up to ₹2,00,000 in an IPO.
When the retail category is oversubscribed, allotment is done using a computerized lottery system. Each valid application gets an equal chance, regardless of the number of lots applied.
Example:
- Available retail lots: 10,000
- Retail applications received: 20,000
- Result: Only 10,000 applicants receive 1 lot each via lottery
In this case, the approximate allotment probability for a retail applicant is 50%. Applying for more lots does not increase chances.
Non-Institutional Investors (NII / HNI): Allotment Explained
The NII category includes investors applying for more than ₹2,00,000. This category does not use a lottery system.
Allotment in NII is done on a proportionate basis, meaning shares are distributed relative to the size of each bid.
Example:
- Available NII lots: 5,000
- Total NII lots bid: 10,000 (2× oversubscription)
- An investor bidding for 200 lots may receive approximately 100 lots
While larger bids usually result in higher allotment, full allotment is not guaranteed in oversubscribed scenarios.
Qualified Institutional Buyers (QIB): Allotment Explained
QIBs include mutual funds, insurance companies, banks, and foreign portfolio investors. This category typically receives the largest share reservation in an IPO.
QIB allotment is also done on a proportionate basis, without any lottery mechanism.
Example:
- Available QIB shares: 50,00,000
- Total QIB demand: 75,00,000 shares (1.5×)
- Most QIB bidders receive a significant portion of their bids
Which Category Gets Better IPO Allotment?
There is no single category that always guarantees allotment. However, tendencies can be observed:
- QIB: Most predictable allotment due to large quotas and proportionate allocation
- NII: Moderately predictable, depends on bid size and oversubscription
- Retail: Least predictable due to lottery-based allocation
Key Takeaways
- Retail allotment is equal-opportunity but random
- NII allotment is proportionate and size-dependent
- QIB allotment is the most structured and predictable
- Oversubscription directly reduces allotment across all categories
IPO allotment is governed by SEBI regulations and registrar-defined mechanisms. No category guarantees allotment, and outcomes depend entirely on demand.