Century Business Media announces SME IPO, eyes expansion across OOH segments

Century Business Media is set to enter the public markets with its SME IPO, marking a significant milestone for the Patna-based OOH media company. 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 bid lot is set at 1,600 shares. The company’s IPO announcement comes as it looks to raise capital for its next phase of expansion, while strengthening its presence across multiple OOH formats. 

According to the IPO details, Century recorded ₹46.76 crore in revenue in FY26, with an EBITDA of ₹8.58 crore and PAT of ₹5.55 crore. The company has reported a 20.35% revenue CAGR between FY24 and FY26, alongside an FY26 ROCE of 30.06% and ROE of 36.44%. 

For Shashi Kumar Chaudhary, Managing Director, Century Business Media Limited, the decision to explore an IPO came from a straightforward business requirement — the need for capital to support growth. 

“To grow the business, you need capital, but there is always a limit to how much you can invest through your own resources or borrow from banks. That made us look at the stock market as a way to support our next phase of growth,” says Shashi. 

The idea was first suggested to him around two years ago, following which the company began evaluating the possibility. Century subsequently approached a merchant banker, who assessed the company and confirmed its eligibility for an SME IPO. What began as an exploration eventually developed into a formal process that has now brought the company to its public-market debut. 

For Shashi, the listing is significant not only because of the capital it can bring into the business, but also because of the credibility and visibility that comes with becoming a listed company. With only a handful of OOH companies having entered the public markets, he believes the move can strengthen Century’s standing among clients, agencies, media owners and government authorities. 

“Going public will give Century a stronger national presence. Customers, agencies, media owners and authorities such as the Airports Authority of India, railways and metro authorities will know us as a listed company,” he says. “That will strengthen our credentials and add to our credibility in the market.” 

The company already has a presence across four key OOH segments — airport, railway, metro and traditional OOH. Its airport business currently covers nine to ten airports, while in railway OOH, Century has an exclusive mandate covering Bihar and Jharkhand, spanning around 714 railway stations. The company also manages OOH assets across parts of the Kolkata Metro, while its traditional OOH business extends across Bihar and Jharkhand, covering both municipal and privately held media. 

Together, these businesses give Century a portfolio of more than 1,000 assets. DOOH currently accounts for around 8–10% of this portfolio, but the company expects the share to increase as it adds new assets and expands its digital inventory. 

“Digital will only increase further,” says Shashi. “As we acquire new media, we expect the portfolio to grow across both static and digital formats.” 

As Century prepares for its IPO, the milestone carries particular significance for a company that has built its business from Patna while expanding across multiple OOH environments. For Shashi, seeing the company reach the public markets is therefore both a business decision and a personal achievement. “We are very excited that, from Patna, we are going public. It is a big achievement for us,” he says.