How to Apply for an IPO in Nepal — MeroShare & ASBA, Step by Step
Applying for an IPO in Nepal takes five minutes on your phone once four things are set up. Here is the full path — demat account, MeroShare, CRN from your bank — and exactly what happens to your money.
- You need four things, all one-time setup: a bank account, a demat account, a MeroShare login, and a CRN number from your bank.
- Apply online in MeroShare → My ASBA — pick the issue, enter units (typically minimum 10 = रू 1,000 at the usual रू 100 par), your CRN and transaction PIN.
- Your money is only blocked, not taken (that is what ASBA means) — it leaves your account only for the units you are actually allotted; the rest unblocks.
- Oversubscribed IPOs are allotted by lottery. While the blocked money waits, your spare cash should still be earning — compare savings and FD rates.
What you need before you can apply (one-time setup)
- A bank account at any NRB-licensed bank — this is where the application money gets blocked and where dividends later land.
- A demat account — the electronic account that holds your shares, opened through a Depository Participant (most banks and brokers). See our full guide to opening a demat account in Nepal.
- A MeroShare account — CDSC's portal/app where applications are actually made; your DP gives you the login when you open the demat.
- A CRN (C-ASBA Registration Number) — a one-time number from your bank that links your bank account to the ASBA system. Ask your branch or check your mobile banking; many banks issue it instantly.
All four are one-time. After that, every future IPO takes minutes.
Applying in MeroShare, step by step
- Log in to MeroShare (web or app) and open My ASBA.
- Under Current Issue, find the IPO and press Apply.
- Choose your bank account, enter the number of units (the minimum is typically 10 units; at the usual रू 100 par value that is रू 1,000), and enter your CRN.
- Tick the disclaimer, enter your transaction PIN, and submit.
- You'll see the application under Application Report — your bank blocks the amount the same day.
Prefer paper? You can still apply through any ASBA-member bank branch with a form — but the app is faster and open till the issue closes.
What ASBA actually does with your money
ASBA = Application Supported by Blocked Amount. When you apply, the money never leaves your account — it is blocked by your bank. If you're allotted 10 units, only रू 1,000 is debited; if the lottery misses you, the full amount unblocks automatically within days of allotment. You never chase a refund — that's the whole point of the system.
Allotment: how the lottery works
Popular IPOs in Nepal are massively oversubscribed, so allotment is by lottery, conducted by the issue manager under SEBON rules. In most heavily-subscribed issues, lucky applicants receive the minimum 10 units and everyone else receives nothing (and is unblocked). Applying for more units generally does not improve your odds in an oversubscribed book-built lottery — a common misconception worth knowing before you block a big amount.
Checking the result
Results are published on CDSC's IPO result portal and MeroShare (and usually the issue manager's site). In MeroShare, Application Report → Report Detail shows "Allotted" or "Not Allotted". Allotted shares land in your demat account, and after listing you can sell them through any broker.
The banking angle most guides skip
- Your CRN bank matters for convenience — pick the bank you actually keep money in, since that account gets blocked.
- Money waiting for IPOs should still earn. Between issues, park it in a high-interest savings account — several pay 4%+ — or a short 3-month FD rather than an ordinary account paying ~2.75%.
- Dividends and returns land in your bank — a shareholder savings account is built exactly for this.
This is general information, not investment advice — IPO rules and minimums are set by SEBON/CDSC and can change; confirm details in the issue prospectus.
Frequently asked questions
How do I apply for an IPO in Nepal?
Online through MeroShare: log in, open My ASBA, pick the current issue, enter your units (minimum typically 10), your bank account and CRN number, then confirm with your transaction PIN. You need a one-time setup first: bank account, demat account, MeroShare login and a CRN from your bank.
What is the minimum amount to apply for an IPO in Nepal?
Typically 10 units. At the usual रू 100 par value that is रू 1,000. The exact minimum and maximum are set in each issue's prospectus, so check before applying.
What is a CRN number and how do I get it?
The C-ASBA Registration Number links your bank account to the IPO application system. Your bank issues it — ask your branch or look in your mobile/internet banking; many banks generate it instantly. It is one-time and reusable for every future IPO.
What is ASBA in Nepal?
Application Supported by Blocked Amount — the system where your IPO application money is blocked in your own bank account rather than paid out. Money is debited only for the units you are actually allotted; the rest unblocks automatically, so there are no refunds to chase.
How do I check my IPO result in Nepal?
In MeroShare under Application Report → Report Detail (shows Allotted or Not Allotted), or on CDSC's IPO result portal and the issue manager's website. Allotted shares are credited straight to your demat account.
Does applying for more units increase my chance of IPO allotment?
Generally no in heavily oversubscribed issues — allotment is by lottery and most winners receive the minimum 10 units regardless of how much they applied for. Blocking a larger amount usually just idles more of your money.
Get the setup right: open a demat account, keep your waiting cash in the best savings account, and route dividends into a shareholder savings account — compare every bank on Byajdar.