The government is hoping to raise over 230 billion rupees ($4.9 billion) from the sale of a stake in iron ore miner National Mineral Development Corp, a report said on Saturday. The public offering is likely to take place in March 2010, the report said, citing finance ministry sources.
The ministry has decided to adopt an auction method for the sale of shares to institutions and high net-worth individuals, while retail investors will be allotted shares at the floor price fixed before the auction, the paper said.
The Financial Express said Morgan Stanley was the lead manager for the issue, along with five other investment bankers.
Earlier this month finance minister Pranab Mukherjee said India will not sell more than a 10 percent stake in listed state-run firms at this stage.Shares in NMDC closed at 414.15 rupees on Thursday, down 0.85 percent.
Since August, the Indian government has raised $1.8 billion by selling shares in NHPC and Oil India, while it has approved the sale of shares in NTPC, Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam and Rural Electrification Corp. Other state-run firms in which the government is likely to divest stake are Steel Authority of India, Shipping Corp and Coal India.
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