Govt plans stake sale in 4 more firms in FY13

Stake sale in SAIL, Nalco, MMTC and Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilisers

The government plans to divest some of its stake in four more state companies including Steel Authority of India Ltd and National Aluminium Company Ltd by the end of next month, a junior finance minister said on Friday.

The government also expects to complete the stake sale in state trading firm MMTC Ltd and Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilisers Ltd in this fiscal that ends on March 31, SS Palanimanickam, told parliament in a statement.

New Delhi will divest 10.82% of its stake in Steel Authority of India, 12.15% in National Aluminium, 12.5% in Rashtriya Chemicals and 9.33% in MMTC through auction of shares, the minister said.

India plans to raise about $880 million next month cutting its stakes in Steel Authority and National Aluminium, sources told Reuters on Thursday, a move that will help the government tackle the budget deficit.

Asset sales are a key part of the government's plan to cut the deficit to 5.3% of gross domestic product for this fiscal, from 5.8% in FY12, to avoid a credit downgrade.