Nalco to hit market after Budget

The 12.5% stake sale of Nalco is expected to fetch Rs 1,400 crore to the exchequer at the current market price

Disinvestment in National Aluminium Company (Nalco), expected to fetch Rs 1,400 crore to the exchequer, is likely in the first week of March, after the budget, to ensure it is not impacted by volatility in stock markets.

The Department of Disinvestment would start roadshows in Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, the US and the UK on February 19 for disinvestment of the state-run aluminium company. The roadshows would conclude on February 25, sources said.

“Nalco disinvestment will happen only after the budget. There is lot of volatility in the markets before the budget and hence we have decided to schedule it in the beginning of March," sources said. The Budget is to be presented in Lok Sabha on February 28.

The 12.5 per cent stake or 31.31 crore share sale of Nalco is expected to fetch around Rs 1,400 crore to the exchequer at the current market price. Shares of Nalco closed at Rs 47, up 0.75 per cent on the Bombay Stock Exchange.

The government currently holds 87.15 per cent stake in Nalco.

The government had in November last year deferred disinvestment of Nalco, citing poor second-quarter performance which raised valuation concerns and said the stake sale would happen only after the third quarter results.  

The aluminium major reported a more than two-fold jump in its October-December quarter net profit to Rs 118.94 crore, on the back of improved sales. Nalco had a profit of Rs 51.22 crore in the same period last financial year.

“We expect to get good valuation of Nalco. Last time the merchant bankers advised to defer the offer to March quarter. This time we want to do it only when the market is stable,” sources said.

Enam Securities, SBI Caps and IDFC are merchant bankers for the Nalco disinvestment.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs had in September approved disinvestment in the Navratna PSU.

Following the stake sale, the government's holding will come down to 75 per cent in the company.

The stake sale would happen through the Offer for Sale (OFS) or auction route. The paid-up capital of the Company as on March, 2012 stood at Rs 1,288.62 crore.