OGDCL IPO TO INCREASE MARKET CAPITALISATION BY Rs. 137.6 BILLION -says Hafeez Shaikh

Islamabad, October 13, 2003

The Initial Public Offering (IPO) for sale of the shares of Oil & Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) will increase the market capitalization by at least Rs. 137.6 billion, which is more than US $ two billion thus increasing the capitalization to about US $ 20 billion.

This was stated by the Federal Minister for Privatisation & Investment Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh while addressing the first presentation to the investors for the Initial Public Offering (IPO) of 2.5 % shares (107.5 million shares) of Oil & Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) with a green shoe option of additional 2.5 % shares held here today under the auspices of Privatisation Commission and the Lead Manager to offer for sale of the Initial Public Offering (IPO) of OGDCL shares KASB Securities.

He said that it was the largest listed company in the stock market after PTCL, which would add significant depth to the Stock Market. Also being the second Exploration & Production Company listing in Pakistan had already generated huge interest, which was targeted by the end of this month, the Minister said.

He added that realizing Rs. 6 billion plus through the divestment small number of shares of POL, ARL and DG Khan Cement in the early months of the newly elected government was a record and we were looking eagerly to implement this strategy, which was the most transparent way of privatisation and which would further develop the market and broaden the base of ownership. Preference would be given to all the smaller applicants of 1000 shares in OGDCL and 500 shares in NBP, he stated and hoped that NBP's 3.2 % shares would fetch about half billion Rupees.

He further stated that in a well sequenced program this process would continue by the end of the current calendar year, which included offer of sale of shares of SSGC and PIAC. The further divestment of the shares of the public sector entities for the first quarter of 2004 would be announced accordingly, which will include IPO of KAPCO and PPL, he said.

The Minister said that we were progressing ahead with the privatisation process of PSO, HBL, NITL, FESCO, JPC, Thatta Cement and Hyatt Regency Hotel Project all to be completed within this year.

Addressing on this occasion a reoresentative of Petroleum & Natural Resources Mr. Naeem Baig, Joint Secretary said that the government was endeavoring to open up this sector by giving complete autonomy to the public sector companies like OGDCL, which enjoyed fully authority management with independent Board of Directors. OGDCL has generated additional revenues and its profits have also increased, he added. He further stated that the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Resources has started the deregulation of Oil & Gas Industry by supporting the autonomy to the public sector entities, linking the petroleum products prices to the international market and facilitating the efforts of Privatisation Commission to accomplish its targets.

The Chairman OGDCL Mr. Afzal Khan said that OGDCL had last year contributed Rs. 33 billion to the national exchequer, which proved it as a mature company and its exploration activity had now been accelerated, he added.

Mr. Najam Kamal Hyder, MD, OGDCL said that while having aggressive exploration plan and increase in company's production and profits with low operating cost OGDCL was also the major producer of LPG along with substantial contribution to the Oil and Gas production. He urged the investors to come forward to participate in the future of Pakistan by subscribing to the OGDCL shares.

Mr. Ahmad Waqar, Secretary Privatisation Commission while replying to a question said that the Financial Advisor for OGDCL had started soft marketing for the strategic sale of OGDCL as a parallel strategy, which would be cleared by the end of the year, which would be followed by inviting fresh EOIs for the strategic sale of the company.

Earlier, Mr. Azhar Iqbal Resident Manager of KASB Securities, the Lead Managers for offer of sale of OGDCL shares gave a detailed presentation highlighting the profile and salient features of the company and informed that the offer had been fixed for Rs. 32 per share to be offered through Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad Stock Exchanges. All Pakistanis were eligible for acquiring the stakes in OGDCL by applying for a minimum 1000 shares with a smaller investment of Rs.32000 only, who would be given preference, he informed the participants. The Lead Manager as also scheduled presentation at Lahore on October 15, 2003 to be followed by presentations at Gujarnawala, Faisalabad, Mirpur, Peshawar and Quetta.

The Cabinet Committee on Privatisation (CCOP) had given approval to the initial public offering (IPO) of 2.5 % shares of Oil & Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) at a price of Rs.32 per share with a green shoe option of another 2.5 % shares. The divestment of shares through Stock Exchange would help in broadening and deepening the stock market and to transfer the benefits of privatisation to the common man in the most transparent way.