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

Islamabad, October 21, 2003

The Initial Public Offering (IPO) for sale of the shares of Oil & Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) in early November 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 OGDCL would be the largest listed company in the stock market after PTCL, which would add significant depth to the Stock Market and fetch about Rs. 6.9 billion. Also being the second Exploration & Production Company listing in Pakistan had already generated huge interest and had become an important and exciting transaction, the Minister said.

He added that realizing over Rs. 7 billion through the divestment small number of shares of POL, ARL and DG Khan Cement in the early months of the government was a record and we were looking eagerly to implement this strategy, which was the very transparent way of privatisation, which would further develop the market and broaden the base of ownership and it was the only effective mode to transfer the benefits of privatisation to the common man from the lower class with average income. Preference would be given to all
the smaller applicants of 1000 shares in OGDCL, he stated. The oversubscription witnessed in the public offering of NBP's 3.2 % shares was a good sign where applications worth Rs. 1.21 billion plus were received against the required amount of Rs. 604 million, he said.

He further stated that to take advantage of the liquidity in the market this process would continue through a well-sequenced program with interims keeping in view the market capacity, which included offer of sale of shares of SSGC, PIAC and Initial Public Offering (IPO) of KAPCO and PPL, he said.

The Minister said that we were progressing ahead with the strategic sales of PSO, which was at an advance stage, HBL, which attracted several international and Pakistani groups and would eliminate the possibilities of political patronage. Pakarab Fertilizers, Jamshoro Power Company, FESCO, NITL Mutual Fund, Hyatt Regency Hotel Project and Flatti's Hotel were among the up coming transactions, he added.

Dr. Hafeez Shaikh further stated that the deregulation phase was over the privatisation process of Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) would be accelerated. We should try to take things on face value, we want to remain transparent by communicating facts to the people, therefore, our intentions and efforts should be trusted as weendeavor to complete our task on time, the Minister said.

Addressing on this occasion Mr. M Abdullah Yusuf Secretary Petroleum & Natural Resources said that the government was endeavoring to open up Oil & Gas sector by giving complete autonomy to the public sector companies, paving the way for a market environment for encouraging investments, brought independent regulators and to focus interest of the investors. OGDCL had the potential to grow in view of its exploration and production activity and discoveries, which were yet to go on stream.

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 acquiring new technologies to run the company on commercial lines. 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 Informed the audience that the Financial Advisor for OGDCL had started soft marketing for the strategic sale of OGDCL as a parallel strategy.

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, which represented the premium of Rs. 22 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 minimum 1000 shares with a smaller investment of Rs.32000 only, who would be given preference, he informed the participants.

Mr. Azhar Also detailed the organizational and corporate structure of the company and added that OGDCL had a natural growing market.