Tata Power plans Rs1,200 crore preferential issue to Tata Sons

23 May 2007

Mumbai: Tata Power Company proposes to issue nearly two crore additional shares and convertible warrants to promoters Tata Sons Ltd to raise around Rs 1,200 crore.

The company will issue up to 98.94 lakh equity shares and a maximum of 1.03 crore convertible warrants to Tata Sons on preferential basis, the company said in a filing with the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE).

The warrants can be converted into shares after April 1, 2008 but not later than 18 months from the date of issue of the warrants.

The issue price of the shares and warrants would be set later, the company said in a statement to the stock exchange late on Tuesday. Shareholders would have to approve the issue plan.

Tata Sons, the holding firm of the Tata Group, holds 28.74 percent in Tata Power as of March 31, stock exchange data showed.

Tata Power''s shares closed at 610.65 rupees on Tuesday. Tata Power will seek shareholders'' approval for the issue through postal ballot, the release added.

Based on its current share price of Rs610.65 on the BSE, Tata Power could raise more than Rs1,200 crore through the exercise.

Tata Power, the country''s largest private power utility, had recently acquired three Indonesian coal firms for $1.1 billion and is also setting up various power projects in the country including the 4,000 MW Mundra Ultra Mega Power Project.