LIC and NSE backed NCDEX is in the talks with merchant bankers to raise via the IPO route.

"NCDEX is in talks with SBI Capital and ICICI Securities to raise around Rs 400 crore to Rs 500 crore via an IPO for growth capital and provide an exit window for their investors. The plan is to file a DRHP by end 2019," a source privy to the development is cited as saying in a business portal's report.

At present only MCX that deals in energy and metals is the only commodity exchange listed in the country.

As per the NCDEX site, NSE is the largest stakeholder in the exchange with an holding of 15% followed by LIC (11.10 percent), National Bank For Agriculture & Rural Development (NABARD, 11.10 percent), Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO, 10 percent), Oman India Joint Investment Fund (10 percent), Punjab National Bank (7.29 percent), Canara Bank (6 percent) and IDFC Private Equity Fund (5 percent) among others.

"With rising volumes, the exchange wants to increase the percentage of the settlement fund. It also wants to expand and diversify into more commodities like its global peers. This is likely to be a mixture of primary and secondary issue of shares," added one of the other sources.

GoodReturns.in