Hindustan Copper: eyeing mining assets overseas

BANGALORE (Reuters) - State-run Hindustan Copper Ltd is in talks to acquire mining assets in Namibia in Africa and Chile in South America, its chairman said on Thursday.

"It is at a very preliminary stage ... We will be open to all forms of acquisition -- alone, joint venture or even buying strategic stake," Chairman and Managing Director Shakeel Ahmed told reporters at a media briefing.

The company expects to file a draft prospectus for its follow-on public offer by July-end, Ahmed said.

The offer would consist of 10 percent fresh equity and 10 percent divested by the government and is expected to raise up to about 50 billion rupees ($1.08 billion) through the public issue.

($1=46.4 Indian rupees)

(Reporting by Bharghavi Nagaraju)