Anil Ambani group may buy 26% pie in ICEX

Commodity markets regulator FMC on Wednesday said it has given approval to the Anil Ambani Group to acquire 26 per cent stake in Indian Commodity Exchange from one of its promoters, Indiabulls group.

"We have given permission to Anil Ambani Group to buy 26 per cent stake in ICEX from Indiabulls," Forward Markets Commission Chairman B C Khatua told PTI. Consumer Affairs Ministry, which frames policies for commodity futures markets, gave its assent to the ICEX' proposal last week, he said.

FMC functions under the aegis of this ministry and oversees the functioning of four national and 19 regional commodity bourses.

At present, Indiabulls holds 40 per cent in ICEX, of which it wants to sell 26 per cent stake in the bourse to ADAG. MMTC has 26 per cent stake in ICEX, which is the country's fourth national commodity exchange launched late last year.

"We entered the exchange business in late 2009. We have already started a spot exchange and have a 26 per cent stake in a commodities exchange," ADAG Group Chairman Anil Ambani had said at the AGM of group firm Reliance Capital.

The Group had also announced its intention to enter all segments of the exchange business. Reliance Capital is already in the spot commodity space.

Another group firm Reliance Money also has stake in the national commodity exchange NMCE. ICEX, a national-level commodity bourse, offers futures trading in 18 commodities, including bullion, metals and agricultural items.

The exchange clocked a business of Rs 13,009 crore (Rs 130 billion) in the first fortnight of September.