Official sources said the month long exercise came to an end last month with interested parties having completed their study of the data room and the plants.

Four parties, namely Birla Copper, Sterlite Industries, international metals major Glencore and Phelps Dodge-Metdist combine had evinced interest in picking up stake in the copper major. Government had decided to hive off two of the units of the public sector copper major namely Khetri and Taloja units into a separate company.

The value of the assets of the two units will form HCL's 49 per cent contribution in the new company. The remaining 51 per cent equity would be infused by the strategic partner.