Carmaker Maruti Udyog Ltd has fixed June 12 as the date for opening the books for its much-awaited public offering and the offer would close on June 19.

Through the Initial Public Offer for the sale of 7.2 crore (72 million) shares by way of the book-building route, Maruti will divest 25 per cent of the government equity in the joint venture car company, sources close to the divestment process said.

Although the IPO offer is for the sale of 7.2 crore share the company has a green shoe option of retaining up to 10 per cent in case there is an over subscription, and in such a case total sale could be for 7.95 crore (79.5 million) shares, each with a face value of Rs 5.

The opening of the public offer would be preceded by a series of roadshows across India beginning May 30 to be followed by roadshows outside the country for wooing the global investor community.

Osamu Suzuki, the chief of Suzuki Motor Corporation, which is the majority stakeholder in Maruti, will fly to India for the inauguration of the roadshow in Mumbai. This would be followed by roadshows in Delhi.

International roadshows would commence from June 2 onwards in key markets like London, Amstersdam, Boston, New York, Singapore and Dubai, a move, which the company feels would enable the domestic issue to be conducted over an international platform.

Securities and Exchange Board of India has already cleared the MUL prospectus for the proposed public offering and the country's largest bourses -- National Stock Exchange and Bombay Stock Exchange -- have already cleared the proposed IPO of Maruti, paving the way for listing of stocks on these bourses.