KARACHI: Ghani Dairies Limited, a Pakistani corporate dairy farming company, plans to raise about Rs 2.5 billion ($8.9 million) through an initial public offering, in what would be the country’s first listing by a large-scale, automated dairy farm, its advisers said on Tuesday.

The company will issue 104.2 million new shares, representing 24.28 percent of its post-IPO paid-up capital, with 75 percent of the offering allocated through book building and the remainder offered to retail investors, according to a statement by JS Global Capital, the consultant to the issue.

The floor price has been set at Rs 24 per share, and the issue will be fully underwritten.

“This is not just a dairy farm, but a vision for Pakistan’s dairy future,” said Hafiz Avais Ghani, chief executive officer of Ghani Dairies, adding that the company aimed to expand capacity to better serve industrial clients and the broader market.

Ghani Dairies operates a fully automated dairy farm using imported high-yielding cattle and digital herd-management systems, supplying milk primarily to large food and dairy processors.

Its expansion plan includes the import of 1,250 dairy cows, construction of additional milking and heifer sheds, storage facilities and the installation of modern feeding and milking systems.

The company’s customers include Nestlé Pakistan, IRC Dairy, and Fauji Foods, according to the statement.

Khalil Usmani, chief executive of JS Global Capital, said the IPO would give investors exposure to a modern, corporate dairy operation at a time when demand for higher-quality milk and value-added dairy products was rising.

Book building for the offering is scheduled for Feb. 2–3, with the public offering expected to follow on Feb. 9–10, the statement said.