New Delhi: The Disinvestment Ministry today (Feb 17, 2004) favoured discount to retail investors in the forthcoming public issues in six companies beginning with public float of IPCL (Indian Petroleum Corporation Limited) on February 20.

"Government has always as in the case of Maruti also wanted to reward small investors. But what extent of discount here is and whether there is a lock-in period all that will be in our proposal to the Finance Minister," the Disinvestment Minister Arun Shourie said when asked about the differential pricing in the forthcoming issues.