Indian companies sold shares worth a record Rs 451.37 billion in 2007 through public issues, with real estate companies dominating the initial public offer (IPOs) route, a primary market monitoring firm said on Wednesday. The amount raised in 2007 was 83 per cent higher than last year’s mobilisation of Rs 246.79 billion, Prime Database said in a statement.

It said real estate companies raised Rs 151.85 billion, almost one-third of the total funds raised, followed by banks with Rs 126.39 billion. The biggest issue was of ICICI Bank that raised Rs 100.44 billion through a follow-on issue while real-estate firm DLF raised Rs 91.87 billion through an IPO.

Other big issues in 2007 included Power Grid Corp of India (Rs 29.84 billion), Idea Cellular (Rs 24.43 billion) and Mundra Port & Special Economic Zone (Rs 17.71 billion).