PNOC Exploration Corp. (PEC.PH) said Monday its board has hired UBS AG (UBS) as financial adviser, sole underwriter and global coordinator for the state-controlled oil exploration firm's plan to sale additional shares to comply with the Philippine Stock Exchange's minimum ownership requirement.

The PSE requires minimum public ownership of 10% but public ownership in PNOC Exploration is only 0.21%.

PNOC Exploration said it plans to sell around 217.8 million new shares to comply with the ownership rule.

"The due diligence and valuation process by UBS AG is estimated to take two months," the company said. After that period, the company said it will have to secure the PSE and the Securities and Exchange Commission's approval.

At its last traded price of PHP57 on Friday, the shares that PNOC Exploration plans to sell are worth a total PHP12.4 billion ($292 million).

-By Cris Larano, Dow Jones Newswires; 632-848-5051; cris.larano@dowjones.com