BUCHAREST, July 5 (Reuters) - Romanian energy producer Hidroelectrica's IPO has been priced at 104 lei ($22.87) per share, it said on Wednesday, implying a market capitalisation of $10.3 billion in what a government minister described as a "historic success." "We are happy to see the strong investor interest which has driven a successful outcome," said Chief Executive Bogdan Badea. The stock will start trading on July 12 on the Bucharest bourse. The government will retain its 80% holding in the country's largest energy producer, which has power capacity of 6.3 gigawatts from 182 hydroelectric plants. The performance of the shares once they start trading will be watched closely.

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Persons: Bogdan Badea, Fondul Proprietatea, Franklin Templeton, Sebastian Burduja, Austria's Verbund, Luiza Ilie, Pablo Mayo, Alexandra Schwarz, David Goodman Organizations: Bucharest bourse, U.S, EU, Bucharest Stock Exchange, Romanian Energy, CAB Payments, Bankers, Vienna Stock Exchange, Pablo Mayo Cerqueiro, Thomson Locations: BUCHAREST, Romanian, Bucharest, London