Informed sources: The United States is preparing to list Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac later this year

The U.S. government is preparing to take Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac public later this year in an offering that is expected to raise about $30 billion and is expected to launch later this year, according to the Wall Street Journal. Some government officials are discussing plans that could value the two companies at a combined value of about $500 billion or more, with the offering involving the sale of 5% to 15% of their shares, according to some people familiar with the matter. However, whether the two mortgage giants will conduct their initial public offerings (IPOs) as one company or two separate entities is still under discussion. Fannie and Freddie, which are mainly involved in the packaging and sale of mortgages, have been under government regulation since the 2008 financial crisis and rely on government-backed guarantees to protect investors from losses.