ACI MD to raise stake in company with Tk27cr share purchase

Arif Dowla, managing director of ACI PLC, has announced plans to raise his stake in the company through acquiring 14 lakh shares at the prevailing market price for the block market of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE).

On the day of the announcement, ACI shares closed 4.61% lower at Tk194.60 each, putting the total value of the planned purchase by the MD at around Tk27 crore.

Previously, between January and March, he bought 31 lakh shares of the company. According to the shareholding report for March, Arif Dowla holds 74.68 lakh or 8.52% of ACI's shares.

Meanwhile, on 13 April, ACI Director Shusmita Anis announced plans to buy 7.75 lakh shares of the company. Earlier, in January, she acquired 15.15 lakh shares. 

As per the March shareholding report, she currently holds 32.11 lakh shares, which is 3.66% of ACI's total shares.

In January this year, Chairman Anis Ud Dowla acquired 16 lakh shares.

These acquisitions have raised the combined stake of the company's sponsors and directors by 7.09%, bringing their total ownership to 43.16% of ACI's paid-up shares.

Besides, according to the March shareholding report, the Investment Corporation of Bangladesh (ICB) increased its stake in ACI by acquiring 28.99 lakh shares.

ICB now holds 9.64% of ACI's shares, up from 6.42% in February. Another key shareholder is Shanta Holdings Ltd, with a stake of 5.37% in ACI's shares.

ACI incurred a net consolidated loss of Tk70 crore in the first half of FY25, primarily driven by a 43% increase in interest payments due to rising policy rates. Its consolidated loss per share was reported at Tk7.99.  

During the July-December period, the company's total revenue reached Tk6,619 crore, up from Tk6,244 crore in the corresponding period of the previous year, reflecting a 6% growth.

It had paid a 20% cash and 15% stock dividends for the last fiscal year.