ICB, Shanta Holdings offload 2.95 lakh ACI shares in July
Market insiders described the move as part of a broader strategic adjustment by the two institutions
The Investment Corporation of Bangladesh (ICB) and Shanta Holdings Limited sold a combined total of 295,035 shares of ACI PLC from their respective stakes in July, according to ACI's monthly shareholding disclosure for the month.
Of the total, ICB offloaded 242,966 shares, while Shanta Holdings sold 52,069 shares. Both entities are major stakeholders in ACI, and following these sales, ICB's stake in ACI decreased to 8.72% from 9.01%, and Shanta Holdings' stake dropped to 4.98% from 5.05%.
Earlier, in April, both firms sold a combined total of 832,000 shares of ACI, where ICB sold 5.47 lakh shares and Shanta Holdings 2.84 lakh shares from their holdings, respectively.
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Market insiders described the move as part of a broader strategic adjustment by the two institutions. In January, both ICB and Shanta received a significant number of ACI shares through a stock dividend issued for the previous fiscal year.
Interestingly, in March, ICB had increased its stake in ACI by acquiring 29 lakh shares, reflecting dynamic changes in its investment strategy.
Earlier, the company had paid a 20% cash dividend and a 15% stock dividend in the last fiscal year despite having a loss of Tk139 crore in that year.
Meanwhile, in April, Arif Dowla, managing director of ACI PLC, increased his stake by acquiring 14 lakh shares at the prevailing market price through the block market of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE).
Between January and March, he had already purchased 31 lakh shares. As per the April shareholding report, Arif Dowla now holds 88.68 lakh shares, representing 10.12% of the company's total shares.
In the same month, ACI Director Shusmita Anis purchased 7.75 lakh shares, following her earlier acquisition of 15.15 lakh shares in January. Additionally, ACI Chairman Anis Ud Dowla acquired 16 lakh shares in January.
According to the monthly shareholding report for July, sponsors and directors of ACI hold 45.77% shares in the company.
Meanwhile, ACI PLC incurred a loss of Tk80 crore in the July-March period of FY25.
According to the company's unaudited statement, its loss per share stood at Tk9.11 during the period, up from Tk7.18 in the same period of the previous year.
Its consolidated revenue was Tk10,193 crore in the first nine months of FY25, which was Tk9,296 crore a year ago.
ACI shares closed 1.55% lower at Tk196.50 on Thursday at the Dhaka bourse.
