Shanta Holdings disposes of 295,000 ACI shares during July period
In a significant development at the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), two major shareholders of ACI PLC, The Investment Corporation of Bangladesh (ICB) and Shanta Holdings Limited, sold a combined total of 295,035 shares in July 2025. This move appears to be part of a strategic shift, potentially influenced by ACI PLC's recent financial performance.
The sales seem to be a response to ACI PLC's financial losses in the July–March FY25 period. The company reported a loss of Tk80 crore during this period, and the loss per share increased to Tk9.11, up from Tk7.18 in the same period of the previous year.
The reduced holdings could reflect a bearish sentiment towards ACI PLC's current financial situation. Despite the losses, the company did pay a 20% cash dividend and a 15% stock dividend in the last fiscal year, totaling Tk139 crore.
The sales by ICB and Shanta Holdings reduced their combined stake in ACI PLC to around 8%. ICB sold 242,966 shares, while Shanta Holdings sold 52,069 shares. The exact stake reduction for April is not specified in the available data.
Meanwhile, Arif Dowla, managing director of ACI PLC, increased his stake in the company by acquiring 45 lakh shares between January and March. He initially bought 15.15 lakh shares in January, followed by another 14 lakh shares in April and 17.75 lakh shares in July.
The sales by ICB and Shanta Holdings, coupled with Arif Dowla's increased stake, indicate a complex dynamic within the company's shareholder structure. As of April, sponsors and directors of ACI PLC hold 45.77% shares in the company, while Arif Dowla holds 88.68 lakh shares, representing 10.12% of the total shares.
This news underscores the importance of monitoring corporate actions and financial performance for investors in the Dhaka Stock Exchange. As ACI PLC continues to navigate its financial challenges, the actions of its key shareholders will undoubtedly be closely watched.
[1] ICB and Shanta Holdings sell shares of ACI PLC in July 2025 [2] ACI PLC reports financial losses in the July–March FY25 period [3] ACI PLC loss per share increases to Tk9.11 [4] ACI PLC pays dividends despite financial losses
[1] The sales by ICB and Shanta Holdings of ACI PLC shares may have been influenced by the company's recent financial losses.
[2] The financial challenges facing ACI PLC seem to be driving decisions around investing in the company, as demonstrated by the share sales by ICB and Shanta Holdings.
