Stocks
National Tea Sets New Subscription Date for Tk279.7cr Placement Shares
National Tea Company Limited, a publicly traded entity, has announced new subscription dates for its Tk279.7 crore placement shares. Originally slated for nearly a year ago, the subscription had been postponed by regulatory authorities but is now set to proceed following a recent court directive.
According to the company’s disclosure, the subscription period will run from June 19 to August 19 during banking hours. This follows a letter from the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) instructing the resumption of the capital-raising initiative, in compliance with a High Court order.
The primary objective of issuing these placement shares is to fuel business growth, finance working capital, and repay bank loans. However, due to a funding shortfall, the company has been unable to complete its modernization projects and other initiatives, resulting in decreased turnover caused by declining average sale prices in the auction market for its products.
Following the court’s directive, significant progress has been made in implementing the state-owned company’s plans.
In July of the previous year, Jakir Hossain Sarkar, a minor shareholder with just 10 National Tea shares, filed a writ petition with the High Court opposing the company’s scheme to issue fresh shares as approved by the BSEC, alleging unequal treatment of existing shareholders. The court later upheld the BSEC’s approval. Upon a petition by the market regulator, the Appellate Division’s chamber judge temporarily stayed the High Court’s order.
Shareholders have borne the brunt of these legal battles. After the record date, the price of National Tea shares dropped in anticipation of the increased number of shares, and the issuance of placement shares remained uncertain.
In April last year, National Tea received BSEC approval to raise its paid-up capital by issuing 2.34 crore shares at Tk119.53 each, inclusive of a Tk109.53 premium per share. The distribution plan allocated 1.24 crore shares to the government, Investment Corporation of Bangladesh, and Sadharan Bima Corporation at an average ratio of 4.43 new shares for each existing share. Sponsor-directors were allocated 13.8 lakh shares at a ratio of 3.21:1, and general shareholders were to receive nearly 96 lakh shares at a 2.85:1 ratio.
As of Wednesday, National Tea shares closed at Tk388.60 each on the Dhaka Stock Exchange. Founded in 1978 and listed on the capital market in 1979, National Tea cultivates, manufactures, and sells tea and rubber in the local market. The company’s average annual production is about 52 lakh kg of tea, most of which is sold through the Chattogram auction market.
One of the Listed companies, National Polymer Limited has recommended 10.50% Cash Dividend for the year ended June 30, 2024.
It has reported Consolidated EPS of Tk 2.27 paisa, and Consolidated NAV per share of Tk 30.63 for the year ended March 31, 2024.
The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the company will be held on December 18, through the digital platform. The record date for this has been fixed at October 22.
The Company also discloses its financial reports for the second quarter, (April – June 24).
As per the company’s consolidated life revenue account for April to June 2024, the excess of total income over total expenses, including claims (surplus), stood at Tk 1,394.24 million. This marks a significant increase from the surplus of Tk 823.68 million during the same period in 2023.
For the first half of 2024, from January to June, the company reported a surplus of Tk 2,177.57 million, compared to Tk 1,290.39 million in the corresponding period of the previous year.
Additionally, the Life Insurance Fund balance as of June 30, 2024, reached Tk 55,188.62 million, showing a net increase of Tk 5,892.25 million from Tk 49,296.37 million on June 30, 2023.
One of the Listed companies, Beacon Pharmaceuticals PLC has recommended 20% Cash dividend and 10% Cash Dividend to Sponsor Shareholder and Directors for the year ended June 30, 2024.
It has reported EPS of Tk 2.26 paisa, and NAV per share of Tk. 26.37 for the year ended June 30, 2024.
The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the company will be held on December 23, through the digital platform. The record date for this has been fixed at October 27.
The Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) has removed three audit firms from its panel for their failure to secure enlistment with the Financial Reporting Council (FRC), according to a notice issued today.
The firms—A Hoque & Company, FAMES & R, and SK Barua & Company Chartered Accountants—were delisted following the FRC’s request. In December last year, the FRC published a list of enlisted audit firms and subsequently, in February, requested the BSEC to remove any firms that were not included on that list.
BSEC regulations mandate that financial statements signed by auditors outside its approved panel will not be accepted. With the removal of these three firms, the total number of audit firms on the BSEC panel has been reduced from 48 to 45.
Sources from the FRC revealed that 15-20 audit firms failed to secure enlistment last year, and approximately 45 chartered accountants are currently under restrictions imposed by the Institute of Chartered Accountants.
Although the delisted firms can no longer audit issuer companies or listed securities, they are allowed to complete audit and assurance services that were initiated before their removal, the BSEC clarified.
