SM Shamsul Alam, the sponsor-director and chairman of Walton Hi-Tech Industries PLC, has decided to transfer over 3.64 crore shares of the company to his wife and daughters. According to Walton’s shareholding report for August, Alam currently holds 6 crore shares, representing 19.81% of the total ownership in the tech giant.
As part of the transfer, his daughter, Sabiha Jarin Orona, will receive 1.81 crore shares, while his wife, Shahinur Akter Jolly, will be allocated 90.81 lakh shares. Both are general shareholders of Walton Hi-Tech Industries. Additionally, his other daughter, Tahmina Afrose Tanna, who serves as a shareholder-director on Walton’s board, will receive 91.75 lakh shares.
The transfer will be made as a gift, taking place outside the stock exchange’s trading system, within 30 working days starting from 11 September 2024, according to the disclosures published by the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE).
Currently, Walton’s sponsor-directors hold a dominant stake of 98.51%, equivalent to 30.29 crore shares. The remaining 1.49% is owned by general shareholders, which includes institutions holding 0.66%, foreign investors with 0.10%, and the public owning 0.73%.
Walton entered the public market in 2020 by offering only 1% of its shares. In an effort to prevent market manipulation, the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) mandated Walton in 2021 to increase the number of free-floating shares to at least 10%, alongside other companies such as the Investment Corporation of Bangladesh (ICB) and Berger Paints.
As of 30 June 2024, Walton’s report shows that sponsors and directors sold 15.85 lakh shares to general and institutional investors. In the fiscal year 2023-24, Walton recorded a profit of Tk1,356 crore, reflecting a Tk573.85 crore rise compared to the previous year. The board approved a 200% cash dividend for sponsor-directors and a 350% dividend for general shareholders.
