Business

Three listed companies adopting share split strategy to boost liquidity & share price

Published

2 years ago

2021/01/3

Each existing EB Creasy share to be split into 100

Three companies listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange have announced decisions to subdivide their existing issued shares with no change in their stated capital in what is considered a measure intended, in the view of brokers and analysts, to increase the market liquidity of their shares with prospects to increase their price post-subdivision.

Among those companies that has announced subdivision of shares is old-established EB Creasy and Co. PLC, a member of the Colombo Fort Land and Buildings group, where a subdivision of each existing share into 100 new shares is pending.

The other two companies where subdivisions are pending are CIC Holdings PLC where a subdivision of each existing share into four has been announced and Lanka Aluminium Industries PLC where each existing share would be split into five.

Although there have been share splits since the new Company law came into effect on 2007, brokers and analysts could not recall a share split as big as what is proposed by EB Creasy which concluded its last Annual General Meeting for the year ended Mar. 31, 2020, on Dec. 30. A dividend of Rs. 18 per share (pre-share split) was adopted.

“Given that the company’s issued capital (stated capital is what now applies) was small, the Creasy share which is seldom traded has commanded a very high price on the trading floor of the CSE,” a broker said.

It last traded a few days ago between Rs. 3,150 and Rs. 3,070 with 506 shares changing hands in 34 trades. Its par value per share was Rs. 10 when par values applied. That concept went out with the introduction of state capital under the new company law.

Brokers and analysts said that there is a push-up factor possible in share splits but this has not always worked out.

“Consider an example of a company whose share is trading at Rs. 50 when a split of two new shares for each existing share is announced. Theoretically each new share should then be worth Rs. 25 but it doesn’t always work out that way, depending on market conditions. Shareholders always hope for a favourable movement from such measures,” a broker said.

CIC Holdings which has two classes of shares, voting and non-voting, will divide each existing share into four. An Extraordinary General Meeting has been called for Jan. 5 to secure shareholder approval for the proposed measure. The subdivision will apply to both voting and non-voting shares.

The CIC voting share last traded on the CSE between Rs. 184.90 and Rs. 182 closing at Rs. 182.30 with 57,601 shares transacted in 53 trades. The company paid two interim dividends of one rupee each for the financial year ended Mar. 31, 2020.

At Lanka Aluminium, each existing share will be split into five. Its share last traded at a range of Rs. 112.70 to Rs. 113.30 closing at Rs. 112.70 with 71,059 shares transacted in 119 trades. The company paid a first and final dividend of one rupee for the last financial year.

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Business

Oil prices rise as Saudi Arabia pledges output cuts – Opec+

Published

17 hours ago

2023/06/5

Priyan

(picture BBC)

Oil-producing countries have agreed to continued cuts in production in a bid to shore up flagging prices.

Saudi Arabia said it would make cuts of a million barrels per day (bpd) in July and Opec+ said targets would drop by a further 1.4 million bpd from 2024.

Opec+ accounts for around 40% of the world’s crude oil and its decisions can have a major impact on oil prices.

In Asia trade on Monday, Brent crude oil rose by as much as 2.4% before settling at around $77 a barrel.

The seven hour-long meeting on Sunday of the oil-rich nations, led by Russia, came against a backdrop of falling energy prices.

Total production cuts, which Opec+ has undertaken since October 2022, reached 3.66 million bpd, according to Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak.

Opec+, a formulation which refers to the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies, had already agreed to cut production by two million bpd, about 2% of global demand.

(BBC)

Business

Manpower services agency wins accolades for its contribution to foreign employment sector

Published

20 hours ago

2023/06/5

Thilina Walpola

Siraj Cafoor, Managing Director of Siraj Manpower Services receives the award

Its MD says. ‘go abroad only if you can work hard’

Siraj Manpower Services, one of Sri Lanka’s leading foreign employment agencies, was honoured with the Three-Star Award at the ‘Golden Awards’ 2023, organised by the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE). This award ceremony was organised to honour foreign employment agencies that have made a significant contribution to the development of the foreign employment sector, which is a major source of foreign exchange for Sri Lanka. Siraj Cafoor, Managing Director of Siraj Manpower Services, was presented with the award at the award ceremony which was held at the BMICH in Colombo under the patronage of Minister of Foreign Employment and Labour Manusha Nanayakkara.

Having been established in 2002, Siraj Manpower Services (www.sirajmanpower.lk) has earned a reputation in the field of foreign employment by winning the trust of customers for more than 20 years. It has been offering job opportunities in the Middle East countries such as Kuwait, Qatar, Dubai and Saudi Arabia, and Malaysia as housekeepers, drivers, sanitation workers, labourers and also jobs related to the apparel industry. All these workers are entitled to approved salary scales certified by the SLBFE.

“We always stand for the safety of workers who go abroad through our organisation. We work to solve the problems that arise in relation to the contracts that the workers have entered into. I must mention something special to those who go abroad for employment. That is, you should keep in mind that you go abroad only to work. Go abroad only if you can work hard. You have to remember that you are going abroad to earn some more money and achieve the advancement of your family.” said Siraj Cafoor.

Business

Direct flights between Istanbul and Katunayake to commence from August

Published

20 hours ago

2023/06/5

Thilina Walpola

A special discussion between Turkish Ambassador – Demet Sekercioglu and Minister of Ports, Shipping and Aviation – Nimal Siripala de Silva took place last week at the ministry office. The aim of the discussion was to seek authorization to commence direct flights from the Turkish Capital Istanbul to Katunayake, Sri Lanka. The Chief of Turkish Airlines’ South Asia Office Fathi Bozkurt was also present during the discussion.

Currently, Turkish Airlines connects with Sri Lanka through a route that includes a stopover in the Maldives, resulting in an additional travel time of one and a half hours. The delay caused by this routing is not favored by travelers, as emphasized by the Ambassador.

The Chief of Turkish Airlines requested for time and space to be allocated in order to initiate direct flights between Istanbul and Katunaike, thus providing convenience for Turkish tourists and travelers who prefer visit Sri Lanka.

The Minister announced that the request would be forwarded to the Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka and the Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (Private) Limited. The aim is to establish direct flights between Istanbul and Katunayake starting from August this year.

Turkish Airlines, a renowned airline with a fleet of over 100 aircraft, offers flights connecting Europe’s Vancouver and New York. The Chief of Turkish Airlines said that the new service would not only benefit European travelers but also encourage them to travel to Sri Lanka.