The managing director of ACI Ltd has again announced plans to buy more of its shares, reflecting confidence in the listed conglomerate's potential, even though the stock price is yet to respond in kind.

In a disclosure on the Dhaka Stock Exchange website yesterday, Managing Director Arif Dowla said he would buy 25 lakh shares at the prevailing market price within the next 30 working days.

The transaction will cost approximately Tk 38 crore, considering that each share stood at Tk 151.60 at the end of trade on Sunday.

The managing director had bought 6 lakh shares last month. Chairman M Anis Ud Dowla and Director Shusmita Anis had also followed suit.

M Anis Ud Dowla purchased 16 lakh shares, raising his total shareholding to 1.69 crore shares.

This is 19.33 percent of ACI's total 8.76 crore outstanding shares.

Meanwhile, Shusmita Anis bought 15.15 lakh shares, increasing her holdings to 29.90 lakh shares, or 3.41 percent of the company's total shares.

Market analysts view these moves as a strong indicator of ACI's resilience and growth potential in 2025.

They also suggest that this may boost investors' confidence in the company, which has interests in pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, and the agriculture industry.

ACI's shareholding structure, disclosed in a report signed by Company Secretary Mohammad Mostafizur Rahman, revealed that the directors collectively held 36.23 percent of the company's shares as of December 2024.

Institutional investors held 41.66 percent, while public shareholders accounted for the remaining 22.11 percent.

The high concentration of shares among directors and institutions is often interpreted as a sign of the company's stability, long-term commitment, and strategic alignment.

ACI has consistently attracted both local and foreign investors.

For the fiscal year ending in June 2024, the company declared a 35 percent dividend—20 percent in cash and 15 percent in stocks.

Experts opined that further announcements regarding the company's expansion plans could drive its share prices higher.

ACI's share price peaked at Tk 192.30 last year, in February to be specific.

However, the company has been incurring losses since the fiscal year 2022-23.