Two industrial entities connected to United Commercial Bank PLC Chairman Sharif Zahir filed notice this week to acquire Tk 103.04 crore worth of the lender’s shares in Dhaka. The planned transaction follows regulatory approval allowing a single sponsor family to hold larger equity blocks.

Ananta Denim Technology intends to buy 8.2 crore ordinary shares of the bank, while Z & Z Intimates plans to purchase 3 crore shares. Both buyers disclosed their intentions through the Dhaka Stock Exchange platform after central bank authorities widened ownership thresholds.

Bangladesh Bank issued an exemption on Tuesday permitting an individual investor or family group to hold as much as 30 per cent of UCB’s paid-up capital. Under standard banking regulations, single investors face a 10 per cent cap.

The central bank relaxed the rules specifically to attract fresh capital into the institution following the dissolution of its previous board after political shifts in August 2024. Regulators are using equity waivers to stabilize balance sheets across commercial lenders whose legacy loan portfolios suffered from historical governance breakdowns.

Shares of UCB climbed 9.52 per cent to finish at Tk 9.20 on the Dhaka bourse following the announcement. Based on the previous closing price, Ananta Denim Technology will deploy Tk 75.44 crore to complete its purchase, while Z & Z Intimates will spend Tk 27.60 crore.

The apparel manufacturing firms tied to Zahir are absorbing equity directly from the secondary market. By purchasing listed units, the sponsor affiliates cement voting control while injecting market liquidity into a stock that traded near multi-year lows during broad financial sector restructuring.

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