DSE to launch SME platform on September 30

The Dhaka Stock Exchange is all set to introduce a new trading platform for small and medium enterprises on September 30.

Initially, the board will start its journey with share trading of six companies, according to DSE information.

The premier bourse is scheduled to hold an inaugural function at the DSE Tower in the capital on the day, in participation of Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) Chairman Prof Shibli Rubayat-Ul-Islam.

Two of the six companies have recently raised funds from the capital market through qualified investor offer (QIO) while the remaining four are shifted from recently dissolved over-the-counter (OTC) market.

The two new companies -- Master Feed Agrotec and Oryza Agro Industries – raised funds worth Tk 10 crore each. The rest four firms that came from the OTC market are Bengal Biscuits, Apex Weaving and Finishing Mills, Wonderland Toys, and Himadri Ltd.

Investors with a minimum investment of Tk 50 lakh will qualify to trade shares of companies on the SME platforms of the bourses.

In a notification on September 16, the stock market regulator said any investors registered with the electronic subscription system of the stock exchanges must be considered as qualified for trading on the secondary market of SME maintaining a minimum investment of Tk 50 lakh in the listed securities at the market value as per portfolio statement.

The sponsors, directors and promoters of the listed companies must be considered as qualified investors for the purpose of trading on the secondary market, SME platform, the notification said.

Earlier, the BSEC dissolved the OTC market and allowed 23 OTC companies to move to the SME platform and 18 other firms to the alternative trading board (AwTB) of the country's stock exchanges.