Published : 19 Oct 2026, 05:43 PM
Updated : 19 Oct 2026, 05:43 PM
The Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) has opened the door for eligible companies to list directly on the country’s stock market without an initial public offering (IPO).
The market regulator issued a notification on Sunday outlining the rules for direct listings.
Under the rules, existing shareholders can offload their shares on a stock exchange without the company issuing new securities to the public through an IPO.
The opportunity, previously limited to state-owned companies, has now been extended to several other categories of businesses.
Eligible companies include those in which the government holds at least a 10 percent stake, as well as firms wholly or majority-owned by foreign shareholders.
Majority ownership means holding at least 51 percent of a company’s paid-up capital.
Scheduled banks, financial institutions and insurance companies with a net worth of at least Tk 5 billion, based on their latest audited financial statements, can also qualify.
Companies with annual turnover of at least Tk 10 billion are eligible, along with registered stock exchanges, depositories and clearing and settlement companies.
The commission may also specify other companies eligible for direct listing.