Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) has extended the lock-in on shares held by sponsors, directors, and placement shareholders of Asiatic Laboratories Limited due to underutilisation of IPO funds and a controversial real estate plan.
The company raised Tk 95 crore through an IPO in 2022 for business expansion, including machinery, factory construction, and loan repayment, but has yet to fully use the proceeds.
In September 2025, it disclosed plans for a 32-storey building without feasibility studies or regulatory approvals from RAJUK, a move inconsistent with its Memorandum of Association.
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Following a Dhaka Stock Exchange inspection and considering investor protection, BSEC extended the lock-in for three years from expiry or until the building’s commercial operation and occupancy certificate, whichever comes later.