In contrasting actions, State funds EPF has sold down in Hayleys PLC whilst Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation Life Fund has upped its stake in the quarter ended on 31 December 2020.

Hayleys also saw 605 new shareholders in the quarter.

As per latest shareholding at Hayleys, EPF has moved down to fourth from third after selling 2.3 million shares. Its shareholding with 2.34 million shares amount to 3.12% down from 5.04% previously. 

SLIC Life Fund has increased its stake to 0.79 million shares or 1.06% from 0.39 million shares or 0.5%.

High net worth individual investor and former Director Nimal Perera figures in the Top 20 shareholders list with 0.5 million shares or 0.67% shares whilst J.B. Cocoshell Ltd. is also a new entrant with 0.37 million shares or 0.5%. 

Hayleys’ public shareholding is 37% held by 6,974 shareholders, up from 6,369 shareholders as at 30 September 2020. 

In December 2020 quarter saw Hayleys share price peak to Rs. 450 from a low of Rs. 242 before closing a Rs. 414.50. A year earlier the highest price was Rs. 188.20 and December closing was Rs. 174.90. Hayleys net assets per share as at 31 December 2020 was Rs. 589.28, up from Rs. 523 a year earlier and price earnings ratio was 5.7 times in comparison to 7.1 times in December 2019. Hayleys saw nearly 10 million shares changing hands in December 2020 quarter via 15,074 trades for Rs. 3.8 billion.

Hayleys’ shares will start trading from today after a three-day break to facilitate the 1:10 share split announced late last month. 

Hayleys last traded at Rs. 680.59 down by Rs. 101.25 from the previous week in tandem with bearish market. Its 52-week highest was Rs. 860 achieved soon after the share split.

Hayleys posts best-ever PAT of Rs. 8.20 b; foreign currency earnings exceed $ 443 m