Karachi: Arif Habib Corporation Limited (AHCL) has announced the acquisition of additional ordinary shares in Aisha Steel Mills Limited (ASML), further solidifying its position as a substantial shareholder in the company. The announcement was made through a report dated August 5, 2026, in compliance with clause 5.6.4 of the Rule Book of the Pakistan Stock Exchange.

According to the detailed report, AHCL executed two separate transactions this month. On August 3, 2026, AHCL purchased 12,924,531 shares at an average rate of Rs. 13.53 per share. This transaction increased AHCL's cumulative shareholding to 192.61 million shares, representing 19.76% of ASML's total issued ordinary shares.

Additionally, on August 4, 2026, AHCL acquired a further 13,889,019 shares at an average price of Rs. 13.78 per share. This purchase brought the total number of ordinary shares held by AHCL to 206.50 million, accounting for 21.19% of ASML's ordinary shares.

According to information available from the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), AHCL's latest acquisitions mark a significant move in the market, reflecting the corporation's growing influence in the steel industry.

AHCL also maintains a substantial holding in preference shares of ASML, with 35,075,499 preference shares. With the recent acquisitions, AHCL's total investment in ASML, combining both ordinary and preference shares, now represents 24.79% of the company's issued share capital. This strategic move underscores AHCL's commitment to expanding its footprint in the steel sector within the designated market category.