Leading Leasing trims stake in Sri Adhikari Brothers

MUMBAI: Leading Leasing Finance and Investment Company has quietly exited a slice of its position in Sri Adhikari Brothers Television Network, selling 110,000 equity shares in a week-long open market spree that concluded on 5 December.

The disposal, spanning five trading sessions from 1 December, shaved the finance firm’s stake from 17.36 per cent to 16.93 per cent in the Mumbai-based television production house. Leading Leasing now holds 4.295 million shares in Sri Adhikari Brothers, down from 4.405 million previously.

The sale triggers disclosure requirements under India’s takeover regulations, which mandate reporting when substantial shareholders alter their holdings. Leading Leasing, helmed by managing director Kurjibhai Rupareliya, is not part of Sri Adhikari Brothers’ promoter group and appears to be gradually unwinding what remains a significant minority position.

Sri Adhikari Brothers Television Network, listed on both the BSE and National Stock Exchange, has an equity base of 25.37 million shares of Rs 10 each. The company’s total share capital remains unchanged post-transaction at Rs 253.73 million.

The timing and rationale behind the stake reduction remain undisclosed. Leading Leasing submitted the mandatory regulatory filing but offered no commentary on whether further sales are planned or if this marks the beginning of a broader exit strategy.

For a firm still holding nearly 17 per cent, the trimming looks more like portfolio adjustment than wholesale retreat. But in markets where every basis point matters, even modest stake sales raise questions about conviction.