News & market updates

Brown & Company PLC's Browns EV unveiled the BAW M8, marked 1,500 EV deliveries and announced an exclusive charging partnership with Qingdao TELD to deploy chargers nationwide. The M8 is priced at Rs.21 million and is claimed to have a range exceeding 1,050 km.

The Colombo market hit an intraday record of 24,052.06 but closed flat, with the ASPI down 0.01% at 23,953.09 and the S&P SL20 up 0.20% at 6,663.12. Turnover was over Rs.5.4bn; York jumped 24.81% while SAMP, RICH, DFCC, CTHR and CARG were top negative contributors.

Seminar on safeguards under the amended Companies Act No. 12 of 2025 will be held on 27 Jan (2–5pm) at NH Collection, Colombo 3. Organisers say the amendments place new responsibilities and stricter penal sanctions on company secretaries and directors; speakers include HNB and LOLC Insurance chairs.

Aggregate profits of 273 listed companies fell 12% YoY to Rs.176.5 billion in Sep-25, ending a seven-quarter growth streak. Banks (Rs.52bn, +39% YoY) and diversified financials (Rs.39bn, +112% YoY) underpinned a QoQ rebound, while food, beverage & tobacco and capital goods posted steep declines.

The Ministry launched the Industry Recovery Foster Program (IRFP) and Industry Development Foster Program (IDFP) to revive large-scale manufacturing hit by Cyclone Ditwah, with corporates including John Keells (JKH.N0000), Hemas (HHL.N0000), Brown & Company (BRWN.N0000) and Cargills (CARG.N0000) joining a PPP. The recovery framework will be operational within 30 days and 16,476 inquiries have been recorded to date.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon signed an MoU with Brown & Company to provide special leasing via its Agri Lease and Diribala Green Development Loan Scheme to help farmers buy Browns Agriculture machinery. Browns will offer free first-year insurance, initial labour-free services and IoT monitoring for selected equipment.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon and Brown & Company PLC signed an MoU to offer special leasing facilities through the bank’s Agri Lease and Diribala Green Development Loan Scheme to help farmers acquire Browns Agriculture machinery; the program includes bundled benefits such as insurance, free servicing, IoT monitoring and warranties.

Brown & Company PLC's Browns Agriculture won the Gold Award for “Global Brand of the Year” for its Browns SUMO WORLD Harvester at the SLIM Brand Excellence Awards 2025. The harvester holds a 73% national market share and features advanced monitoring and extensive after-sales support.

Cabinet approved a Rs. 774 million vehicle procurement for the Department of Prisons, awarding Lanka Ashok Leyland PLC contracts for 30 (44-seat) and 10 (30-seat) buses and Brown & Company PLC contracts for three tractors.

Browns Plantations has commissioned an expanded orthodox tea facility at Kitumbe, Kenya with 3 million kg annual capacity and aims for 25 million kg in East Africa within 18 months. The move targets higher‑value orthodox exports and expands the company's specialty tea footprint.

Brown & Company PLC's Browns EV unit launched three affordable EV models in Sri Lanka with partners SAIC‑GM‑Wuling and Beijing Auto Works, including the BAW‑E7 priced at Rs.4.7 million. LOLC Holdings, LOLC Finance and Browns will provide financing, insurance, warranties and a planned nationwide charging network.

Brown & Company PLC (BRWN.N0000) won the Silver Award in the Trading Category at the National Business Excellence Awards 2025. The recognition cites the group's governance, strategic leadership and operational excellence and coincides with its 150th anniversary.

LOLC Holdings PLC won nine awards at the National Business Excellence Awards 2025, with Brown & Company PLC earning Runner-Up in the Trading sector.

Colombo Stock Exchange sustained an upward trend as the ASPI rose 0.07% and turnover climbed to Rs. 7.59 billion. The banking sector contributed 38% of turnover, while gains in ACL, Melstacorp, Hayleys and Central Finance and active trading in Sierra Cables and Access Engineering underpinned the session; John Keells weakened.

Brown & Company PLC reported FY25 consolidated revenue of Rs. 107.82 billion and PBT of Rs. 25.88 billion, with total assets of Rs. 752.69 billion. The Group completed major East Africa Lipton plantation acquisitions, took controlling stakes in Sierra Cables and Tea Smallholder Factories, and saw strong results across its plantations and hospitality units.

Brown & Company PLC (BRWN.N0000) celebrates its 150th anniversary, highlighting its status as a diversified conglomerate and the world’s largest tea producer/exporter with investments in renewables and the Colombo Port City marina; the company is presented as part of the LOLC group.

Brown & Company PLC opened a new 200,000 sq ft manufacturing and warehouse facility in Katunayake to boost its logistics and supply-chain capabilities. The hub, sited minutes from Bandaranaike International Airport, was inaugurated with participation from LOLC executives.

Sri Lanka's ASPI fell 4.64% (712.90 points) to 14,660.45 as investors awaited government action after US tariffs. Banks and capital goods were hardest hit — Commercial Bank -8.6%, Sampath Bank -6.0%, Hayleys -5.5%, Brown & Company -6.9%.

Sri Lanka's ASPI closed up 2.18% (362.03 pts) at 16,940.25, led by gains in diversified counters and bank stocks; the S&P SL20 rose 1.88% to 5,037.52, turnover was 4.8 billion rupees and net foreign outflow was 513 million rupees.

Sri Lanka's ASPI closed up 1.42% at 16,578.22, led by banks and finance stocks, with a net foreign outflow of 892 million rupees. Top contributors included Ceylinco (+9.3%), Central Finance (+6.0%), Sampath (+2.1%) and NDB (+2.4%), while Ambeon saw heavy foreign selling.

Browns Agriculture unveiled the TAFE Dynatrack tractor and the IoT-integrated Browns Sumo Rice Mill at a 29 Jan 2025 briefing. The mill processes up to 1,000 kg/hr, cuts energy use by 40% and offers remote monitoring; the Dynatrack features a Simpson engine, 12×12 gears and 2-ton lift.

Brown & Company PLC's Browns Battery and Tyres won four awards at the SLIM National Sales Awards 2024, with staff securing gold, bronze and merit accolades; the company also reported the business unit's highest top-line sales in the year under review.

Brown & Company PLC and Browns Investments PLC appointed Chitral Wijesinha as Independent Non-Executive Director effective 1 January 2025. He brings over 27 years' financial services experience including treasury, investment and retirement planning and has held senior roles such as Country Treasurer at Citibank Sri Lanka.

K. Sundararaj has been appointed an Independent Non-Executive Director of LOLC Holdings PLC and Brown and Company PLC effective 1 January 2025. He has over 29 years' experience in accounting, auditing and tax and is currently Tax Partner at Amerasekera & Co.