Yıldız Holding purchases its own shares in the stock market

Yıldız Holding purchased shares of its own subsidiaries, Ülker Bisküvi, Gözde Girişim and Bizim Toptan, yesterday in an attempt to supports its own companies in the Borsa Istanbul Stock Exchange (BIST).

After media outlets reported news on Yıldız Holding's alleged ties to the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ)-affiliated Kaynak Holding at the beginning of the week, the group's companies experienced a sharp decline in sales in the stock market. Yıldız Holding CEO and principal shareholder Murat Ülker tried to assure investors by purchasing shares from the group's subsidiaries the day before, while Yıldız Holding corporately purchased the shares of its own subsidiaries yesterday.

The holding company released a statement through the Public Disclosure Forum (KAP). Accordingly, it purchased 2.1 million shares from Ülker, 185,000 from Bizim Toptan and 1 million from Gözde Girişim. The KAP's statement is as follows:

"Ülker Bisküvi: Regarding the shares of Ülker Bisküvi Trade Inc., a total of 2,108,448 purchase transactions, varying between TL 17.34 [$51.02] and TL 17.85 [$54] and no sales transactions were actualized by me on Nov. 16, 2016. Following this transaction, our shares and voting securities in Ülker Bisküvi Trade Inc.'s capital has dropped below 49.78 percent as of Nov. 16. The information regarding the details of the process is given in the table below.

Gözde Girişim: Regarding the shares of Gözde Venture-Capital Trust Inc., a total of 1,000,000 purchase transactions, varying between TL 1.92 and TL 1.94, and no sales transactions were actualized by me on Nov. 16. Following this transaction, our shares and voting securities in Gözde Venture-Capital Trust Inc.'s capital has dropped below 10.747 percent as of Nov. 16.

Bizim Toptan: Regarding the shares of Bizim Wholesale Trade Stores Inc., a total of 185,000 purchase transactions, varying between TL 10.69 and TL 10.77, and no sales transactions were actualized by me on November 16, 2016. Following this transaction, our shares and voting securities in Bizim Wholesale Trade Stores Inc.'s capital has dropped below 54.836 percent as of Nov. 16." According to what has been claimed in news reports over the past several days, the government will launch an investigation into Yıldız Holding over its alleged ties with Kaynak Holding. Previously, the government appointed trustees to more than 70 subsidiaries of Kaynak Holding because of their affiliation with FETÖ. Yıldız Holding refuted the allegations, saying the news reports were unrealistic and unacceptable and the company reserved its legal rights. The news led to a dramatic drop in the selling of company shares for the group in the stock market.

As a result of the news, Ülker Bisküvi's shares dropped by 8.55 percent, while Gözde Girişim and Bizim Toptan's shares fell by 6.31 percent and 10.1 percent, respectively, within a day. Yesterday, Ülker's shares fell by 0.62 percent to 17.60; Bizim Toptan's shares increased by 1.04 percent to 10.71 and Gözde Girişim's shares closed at 1.94 with a 0.52 percent increase. Yıldız Holding CEO Murat Ülker posted an assuring tweet for investors, saying, "Some are rushing around for no reason. We are honest, our work is clean, we are continuing to work."