Regional News>Analysts
say REIT offer might have missed target
Sabrina
N. Gordon - Business Reporter
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Issuers of the real estate IPO said Thursday that they were still
tabulating the take-up of the offer, but Financial Gleaner sources are
already saying that the placement appeared not to have done well.
The Carlton Savannah REIT closed a week ago on June 13, after a two week
extension, but a big issue for investors, according to brokers, was the
price.
It was too expensive, said analysts who spoke with the Financial Gleaner
on condition of anonymity.
The IPO was priced at $5.91 per common share, and targeted to raise $17.4
billion to finance acquisition of 16 apartments at the luxury resort Carlton
Savannah Hotel in Trinidad.
At least three brokerages had recommended the new offer to the market
as a buy.
With the use of two pricing and valuation methods, NCB Capital Market
lead broker on the issue supported the offer price of $5.91, and deemed
the IPO a sound investment.
Christopher Chin-Loy, head of Scotia DBG Investment, at the time the
offer was on the market, had said the price seemed high, but that the
instrument would likely suit investors in the market for hedging instruments.
Not Educated
Financial Gleaner sources say the market was not educated enough on REITs
and their benefits, and were cautious about exposing themselves to an
investment they did not understand.
"Given that it is a new product to the market, people are still
trying to digest the structure of the REIT, and how exactly it is beneficial
to them," said one broker.
"It is a product that needs continuous education," said one
analyst.
Fayval Williams, a partner in Williams and Associates, creators of the
IPO, said they were still in the process of collating the figures, the
details of which would, she said, be released shortly to the Jamaica Stock
Exchange and the public in short order.
The shares taken up are to be listed on the exchange.
One of the immediate concerns is disclosure of information pertinent
to the real estate assets on which the REIT is securitised.
"We have looked at how best to have more disclosure on the REIT
and as such two forms of submission will be made," said JSE general
manager Marlene Street-Forrest.
While the Carlton Savannah REIT will be listed and must follow the rules
for filing of reports and information, the Trinidad hotel itself does
not.
But the JSE will require that the management company, that is the company
operating the hotel, submit their financial statements on a quarterly
basis so that investors can track the Carlton Savannah hotel's performance.
sabrina.gordon@gleanerjm.com
The Financial Gleaner
The Financial Gleaner
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