Centuria forced to cancel planned IPO due to shortfall

Diane LeowAug 26, 2013

Fund manager Centuria Capital has abandoned plans to launch the $215.3 million IPO of the Centuria Property Trust.

The group admitted it was unable to win sufficient institutional support for its proposed listing of the Trust, which was set to own the $312 million Northpoint Tower in North Sydney.

It was reported that property developer Terry Agnew, who had a 19.9 per cent stake, was asked to take a higher stake.

"Whilst there was good support for the Trust's strategy and management, Centuria is disappointed the offering did not receive sufficient demand to complete the IPO notwithstanding the strong lead from domestic and Asian retail investors," Collishaw said in a Fairfax report.

"Centuria remains committed to delivering quality real estate investment funds for its clients and retains its aspiration to create a listed real estate funds management platform,” he said.

He noted that market conditions pushed investors to stay with existing products rather than back new floats.

The advisers Moelis & Co cited the volatile sharemarket as a main reason, as well as uncertainty in the leadup to the September 7 federal election, on the decision to cancel the deal.

This cancellation follows the recent postponement of the $367 million Pacific Retail REIT, which planned to purchase four suburban malls from CFS Retail, including the Rosebud Plaza in Victoria.

Diane Leow

Diane has spent her entire career in the world of digital. She is passionate about delivering the best content to a world that is becoming increasingly jaded by the news. She also believes in the importance of great journalism and how it can change the world. Oh, she also drinks a lot of coffee.