- The $200M placement was announced yesterday
- Today, the placement was announced as successful
- $15 million is expected to be raised through a security purchase plan
Yesterday, Abacus Property Group (ASX: ABP) announced that it would undertake a fully underwritten $200 million institutional placement and a non-underwritten $15 million security purchase plan.
ABP said the move was “… to replenish investment capacity for continued deployment into acquisitions yet to settle and into the identified development and expansion pipeline in [Abacus’] Self Storage portfolio.
The company also said the raise will position Abacus to continue its strong momentum upgrading portfolio quality via development, expansions, and acquisitions.
Abacus experienced RevPAM growth for its established portfolio of 63 mature stores open at 1 July of 11.7%, the company said strong self storage income growth in HY22 was strongly supported by macro tailwinds.
A $266 million development and expansion pipeline expects to deliver an additional circa 90,000 square metres of net lettable area across 13 stores. An additional circa 35,000 square metres is also to be delivered via that expansion of 21 stores in high-demand markets.
Following settlement of post balance date transactions and the raising, Abacus said it will have over $320 million of capacity to fund its acquisition and development pipeline and to take advantage of further acquisition opportunities.
The issue price for the institutional placement is $3.38, and will be fully underwritten by Barrenjoey Markets Pty Ltd and Shaw and Partners Limited.
New stapled securities issued under the placement will rank equally with existing Abacus stapled securities.
Following settlement of post balance date transactions and the placement, Abacus’ gearing will be 30.9%. On completion of the placement Abacus’ pro forma NTA per stapled security is expected to be $3.70.
The security purchase plan will see eligible Abacus security holders on the register at 7pm AEDT on 16 March 2022 in Australia and New Zealand invited to subscribe for up to $30,000 of new stapled securities also at $3.38. The SPP will not be underwritten, and expects to raise some $15 million.
“With replenished investment capacity and a balance sheet set with conservative gearing, the Group is positioned to deliver on our Self Storage development pipeline and take advantage of high quality growth opportunities that will enhance the Group’s ability to deliver recurring income and value creation over the medium to long term.”
Steven Sewell, managing director Abacus Property
Today
Abacus announced that it successfully completed the fully underwritten institutional placement, raising approximately $200 million through the issue of approximately 59.2 million new stapled securities at an offer price of $3.38.
“We are very pleased with the support received for the Placement. We thank our existing securityholders for their ongoing support and welcome a number of new institutions to the Abacus register which is expected to increase free float market capitalisation and improve Abacus’ index ranking and liquidity,” said Mr Sewell.
