Commercial Guidebook | Real Estate Investor Magazine Commercial Handbook 2013 | Page 54

LISTED BY MORNE REINDERS JSE Listing Provides Building Blocks For future growth D elta Property Fund is a relative newcomer to the listed property sector of the JSE’s main board. The fund listed at a linked unit price of R8.20 on 2 November 2012 with a portfolio of 20 properties valued at R2.1 billion and a market capitalisat ion of R1.35 billion. The fund specialises in single-tenanted buildings in nodes attractive to government and SARS. The office portfolio represents a 72% sovereign underpin to a substantial portion of the earnings and shields it from private sector risks such as tenant insolvency. “As founders we saw an opportunity for a 100% blackmanaged property fund to strategically identify and secure government-tenanted properties,” says Sandile Nomvete, CEO of Delta Property Fund. “This is a niche sector, requiring specialist skills and operational systems, which has always been our springboard to success. lined up. There are a number of factors investors consider before buying equity in a company and we had to make sure we offer a compelling proposition in each instance,” Nomvete explains. According to Bronwyn Corbett, Chief Financial Officer, investors want to invest in funds that offer superior yield, strong future growth potential and an experienced management team, especially in the current low interest rate environment. “We knew we had a unique investment case, but realised you only have one chance to approach the market, so you have to do it right,” continues Nomvete, “So we appointed Nedbank Capital as bookrunner, corporate advisor and sponsor together with Bowman Gilfillan to guide us through the legal process.” “We knew where to find high-yielding, quality assets and had the relationships and knowledge to negotiate good deals, but raising capital to establish and grow such In order to list on the JSE’s main board a company has to comply with numerous JSE Listings Requirements as well as the prescriptions of the Companies Act. Once approval to list has been obtained, the company and its advisors have a number of regulatory hurdles to clear Delta’s vision is to grow the portfolio to approximately R7 billion by 2017 to ensure critical mass and liquidity. “In order for us to launch Delta, we wanted to raise up to R980 million with the listing to fund the acquisitions we had “We had to ensure our corporate governance procedures comply with JSE Listings Requirements, and appropriately structured Delta’s board in line with the recommendations of the King Code on Corporate Governance,” comments Corbett. “As a board and a portfolio proved challenging - and so the idea of listing Delta was born,” explains Nomvete. 52 Commercial Handbook 2013 before potential investors can be approached. www.reimag.co.za