UPDATE: Scales shares edge lower on NZX debut 25 Jul 2014
Related articles
- NZ consumers grow more upbeat, may resume spending Business
- Knowles quits as CEO of KiwiBank Business
- NZ migration bolstered by British invasion Migration
- NZ manufacturing activity reaches highest since 04 Business
- NZ dollar hits 22-month high vs euro Business
- OceanaGold finds new gold deposits at Fraser mine Business
- Transpower gets go-ahead for $170m SI upgrade Business
- NZ home sales creep up in March, still subdued Property
- NZ economy expands at fastest pace in two years Business
- New Zealand food prices fall in February Business
UPDATE: Scales shares edge lower on NZX debut raising $30M of new capital to repay debt
(Updates with price movements, company and investor comments)
By Suze Metherell
July 25 (BusinessDesk) - Shares in Scales Corp slipped 0.6 percent in early trading on their NZX debut as the fruit and vegetables logistics company's raised $30 million of new capital to reduce debt.
The shares recently traded at $1.59, having first traded at $1.61, largely flat compared to the $1.60 IPO price. Some 2 million shares of the company's 139.8 million shares on issue changed hands. Private equity firm Direct Capital sold into the $148 million offer, reducing their stake to 20 percent from 84.2 percent. The firm held the shares with co-investors ACC and the New Zealand Superannuation Fund. The company's $222 million market value makes it the 60th biggest New Zealand stock on the bourse.
"First point of call will be to reduce debt with it," managing director Andy Borland told BusinessDesk, referring to how the new capital raised will be used, and said he expects average prospective net debt to be $44.1 million.
Scales is New Zealand's largest apple exporter, and also owns businesses across the primary sector including, sea and air freight services, cold store operations, and food ingredients, including pet foods and juice concentrate businesses. Last year the company lifted profit 50 percent to $20.4 million in calendar 2013, on the back of rising Asian demand for apples.
"We are lifting our apple production with more apples targeted for Asia, and we're going to support that with a bit more investment in the overseas' market," Borland said. To support more apples the company is expanding its cold store network to Auckland, and were "very close" to finalising those plans, he said.
The IPO is the latest in a series of floats, which have primarily been tech-based companies seeking growth. Scales's debut comes two days after portable measuring device maker ikeGPS Group shares slumped as much as 18 percent on debut from its $1.10 offer price, and recently traded at 99 cents. Other recent listing, Serko, which makes travel booking software, has also failed to stay above its $1.10 offer price, recently trading at 90 cents.
"It's quite good to have more representation of New Zealand's forte coming onto the market," said Greg Fraser, senior equity analyst at Mint Asset Management, which bought into the offer. "Tech stocks are nice to have but those primary stocks certainly are our bread and butter, if you'll pardon the pun. Its more representative of New Zealand Inc."
Scales forecast net profit to fall to $15.9 million in 2014, before a rise to $20.8 million in 2015, and expects to pay a dividend of between 9.4 cents per share and 9.6 cents per share, and between 10.5 cents to 10.7 cents per share, the following year.
Deutsche Craig and First NZ Capital were lead managers of the offer.
(BusinessDesk)
News
Hilary Timmins' Award-Winning UK Documentary Series To Inspire NZ Students
29 Jun 2020 Education
Dream Catchers, produced and directed by Hilary Timmins, celebrates the success stories of more than thirty inspirational New... more
New Zealand reaffirms support for Flight MH17 judicial process
7 Mar 2020 News
Ahead of the start of the criminal trial in the Netherlands on 9 March, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has reaffirmed the need to... more
Business
NZ Government's Economic package to fight COVID-19
17 Mar 2020 Business News
The Coalition Government has launched the most significant peace-time economic plan in modern New Zealand history to cushion the... more
NZ Government announces aviation relief package
19 Mar 2020 Business News
Transport Minister Phil Twyford today outlined the first tranche of the $600 million aviation sector relief package announced earlier... more
Living
Diversity was Key at New Zealand Trade Tasting in London
6 Jun 2022 Food & Wine
New Zealand Winegrowers Annual Trade Tasting was recently held in London, on Wednesday 4 May, in Lindley Hall.
It was the first... more
Kiwi author stuns Behind the Butterfly Gate
12 Jan 2022 Arts
Hidden behind the Butterfly Gate is where the secret has been kept for 76 years...
New Zealand writer Merryn Corcoran’s... more
Property
Fairer rules for tenants and landlords
17 Nov 2019 Property
17 NOVEMBER 2019
The Government has delivered on its promise to the over one million New Zealanders who now rent to make it fairer... more
New Zealand Government will not implement a Capital Gains Tax
17 Apr 2019 Property
The Coalition Government will not proceed with the Tax Working Group’s recommendation for a capital gains tax, Jacinda Ardern... more
Migration
Boosting border security with electronic travel authority – now over 500,000 issued
19 Nov 2019 Migration
19 NOVEMBER 2019
We’ve improved border security with the NZeTA, New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority, which helps us to... more
Christchurch reinstated as refugee settlement location
18 Aug 2018 Migration
18 AUGUST 2018
HON IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY
The announcement that Christchurch can once again be a settlement location for refugees... more
Travel
Gallipoli Anzac Day services cancelled
19 Mar 2020 Travel & Tourism
The New Zealand and Australian Governments have announced this year’s joint Anzac Day services at Gallipoli will be cancelled... more
New Zealanders advised not to travel overseas
19 Mar 2020 Travel & Tourism
New Zealanders advised not to travel overseas
more
Sport
The Skipper's Diary: Sir Richard Hadlee honouring his father and NZ's Forty-Niners
27 Oct 2019 Cricket
NZNewsUK London Editor Charlotte Everett spoke to Sir Richard Hadlee about why he’s chosen to publish his father’s... more
PREVIEW: All Blacks v England semi-final
26 Oct 2019 Rugby
The two most convincing quarterfinals winners are set to square off in a semifinal showdown for the ages when the All Blacks meet old... more
Columns
Gordon Campbell on the Gareth Morgan crusade
11 Nov 2016 Opinion
Gordon Campbell on the Gareth Morgan crusade
First published on Werewolf
The ghastly likes of Marine Le Pen in France and Geert ... more
Gordon Campbell on the US election outcome
10 Nov 2016 Opinion
Column - Gordon Campbell
Gordon Campbell on the US election outcome
Well um.. on the bright side, there (probably)... more
Kiwi Success
Congratulations to Loder Cup winner
26 Sep 2018 People
25 SEPTEMBER 2018
The Loder Cup, one of New Zealand’s oldest conservation awards, has been awarded to Robert McGowan for 2018... more
Appointments to New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO
16 Aug 2018 Appointments
16 AUGUST 2018Appointments to New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO
HON JENNY SALESA
Associate Education Minister Jenny Salesa is... more
Recruitment
Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
14 Aug 2018 Recruitment
14 AUGUST 2018Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
HON CHRIS HIPKINS
Prime Minister
The... more
Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
22 Aug 2018 Recruitment
14 AUGUST 2018Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
HON CHRIS HIPKINS
Prime Minister
The... more