The Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) listed real estate investment trust ILAM Fahari Real Estate Investment Trust (NSE: FAHR), redemption offer was oversubscribed by 13.08%, paving the way for the next stage of strategic restructuring of the investment vehicle.
During the offer period, the REIT Trustee received applications for redemption of 41,371,604 units, which represents a subscription rate of 113.08%. The REIT also received application for top-up additional units of 421,945 from non-professional investors.
 ICEA LION Asset Management (ILAM) CEO Einstein Kihanda said the offer had received redemption applications from non-professional investors wishing to redeem up to 36,585,134 units currently listed at the NSE, offered at a premium of more than 82% over the trading price as at the offer announcement date.
Mr Kihanda said ILAM has been working to restructure the REIT to ensure its sustainability and improve its ability to generate returns for unitholders. A recent strategic review recommended undertaking an operational restructuring plan, which paved the way for this transaction.
“This transaction provides a viable path to restructure the REIT,” he said. “We are clear that the REIT needs to grow substantially in size to achieve economies of scale, which can only be done by acquiring additional assets.”
The ILAM Fahari I-REIT Ksh402 million month-long offer that opened slightly over a month ago (6th September and closed on 6th October, 2023) sought to redeem up to 36,585,134 units equaling to 20.22% of the issued shares of the ILAM Fahari I-REIT as part of an operational restructuring effort.
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As part of the offer, the target unit holders had an opportunity to either redeem their units at a redemption offer price of Ksh11 per unit, top-up to the Ksh5 million professional investors threshold as prescribed by regulatory provisions or opt to be bundled under a nominee account holding all non-professional investors who failed to take up the redemption offer.
The Trustee redeemed up to 301,400 units from each unitholder that submitted their application.
Alongside the operational restructuring of the REIT, ILAM Fahari I-REIT CEO, Mr Raphael Mwito, reiterated that the firm has continued to perform strategic and operational functions in managing the property portfolio and cash reserves to ensure effective long-term management of the REIT, deliver attractive investor returns and ensure compliance with regulatory and legislative requirements.
“ILAM Fahari I-REIT aims to provide consistent income and capital growth in the long term. Our active management approach targets quality properties within carefully chosen economically growing nodes,” said Mr Mwito.
The transaction has resulted in ICEA LION Asset Management Limited increasing its unitholding to 22.74% post-redemption. IFIR will remain regulated by the CMA and is registered as a REIT with the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), thus continuing to enjoy statutory tax advantages.
The payments to unitholders will be done on October 24, 2023, while the suspension of trading in ILAM Fahari units at the NSE will be lifted on October 25. The ILAM Fahari I-REIT has invested in a portfolio of high-quality investment real estate properties that provide sustained returns and operating performance.
