NCB takeover bid pushes Guardian to $18

Guardian Holdings closed at a 52 weeks’ high of $18 on TTSE after NCB disclosed bid for 32% more shares..

Guardian Holdings’ share jumped $1.45 to $18, trading 69,236 shares on the Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange, in response of a bid to acquire 74 million shares by NCB Financial Group at US$2.35 each.
Guardian was closing at the highest price in 52 weeks which is the equivalent of US$2.66 compared to US$2.35 that is offered by NCB. With a 29.99 percent equity interest acquired in 2016, the NCB Financial Group will most likely command a 62 percent stake in Guardian Holdings when the offer closes as data suggest that the deal is sown up long ago with Arthur Lock Jack almost sure to surrender the shares owned directly or indirectly by him along with a few others.
At the close of trading market activity resulted in 11 securities changing hands compared to 14 on Thursday with 3 stocks advancing, 2 declining and 6 holding firm as 165,628 shares traded at a value of $2,492,376 compared to Thursday’s trades of 221,067 valued at $3,013,733.
The Composite Index gained 5.26 points to 1,279.29, the All T&T Index advanced 13.84 points to 1,757.41 and the Cross Listed Index lost 0.47 points to close at 107.97.
IC bid-offer Indicator| The Investor’s Choice bid-offer ended with 5 stocks with bids higher than last selling prices and 6 with lower offers.
Gains| Securities rising at the close on Friday are Ansa McAL regained losses from the previous day, rising $3.02 to $63.02 with 10,000 shares valued at $630,200 trading, Guardian Holdings closed at a 52 weeks’ high of $18, after rising $1.45 and trading 69,236 shares valued at $1,192,342 and Sagicor Financial traded 4 cents higher to $7.95 in exchanging 13,000 shares.
Losses| Jamaican based JMMB Group fell 10 cents and closed at $1.78 trading 31,500 shares and Trinidad & Tobago NGL dropped $1 to settle at $26 with 4,250 shares changing hands.
Firm Trades| Securities trading unchanged are Angostura Holdings exchanged 9,513 shares at $15.05, Clico Investment remained at $20.79 with 7,610 shares trading, First Citizens traded 1,381 shares at $32.01. National Enterprises closed at $9.75 with 1,010 units, National Flour Mills ended with 17,932 stock units at $1.90 and Scotiabank held firm at $61 with 196 units.

NCB Group goes for 62% of Guardian

NCB set to increase shares in Guardian Holdings.

NCB Financial Group announced the launch an offer and take-over bid to acquire up to 74,230,750 ordinary shares in the Trinidad based Guardian Holdings at US$2.35 each, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, NCB Global Holdings Limited.
Guardian Holdings, a publicly-traded company listed on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange, and last traded at TT$16.55 around US$2.45. Guardian has 231,899,986 ordinary shares in issue with NCB Group holding approximately 69,547,241 units acquisition of the stated shares would take their holdings to 62 percent of the company and thus return the company back to Jamaican majority ownership which it had in the 1990s.
The offer, if successful, would result in NCBFG acquiring a controlling 62 percent interest in GHL following the 2016 acquisition of a 29.99 percent interest. Unless extended, the Offer period will close on January 12, 2018. Full acceptance of the Offer would result in a cash payment by NCBFG of the sum of up to approximately US$174,442,262 to the shareholders of GHL who accept the Offer.
Arthur Lok Jack Chairman of Guardian was one of the original sellers of Guardian shares to NCB and would have sold more at the time, but if NCB had acquired more then, it would have triggered the take over bid rule of the TTSE, requiring them to offer to buy the majority.
Guardian Group profit attributable to shareholders for the nine months ended September 2017 amounted to $254 million, a decline of $6 million compared to the corresponding period last year $260 million. NCB Group made profit of $19.1 billion for 2017, up from$14.45 billion in 2016.
The Offer will be conditional upon NCBFG acquiring control of GHL and obtaining regulatory and other approvals required to acquire the GHL Shares in Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica as well as all other jurisdictions in which GHL and its subsidiaries are regulated.
According to President and Group CEO Patrick Hylton, “We believe that this partnership will not only support our strategy to expand regionally, but will provide numerous growth opportunities for both NCB and GHL. The successful completion of this Offer will be a significant milestone for our business and we anticipate the great potential that this presents.”
Last week NCB announced the acquisition of the majority stakes in Clarien Bank in Bermuda.

Unilever hits new yearly low

Unilever shares set for huge fall going forawrd.

Unilever Caribbean hit a new low of $34 in trading on the Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange on Monday as the market closed with 12 securities changing hands compared to 14 on Friday with advancing stocks edging out decliners.
At the close, 4 stocks advanced, 3 declined and 5 held firm as 168,640 shares traded at a value of $1,925,602 compared to Friday’s trades of 189,047 valued at $3,309,055.
The Composite Index gained 0.46 points to 1,282.72, the All T&T Index advanced 2.17 points to 1,753.11 and the Cross Listed Index was down 0.17 points to close at 109.50.
IC bid-offer Indicator| The Investor’s Choice bid-offer ended with 5 stocks with bids higher than last selling prices and 7 with lower offers.
Gains| At the close of trading the prices National Flour Mills gained 5 cents to close at $1.90, with an exchange of 25,875 shares, Republic Financial Holdings advanced by 50 cents, ending at $102 after trading 48 units, but the stock was offered at just $100.99 at the close, Sagicor Financial closed at $7.95, gaining 8 cents with 21,183 shares trading and Trinidad & Tobago NGL added 1 cent to settle at a 52 weeks’ high of $25.01 with 4,423 shares.
Losses| Securities with prices falling are Clico Investment that dropped 20 cents, closing at $20.80 with trades of 3,010 shares, JMMB Group closed with a loss of 6 cents, at $2 in exchanging 68,255 shares and Unilever Caribbean dropped 95 cents to a 52 weeks’ low of $34 trading just 90 units.
Firm Trades| At the close of trading Angostura Holdings ended with 700 units, closed at $15.05, Guardian Holdings held firm at $16.55 trading 12,800 shares, Massy Holdings remained at $49 with 20,000 shares valued at $980,000 changing hands, National Enterprises closed at $9.75 exchanging 10,937 shares and Scotiabank swapping 1,319 shares at $60.

Only 1 stock fall on TTSE – Friday

Sagicor is the sole declining stock on the TTSE on Friday.

The Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange started off the fianl month of 2017 on a positive note at the close on Friday with 14 securities changing hands compared to 13 on Thursday leading to 3 advancing, 1 declining and 10 remaining unchanged.
The Composite Index gained 1.81 points to 1,282.26, the All T&T Index advanced 1.85 points to 1,750.94 and the Cross Listed Index gained 0.24 points to close at 109.67.
Trading ended with 189,047 shares changing hands at a value of $3,309,055 compared to Thursday’s trades of 233,449 valued at $4,648,226.
IC bid-offer Indicator| The Investor’s Choice bid-offer ended with 4 stocks with bids higher than last selling prices and 6 with lower offers.
Gains| The last traded prices of securities rising are Guardian Holdings with gains of 5 cents, to close at $16.55 with 11,300 shares being exchanged, Massy Holdings added 10 cents to settle at $49 with 26,836 shares valued at $1,314,263 trading and National Enterprises ended at $9.75, rising 5 cents with 1,765 shares.
Losses| The sole security changing hands is Sagicor Financial after losing 8 cents to close at $7.87 trading 22,496 shares.
Firm Trades| Stocks with last traded prices remaining unchanged of the close of trading are Ansa McAL with 2,028 shares at $63.03, Clico Investment closed at $21 with 6,400 stock units, First Citizens held firm at $32 with 2,147 units changing hands, Grace Kennedy ended at $3.10 trading 70,435 shares trading, L.J. Williams B closed at 70 cents with 2,000 stock units. NCB Financial Group exchanged 3,585 shares at $6, One Caribbean Media closed at $14 with 7,800 units, Republic Financial Holdings settled at $101.50 with 1,360 shares, Scotiabank remained at $60 with 590 units and Trinidad & Tobago NGL held firm at $25 trading 30,305 stock units valued at $757,631.

NGL dominates trading on TTSE – Thursday

T&T NGL closed at a record high on TTSE on Thursday.

Trinidad & Tobago NGL dominated trading on the Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange on Thursday, with 83 percent of the value of securities changing hands. Market activity resulted in 13 active securities compared to 16 on Wednesday.
At the close, 4 stocks advanced, 2 declined, 7 were unchanged as a just 233,449 shares traded at a value of $4,648,226 compared to Wednesday’s trades of 50,488 units at a value of $553,082.
The Composite Index gained 2.72 points to 1,280.45, the All T&T Index advanced 5.82 points to 1,749.09 and the Cross Listed Index was down 0.06 points to close at 109.43.
IC bid-offer Indicator| The Investor’s Choice bid-offer ended with 4 stocks with bids higher than last selling prices and 4 with lower offers.
Gains| The last traded prices of the securities changing hands with gains are First Citizens with a rise of 5 cents to close at $32 exchanging 2,430 shares, Massy Holdings trading 90 cents higher to $48.90 with 2,683 shares. Sagicor Financial gained 1 cent and closed at $7.95, with 12,018 shares trading and Trinidad & Tobago NGL climbed to a new 52 weeks’ high of $25, rising 75 cents with trades of 156,668 shares valued at $3,879,032.
Losses| The last traded prices of the securities declining at the close of the market are JMMB Group that dropped 3 cents to $2.06 with 3,500 shares exchanged and National Flour Mills with a loss of 5 cents, closed at $1.85 with 3,400 shares trading.
Firm Trades| The last traded prices of securities closing unchanged are Clico Investment that exchanged 142 units at $21, Grace Kennedy remaining at $3.10 with trades of 11,422 shares, Guardian Holdings held at $16.50 exchanging 22,164 shares valued at $365,706, while L.J. Williams B share closed at 70 cents with 16,480 shares after trading as high as 75 cents. National Enterprises ended at $9.70 with 145 units, One Caribbean Media closed at $14 trading 2,372 shares and Republic Financial Holdings exchanged just 25 stock units at $101.50.

TTSE trading sinks to just 50,000 units

Market activity on Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange on Wednesday remains anaemic, with just over 50,000 shares trading, the lowest volume since the start of the month coming from 16 securities changing hands.
Trading closed with 4 stocks advancing, 5 declining, 7 holding firm as 50,488 shares traded at a value of $553,082 compared to Tuesday’s trades of 528,994 valued at $2,520,342 from 13 securities trading. At the close of trading 2 stock hit 52 weeks’ high and one ended at a 52 weeks’ low.
The Composite Index climbed 2.15 points to 1,277.73, the All T&T Index declined by 0.87 points to 1,743.27 and the Cross Listed Index gained 0.71 points to close at 109.49.
IC bid-offer Indicator| The Investor’s Choice bid-offer ended with 2 stocks with bids higher than last selling prices and 4 with lower offers.
Gains| The last traded prices of the securities rising are Grace Kennedy with gains of 5 cents, and closing at a 52 weeks’ high of $3.10 with 300 units changing hands. Guardian Holdings closed at $16.50, rising 50 cents in exchanging 13,670 shares, NCB Financial Group gained 10 cents, ending at $6 with trades of 10,300 units and Trinidad & Tobago NGL rose to a new 52 weeks’ high of $24.25, advancing 20 cents with an exchange of 2,650 shares.
Losses| Securities closing down at last traded prices are JMMB Group that lost 1 cent and closed at $2.09 with 1,975 shares trading, L.J. Williams B with a loss of 7 cents, traded at 70 cents with 1,650 shares, Republic Financial Holdings declined by 19 cents to settle at $101.50, after trading at a low for the day at $100.50 with 405 units exchanged. Sagicor Financial closed at $7.94, losing 1 cent with 1,175 shares and Unilever Caribbean lost 5 cents, falling to a 52 weeks’ low of $34.95 with 100 units changing hands.
Firm Trades| Stock with last traded prices remaining unchanged of the close of trading are Angostura Holdings closed at $15.05 with a mere 10 units, Clico Investment exchanged 47 units at $21, First Citizens trading 20 units at $31.95 and National Enterprises that closed at $9.70 with 508 units. Prestige Holdings closed at $10.75 exchanging 9,131 shares trading, Readymix ended at $11 with 618 units and Trinidad Cement closed at $3.95 trading 7,929 shares.

Trading jumps to $13m on Monday

Trading on the Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange jumped to $13 million on Monday from just $514,000 on Friday as Ansa McAL with 56 percent of the volume and 93 percent of the value of securities traded.
The market closed with only 10 securities changing hands down from 11 on Friday, as 5 stocks advanced, 5 held firm and none declining, leading to 354,972 shares traded for $13,441,469, compared to Friday’s trades of 148,999 units valued at just $514,609.
The Composite Index dropped 0.08 points to 1,275.50, the All T&T Index advanced 1.17 points to 1,743.46 and the Cross Listed Index was down 0.18 points to 108.85.
IC bid-offer Indicator| The Investor’s Choice bid-offer ended with 4 stocks with bids higher than last selling prices and 9 with lower offers.
Gains| Securities gaining at the close of market activities are, First Citizens gaining 5 cents and closed at $31.95, with 613 units, Guardian Holdings rising 30 cents to $16 with 6,956 shares changing hands JMMB Group rose 3 cents, in closing at $2.18 and exchanging 132,553 shares. National Flour Mills closed 10 cents higher to settle at $1.90 with 1,000 units trading and Trinidad & Tobago NGL ended at a 52 weeks’ high of $24.02, having gained 2 cents with 2,677 shares changing hands.
Firm Trades| At the close of trading on Monday,Angostura Holdings remained at $15.05 with 3,000 shares, Ansa McAL closed at $63.03 with 200,000 shares valued at $12,605,985 changing hands Clico Investment exchanged 2,800 shares at $21. Massy Holdings held firm at $48 with 5,205 shares traded and National Enterprises closed at $9.70 with 168 units.

Unilever’s bad news get worse

Unilever Caribbean stock price from 2009 to 2017

Unilever Caribbean recorded a price drop of $3.75, on the Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange on Friday, ending the day at multi-year low of $35 and closed with the offer at $34.80 to sell just 280 units with no bids posted to buy. The price that peaked at $68.49 in December 2015, is now at the lowest it’s been since it traded 110 units at 34.67 on April 17, 2012.
The stock has fallen as revenues fell sharply in 2017 pulling profits way down, with indication of much further fall ahead as the shares face a long cold winter in the doldrums.
Trading resulted in 11 securities changing hands compared to 13 on Thursday as the price of 2 stocks advanced, 4 declined and 5 were unchanged following 148,999 shares trading at a value of $514,609 compared to Wednesday’s trades of 80,674 units valued at $2,224,568.
The Composite Index gained 1.07 points to 1,275.58, the All T&T Index advanced 1.39 points to 1,742.29 and the Cross Listed Index added 0.10 points to close at 109.03.
IC bid-offer Indicator| The Investor’s Choice bid-offer ended with 5 stocks with bids higher than last selling prices and 9 with lower offers.
Gains| In trading, Grace Kennedy gained 5 cents, and closed at a 52 weeks’ high of $3.05 exchanging 1,485 shares and Sagicor Financial added 2 cents, ending at $7.83 with 3,779 shares traded.
Losses| The securities declining changing hands are, First Citizens with a loss of 7 cents, to close at $31.90 with 282 units, JMMB Group closed at $2.15, after losing 3 cents trading 135,117 shares, National Flour Mills slid 10 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ low of $1.80 exchanging 3,400 shares and Unilever Caribbean declined by $3.75 to settle at a 52 weeks’ low of $35 with 760 units.
Firm Trades| At the close of trading Guardian Holdings held firm at $15.70 with 2,014 shares, Massy Holdings remained at $48 with 125 units exchanged, One Caribbean Media traded 200 units at $14. Scotiabank ended at $58.75 after trading at $60, with trades of 1,684 shares and Trinidad & Tobago NGL closed at $24 with 153 units.

6 TTSE stocks rose in weak market

Market activity on the Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange on Thursday resulted in 13 securities changing hands compared to 8 on Wednesday. At the close, 6 stocks advanced, 3 declined and 4 were unchanged.
The Composite Index advanced 0.88 points to 1,274.51, the All T&T Index lost 0.58 points to 1,740.90 and the Cross Listed Index gained 0.32 points to close at 108.93.
Market activity ended with 80,674 shares traded at a value of $2,224,568 compared to Wednesday’s trades of 74,546 valued at $1,870,096.
IC bid-offer Indicator| The Investor’s Choice bid-offer ended with 3 stocks with bids higher than last selling prices and 8 with lower offers.
Gains| The last traded prices of securities rising on Thursday are, Clico Investment that gained 50 cents in closing at $20.50, with 30,278 shares valued at $632,166 trading. First Citizens ended with gains of 12 cents, to settle at $31.97 after exchanging 1,771 shares while First Caribbean International closed at a 52 weeks’ high of $9.30, by gaining 5 cents with 1,000 units traded. Guardian Holdings advanced 10 cents to $15.70 in exchanging 1,075 units, Sagicor Financial gained 1 cent, in closing at $7.81 with 1,200 shares and Scotiabank traded 25 cents higher, ending at $58.75 with just 100 units changing hands.
Losses| The last traded prices of securities declining are JMMB Group with a loss of 2 cents, closed at $2.18 with 9,063 shares changing hands, Massy Holdings declining by 92 cents to a 52 weeks’ low of $48 trading 7,041 share valued at $338,989 and National Enterprises that ended at a 52 weeks’ low of $9.70, after losing 5 cents with 232 units.
Firm Trades| Securities with the last traded prices unchanged at the close are, Angostura Holdings that ended at $15.05 with 400 units, Ansa McAL closed at $63.03 trading 17,014 shares valued at $1,072,392, National Flour Mills remained at $1.90 in exchanging 10,000 shares and Trinidad & Tobago NGL held firm at $24 with 1,500 shares.

WITCO drops $8.01 on TTSE – Wednesday

West Indian Tobacco dropped $8.01 on the TTSE on Wednesday.

West Indian Tobacco (WITCO) dropped $8.01 to a 52 weeks’ low of $112.99 trading 70 units on the Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange on Wednesday. The bid on the stock fell sharply from the last traded price of $121 reached on the November 2, the stock was offered at $112.99 on Tuesday after several weeks of it on offer well below the prior traded price.
WITCO’s price is coming from $125.47 from early September but dropped $1.97 on October 30 and $1.99 on November 2. The stock is still not out of the woods with an offer at $113 and a bid at $106.25 to purchase only 16 units. The collapse followed reduced earnings flowing from decline in sales volume this year as a result of increase taxes on cigarettes and a recession in Trinidad.
Market activity resulted in the two major indices declining as trading levels slumped with only 8 securities changing hands compared to 13 on Tuesday leading to 1 stock rising, 1 declining and 6 closing unchanged.
At the close, just 74,546 stock units traded at a value of $1,870,096 in contrast to Tuesday’s much larger trades of 651,650 units valued at $16,389,752.
The Composite Index declined by 6.80 points to 1,273.63, the All T&T Index dropped 13.50 points to 1,741.48 but the Cross Listed Index remained unchanged at 108.61 points.
IC bid-offer Indicator| The Investor’s Choice bid-offer ended with 5 stocks with bids higher than last selling prices and 6 with lower offers.
Gains| At the close the sole stock falling in price at the close of the market is Trinidad & Tobago NGL closing at a 52 weeks’ high of $24, with gains of 30 cents in exchanging 25,620 shares valued at $614,880.
Firm Trades| The last traded prices of securities remaining unchanged at the close of trading are First Citizens closing at $31.85 with 17,529 shares valued at $558,299, Guardian Holdings traded 22,500 shares at $15.60 valued at $351,000, Massy Holdings remained at $48.92 with 1,265 units changing hands. National Enterprises closed at $9.75 exchanging 282 units, Sagicor Financial held firm at $7.80 with 3,008 shares traded and Scotiabank settled at $58.50 with 4,272 shares changing hands