VM Investments Limited, the immediate parent company of VM Wealth Management (VMWM), will offer just over 300 million shares for sale, on Monday December 11 at $2.45 per share, to raise $689 million.
A total of 225,003,750 Ordinary Shares in the Offer are initially reserved for staff and customers of the VMBS Group, discounted at $2.08 to $2.33 each, and 75 million for the general public, at $2.45 each.
The offer which opens on December 11 is scheduled to close on December 18. It is the intention to list the company on the main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange, after the issue closes.
The company intents to use the proceeds to build its capital base, to enable it to provide financing solutions and to capitalize on new business opportunities. In this regard the CEO Devon Barrett stated that they intend to allocate $1 billion per year to meet the needs of the small business sector, where data shows that there is an annual demand for $20 billion in financing.
The Directors expect to distribute up to 75 percent of the after-tax earnings as cash dividends, up from 55 percent on average to date.

VM Investments press conference for launch its IPO. from left is Michael McMorris – Chairman of VMBS, Courtney Campbell Group CEO, Devon Barrett CEO of VMIL and Janice McKenley – Group Chief Financial Offer.

Over the last five years, the revenue stream has evolved from predominantly, fixed income and securities trading, with approximately 70 percent of its total revenues coming from net interest income. Since 2011, VM Wealth has diversified its revenue streams, becoming active in the asset management and capital market space, with a comprehensive range of products and services. This has resulted in VM Wealth earning approximately 70 percent of its revenue from non-interest income sources.
The company reported after taxes profit of $326 million, surpassing $310 million in 2015. Up to September this year, profit of $273 million was achieved, putting in on track for $360 for the year or 30 cents per share. VMWM’s total operating revenue for 2016 was $1.28 billion, down from $1.37 billion in 2015. To September this year, $1.1 billion in revenue was generated. Revenues in 2016, comprised mainly of Net Interest Income of $251 million, gain from investment activities of $279 million and net fees and commissions of $280 million. Up to September, Net Interest Income came in at $191 million, gain from investment activities of $171 million and net fees and commissions of $370 million.

Devon Barrett CEO of VMIL addressing invitees at the formal announcement of the IPO, Beside him is Janice McKenley.

Shareholders’ equity stands at $2.12 billion as of September this year, with 1.2 billion shares issued and assets that include mostly investment securities. Third party assets under management increased by $4.4 billion or 55 percent, from $8 billion in 2015 to $15 billion in 2016 and assets under custodian arrangements amounts to $23 billion up from $20 billion in 2015. This was due mainly to increased promotion and the introduction of new unit trust product with 6 new portfolios – three US$ bond portfolios, one J$ bond portfolio, one local equities portfolio and a real estate portfolio.
The strong growth in net fees and commissions is very appealing as it will provide the base for good consistent growth in revenues and profits going forward.
DEVON BARRETT, MBA, is the Group Chief Investment Officer & Chief Executive Officer, Victoria Mutual Wealth Management.
With the 1.2 billion shares now in issue earnings per share is 30 cents for 2017 giving it a PE of 8. At a price of $2.45 and a PE of just 8 times 2017 earnings, the stock is price to enjoy a decent bounce ahead of 2018 earnings that should be higher than that of the current year’s, making it even more attractive.
The nature of the earnings can result in higher or lower profit from year to year but the longer term trend ought to be up, all things being equal especially as the more predictable fee income is growing at a faster pace that the others.