NCB Capital Markets joins forces with Scotia and CIBC for milestone JPS listing

In what is being regarded as a major milestone for national development, the Jamaica Public Service Company Limited (JPS) listed its Preference Shares on the Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE) this morning, Friday, November 1, 2013 following a four-month structuring and marketing process involving the power company and co-arrangers NCB Capital Markets Limited, Scotia Investments Jamaica Limited and CIBC First Caribbean.

The JPS 9.50 percent cumulative non-redeemable Class ‘F’ Preference Shares comprises a total of 2,455,607 units and is listed on the exchange at a price of $1,050.14 per share. Dividends are indexed to US dollars and are payable quarterly in Jamaican dollars, subject to declaration by the JPS Board.

“The listing of JPS Preference Shares on the Jamaica Stock Exchange today represents a significant milestone for JPS, our employees, our customers and Jamaica. This is a tangible extension of the partnership between JPS and our stakeholders,” said Kelly Tomblin, JPS President and CEO during her address to guests at the Listing Ceremony.

“The shares being listed today are particularly attractive, and will offer competitive returns for investors. But beyond that, the investors who purchase shares in JPS will be investing in a Company that is transforming in order to play an even more critical role in national development,” Tomblin added.

The preference shares are listed under the symbol code JPS9.5 and investors may purchase shares through a licensed broker.

“We are elated to offer these preferential shares to our clients, and we are confident that this is a lucrative investment,” said Lissant Mitchell, CEO, Scotia Investments Jamaica Limited, adding that the investment company was delighted to have been co-arranger on a deal, which he described as game-changing.

NCB Capital Markets Vice President — Investment Banking and Attorney-at-Law Dylan Coke underscored Mitchell’s point, revealing that the listing, “… represents an important step in the further development of the capital markets in Jamaica.”

“I want to commend JPS for having taken the bold route of a non-redeemable indexed pref share sold via private placement followed by a listing on the stock exchange as opposed to more traditional forms of financing,” Coke added.

“Finally, JPS is a company that touches every aspect of Jamaican life. Its performance impacts every business and household in Jamaica; so, in a real way, JPS’s success is Jamaica’s success,” Coke said.