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Aberdeen lifts week-long property fund suspension
Aberdeen Asset Management has lifted the week-long suspension in trading in its commercial property fund, it announced this morning.
It became the latest in a series of property fund suspensions last week, which began with Standard Life Investments, following the Brexit vote.
The company gave shareholders the option to back out of the vehicle, if they were prepared to take a 17 per cent hit to their investment.
Aberdeen said it took action due to “rapidly changing commercial property market conditions” after the Brexit vote.
Martin Gilbert, chief executive of Aberdeen Asset Management, said: “Following the lifting of the week-long suspension, I am pleased that investors will now be able to trade shares in the funds.
“Investors should be aware that the price may be adjusted on a daily basis to reflect the funds’ requirement to provide liquidity and the need to protect all investors. The market may take time to find its level but I have no doubt that property will continue to play an important part in investors’ portfolios.”
The firm released a statement, which read: “We recognise that the temporary suspension since 6 July 2016 and the anti-dilutive measures we have taken will have inconvenienced some shareholders, but Aberdeen remains absolutely focused on providing liquidity to shareholders who wish to access it, while protecting value for the remaining shareholders; our aim is to ensure all shareholders are treated fairly. Shareholders can find any additional information on our website.”
The statement added: “It is important to note that the anti-dilutive measures we have put in place have been imposed solely to reflect the need to dispose of properties in order to provide liquidity.
“Doing so allows us to protect value for longer-term investors and, although today’s price also incorporates a fair value adjustment of 7% on property holdings, the diluted price is quite distinct from that and not a reflection of what we believe is currently achievable in the absence of undue pressure to sell properties.
“Accordingly, if future trading in the Fund reverts to lower levels, we would expect to lower or remove the dilution adjustment, and the price would then revert to a level reflective of longer-term property values.”
The decision to lift the suspension period was taken by Aberdeen in agreement with the Depositary.