Cebu shipping firm files P737 million IPO

Cebu-based shipping company Aznar Shipping Corp. has submitted its registration statement to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for an initial public offering (IPO) aimed at raising up to P737 million from the public. The company is set to list up to one billion primary common shares, with an option for additional 100 million secondary shares, each priced at P0.67.

The IPO will focus on Visayas trade and tourism, a growth story as Visayas accounted for 35 percent of the country’s cargo throughput and 60 percent of passenger traffic from 2022 to 2025, according to a study by the Center for Research and Communication. The study also predicts that roll-on, roll-off traffic in Visayas will grow by 13 percent annually through 2028, outpacing the national average of 11 percent.

Aznar Shipping will utilize the proceeds from the IPO to expand its fleet, with the company currently operating a short-haul, high-frequency shipping model with nine vessels. The proceeds will enable the company to meet the demands of Visayas, a region characterized by its scattered islands and bustling inter-island shipping activities.

The Investment and Capital Corp. of the Philippines and PNB Capital and Investment Corp. have been appointed as joint issue managers, joint lead underwriters, and joint bookrunners for the IPO. Following regulatory approval, shares will be offered from December 1 to 8, and the listing is scheduled for December 18, placing the company on the PSE's small, medium, and emerging board.