Topic: How To Invest

Dear Pat: Kina Securities is a Papua New Guinea-based financial firm that has announced some bold aspirations. I’m curious about your opinion. Thanks!

Article Excerpt

Kina Securities plans to undertake an initial public offering and list on the Australian Securities Exchange and Papua New Guinea’s Port Moresby Stock Exchange. The IPO aims to raise $97 million Australian ($93 million Canadian), giving the company a $164-million (Australian) market cap. Kina is one of Papua New Guinea’s largest financial institutions, offering services such as fund management, investment advice, corporate consulting, custodian and trustee services, and financial planning, in addition to a stock brokerage. It has over $2.5 billion (Australian) under management. The company will use part of the IPO funds to buy the Papua New Guinea subsidiary of Malaysia’s Maybank. This business is Papua New Guinea’s fourth-largest bank, offering commercial banking and advisory services, mostly in the timber and fisheries industries. Rabbie Namaliu, New Guinea’s former president, chairs Kina’s board of directors. As well, in a move designed to strengthen the board, the company has appointed former Suncorp Bank CEO David Foster. Suncorp is one of Australia’s largest financial…