A summer sale sign is seen at Aritzia at the Eaton Centre in Toronto.Kevin Van Paassen/The Globe and Mail
Aritzia Inc. shares began trading for the first time Monday, well above the price set in the run-up to the Canadian fashion retailer's initial public offering.
One-vote subordinate Aritzia shares were about 13 per cent above the IPO price of $16 after about 90 minutes of trading Monday.
At Monday's close, the subordinate shares were up $1.71, or 10.69 per cent, to $17.71 on 8.5-million shares.
The company – which has a network of 75 stores and an online business – won't get any of the money but its current shareholders are in line to receive at least $380-million after $20-million in fees paid to the underwriters.
Underwriters have the option to buy a further 15 per cent – up to 3.75-million shares – at the same price within 30 days, which could net Aritzia's majority shareholders up to $437-million and the underwriters up to $23-million in fees.
Boston-based Berkshire Partners and Aritzia founder Brian Hill will retain about 97 per cent of the voting power through multiple-vote shares, which weren't part of the IPO.