Ron Bohlert, sector lead, real estate, at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), participated in a video interview at Nareit’s REITwise: 2019 Law, Accounting & Finance Conference in San Antonio.
Bohlert discussed the lack of initial public offering (IPO) activity following a wave of action in January 2018. He noted that most companies prefer not to hold IPOs during volatile times in the market. The government shutdown was another unforeseen factor that limited activity, he said.
As for 2019, “so far, things are shaping up pretty well,” Bohlert said. Major indexes are rebounding off lows and valuations are improving. “All these criteria are pointing toward what could be a very successful IPO season coming up,” he noted. REITs are likely to see IPO activity supported by the Federal Reserve’s stance toward interest rates, he added.
Bohlert also commented on the upcoming June 3 IR Symposium sponsored by Nareit and the NYSE, in conjunction with Nareit’s REITweek. Topics to be discussed include generalist investors, long-term investment approaches, and trends in investor communications. A CEO roundtable will also look at ways to create an effective and efficient investor relations program.