By Clyde Mooney – editor Australian Hotelier
Thomas Hotels, owner of 16 Sydney pubs, denies there is any truth to claims it has been in talks with investment giant Perpetual.
It was reported yesterday in The Australian that financial services giant Perpetual was in discussion with Hall of Fame hotelier George Thomas, having reputedly already put in place “property debt funds”.
General manager of Thomas Hotels Chris Thomas told TheShout the report was incorrect.
“There is no truth in it whatsoever,” he said.
Suggestions Perpetual was considering involvement in pub asset investment could bode well for the industry given the money managers cite a strategic decision to “reduce risk on [the] balance sheet” in its financial reporting to the ASX for the period ending 31 December 2013.
Perpetual was also contacted to clarify the suggestions, but did not respond in time.
John Singleton, Mark Carnegie and Geoff Dixon's Australian Pub Fund (APF) continues to boom, with its operator Riversdale re-launching its first Queensland venue on Wednesday after an extensive renovation.
Speculation continues that APF will exercise a public float at some stage in 2014.