Ascott Reit's retail investors have big say in merger with A-HTrust

MANY retail investors do not realise the importance of submitting their proxy forms or turning up at extraordinary general meetings (EGMs) and scheme meetings convened by companies.

They assume that as minority shareholders they have little or no power to affect the voting outcomes of resolutions to be approved at EGMs. They can't be more wrong.

Retail investors of Ascott Residence Trust (Ascott Reit), in fact, hold the power to change the future of not only Ascott Reit, but also that of Ascendas Hospitality Trust (A-HTrust).

On Oct 21, Ascott Reit will hold its EGM and scheme meeting at 10am at Raffles City Convention Centre, Level 4. A-HTrust's EGM will be held after, at 2.30pm.

Ascott Reit's unitholders must first vote in favour of the merger of Ascott Reit and A-HTrust for the proposed merger to go through. As previously highlighted, the merger will propel Ascott Reit, Singapore first hospitality trust with a S$5.7 billion in total asset value, to become the largest hospitality trust in Asia Pacific and the eighth largest globally with an asset value of …