Rebosis delays FY results in hope of an unqualified audit

Micro-cap Rebosis Property Fund has delayed the release of its reviewed 2020 annual results to the end of August, which were meant to be published on Monday.

The group, which is majority controlled by Eastern Cape-born property magnate Sisa Ngebulana, noted in a JSE Sens statement that the delay relates to the qualified audit opinion expressed by its auditors (BDO South Africa Incorporated) for the year ended 31 August, 2019.

“The auditors’ technical team has now identified that Rebosis requires restatement to the 2019 financial year information, specifically relating to the statement of comprehensive income of the company,” the fund said.

“The company believes performing this required restatement will allow for an unqualified audit opinion to be issued by the auditors for the reviewed [2020] results.”

Rebosis now expects to release its results later this week.

The latest debacle raises further red flags around the group and whether it will retain its Real Estate Investment Trust (Reit) status following not paying out a dividend to shareholders last year. It comes just a week after the group announced the resignation of its chief investment officer Rob Becker.

“The delay is due to a notification provided by the audit partner from BDO South Africa Incorporated… an hour before the intended release time on a matter identified by the auditors’ technical team,” Rebosis pointed out in its Sens statement.

“It must be noted that all aspects of the audit to facilitate an opinion and the results being reviewed were completed by that stage,” the fund added.

The group has lost more than 40% of its market cap over the last year and almost 98% over the past three years. It is now valued at just under R154 million.