The short-seller who sparked a share price crash at embattled property firm Home Reit is in line to pocket millions from his bet that the stock would slide.
Fraser Perring, whose Viceroy Research triggered a selloff in November after publishing a damning report questioning the group’s business model and its ability to collect rent, is estimated to have made just over £4 million.
The 49-year-old took a 0.82 per cent short position against Home Reit – equivalent to just less than 6.5million shares at an average price of 100p each – before Viceroy published its broadside.
Perring took a 0.82 per cent short position against Home Reit, which provides properties to help house the homeless
Trading in Home Reit’s shares was suspended on Tuesday after the group failed to publish its accounts on time as its auditor rushed to check the numbers following the accusations.
The stock was suspended at around 38p, meaning Perring pocketed around 62p in profit for each share in his position.
Between the report’s publication and the suspension, Home Reit lost around 51 per cent of its value as it failed to fully reassure investors, despite labelling the allegations as ‘baseless and misleading’.
The company, which provides properties to help house the homeless, suffered another blow last week when its investment adviser, Alvarium, split off the division responsible for managing the trust’s portfolio in an attempt to distance itself from the scandal.
