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Investment Q&A

Not investment advice or solicitation to buy/sell securities. Do your own due diligence and/or consult an advisor.

Q: As for Kathy's question on acquiring a small CSU debenture with rights, possibly she ought to check with her broker to see IF a $200 bond could be sold. This quote is from the itrade site "Face value should be in multiples of $1,000.00 as there are no fractional bond units, except for strips where the rule in multiples of $1,000 does not apply." Also it is not possible with them to trade anything less than a $5000 corporate bond online.

Perhaps for most of us small holders of the rights the best course of action is to sell them on the open market; otherwise you might be stuck with an unmarketable security until maturity in 2040. Alternatively if you're really keen on the debentures you could purchase enough rights to get up to the minimum trading levels so you are holding something marketable. Thanks, J.
Read Answer Asked by Jeff on August 30, 2014
Q: As a Constellation shareholder, rights have been deposited into my account and I have been considering an additional purchase of rights (CSU.RT)on the open market to participate more fully in the debenture offering. However, I have no experience in such rights offering and no idea as to how to value them. From the price action in the first week of trading ( ranging from .40 to .70 cents), I suspect I'm not alone. Any advice, suggestions, guidelines appreciated.
Thanks
Read Answer Asked by William on August 29, 2014
Q: I have a small position in constellation software. What would you think of acquiring some more rights and invest in the debentures by borrowing against the home line of credit? Maybe even convert it to a mortgage amount at a lower floating rate?
The interest rate on the borrowing is a floating rate as is with the debenture and the premium offered with the rate reset would more than justify the risk?
Read Answer Asked by Rajiv on August 24, 2014
Q: Hi, We hold Constellation Software shares. The cut off date for debenture rights CSU.rt was August 21.The rights have already started trading. Will the rights be deposited to my brokerage account? What would I need to do to exercise my option to apply for debentures? Can I also buy extra rights? Thanks for your help, as always.
Read Answer Asked by rajeev on August 22, 2014
Q: Based on yesterday's close Auto Canada's (ACQ) price to book ratio is 7.25 compared to Constellation Software's (CSU) 21.26 and trailing PE ratio is 36.21 compared to 57.47. Considering the nature of each company's business and assets, which I appreciate are comparing apples and oranges, I consider ACQ fully valued however significantly more reasonably priced than CSU. Doesn't the high rate being offered by CSU on the recent rate reset pfd share issue indicate the risky nature of CSU as an investment? How does the market justify a price for CSU that is so high relative to what is supported by their financials? Could I please have your comments?

Duncan
Read Answer Asked by Duncan on August 14, 2014
Q: Peter and Team,

I am a shareholder of CSU and am interested in the debentures they are issuing. I have a few questions: first, does it make sense to buy more stock now to get more rights to get debentures at a $95 per $100 par value or should I wait for the rights to come on the exchange and buy them then? Second, I think the debentures are supposed to yield 7.4% compared on the par value and then reset to 6.5% + CPI annually. Is my understanding correct? Third, I think that the floating nature of this debenture should make its capital value stay pretty flat even in a rising interest rate environment as long as CSU's credit-worthiness is good. Any thoughts on this?

Thanks!
Read Answer Asked by Marc on August 13, 2014
Q: Thoughts on the subordinate debt Constellation (CSU) is offering? Joel Greenblatt wrote a good book on making money in odd deals like this. His thoughts are the big holders create initial selling pressure bc they either specifically invest in equities or the position wouldn't be large enough. Then one could pick up the rights at a discount and to purchase the debt at discount. At $95 for $100 debentures with 7.4% yield your essentially getting a yield of 13.1% annualized in the first year.
Read Answer Asked by Michael on August 12, 2014
Q: Thanks to your great service I have held CSU since mid 2012 and have been buying on the small pull backs. Currently at 6% weight. It has stalled or dropped over the last 6 months and have been patient because it has been such a good performer but is it time to move on with some or all?

Thanks again for your service
Read Answer Asked by Dale on July 29, 2014
Q: Hi Team..Peter - I do hope you are mending. I have sent in a contribution to your cancer ride and have my fingers crossed for you.
First question; I would like to increase my Info Tech holdings to be about 15% of my stock holdings. I own DH Corp, Enghouse, Constellation, Syologist and Avigilon all adding up to 11.6% of my entire 3 PFs (which have most of your 2 PFs stocks and a few extra. Any sugguestions for good growth over the next 2 years or so - small cap is OK! Or I can add to one of the above (which would you suggest?)My second question is I now have 38 holdings including some CBO CDZ ZRE and BYD.UN. Am I now too diversified??
thanks so much for all you do ...get better!
Read Answer Asked by El-ann on June 28, 2014