Public demand exceeds expectations in the Hydro Belize share sale

The Government of Belize says the recent public share offering of Hydro Belize Limited has exceeded expectations, with demand outpacing the number of shares initially made available.  The sale, which opened on December 18, 2025, involved four million shares, representing 50 percent of the total shares issued in the company. A preliminary report following the close of the offer at 5 p.m. yesterday indicates that approximately 4.5 million shares were applied for, with a total value exceeding one hundred and thirty million dollars at a price of twenty-nine dollars per share.  According to government figures, the subscriber base reflects a broad mix of investors, including individuals, credit unions, pension funds, unions, companies, and other institutional investors. Nearly two thousand individual investors reportedly applied for shares, along with more than sixty companies and institutions such as the Belize Social Security Board and private-sector pension funds.  While the application period has closed, subscribers have until February 4, to complete payment. Government officials say all applications will be satisfied, with excess shares to be sourced from the remaining fifty percent stake retained by the Government.  Following the payment period, share transfers and certificates are expected to be issued. The Government has also indicated that Hydro Belize Limited will soon issue bonds to facilitate the purchase and cancellation of the remaining government-held shares. The divestment process is expected to conclude by February 28, after which the company will operate as a fully private-sector enterprise with roughly two thousand public shareholders.  Hydro Belize Limited, formerly Fortis Belize Limited, owns and operates three hydro-electric plants on the Macal River in the Cayo District, with a combined capacity of 51.2 megawatts. The facilities currently supply an estimated 30 to 35 percent of Belize’s electricity.