Touting the weather-proof nature of its business model and a strong capital base, Barita Investments Limited has said it is well-positioned to finance new opportunities emerging in Jamaica’s recovery economy following the passage of Hurricane Melissa.

Speaking at an investor briefing on Wednesday, CEO Ramon Small-Ferguson said the company’s diversified portfolios — underpinned by resilience and agility — leaves Barita ready to “pounce” on new investment prospects over the coming quarters.

“Over the next few quarters a lot of the economic activity will be centred on rebuilding and recovery. What that therefore means for us is that the strategic options that we have availed ourselves, in having several business lines, will lend itself to us having different avenues through which we can pursue participation in this recovery economy and this will be an excepted area of growth for us,” he told investors gathered online for the virtual meeting.

While damage from Hurricane Melissa are already estimated in the billions, Small-Ferguson noted that the opportunity cost tied to lost business and disrupted livelihoods among other things has yet to be quantified. He said that, although Government has tabled increased spending in its supplementary budget and secured more than US$6.7 billion in new financing from international partners, there remains significant room for private capital.

“It will take more than those funds to get the economy back to growth and from a capital market standpoint. We certainly want to be at the forefront of the conversation. The rebuilding efforts will not only be centred on replacing what was already in place, but also to bring new and more resilient and efficient infrastructure, and that will require funding,” he said.

As a major player in the capital market, Barita intends to mobilise both private and international capital, offering a “safe and effective platform” for investors seeking to participate in Jamaica’s rebuilding. To this end, the company has been developing thematic investment options for clients. Having built-up resilience over the years, the CEO said it is now well-positioned to take advantage of the possible opportunities.

For the 12 months ended September 30, 2025, Barita reported unaudited net operating revenue of $8.5 billion with a profit of $3 billion.

In highlighting the role of the company’s investment banking division in supporting national reconstruction efforts, Small-Ferguson also pointed to its alternative investment arm, particularly its new real estate division through which it has already curated a pipeline of developments expected to come on stream at a time when the country urgently needs productivity and activity.

Following a review of its strategy prompted by the Category Five storm, the company, Small-Ferguson said, has also sharpened its focus on tightening operational efficiency, business optimisation, risk and compliance, and inorganic expansion.

Over the short to medium term the firm plans to expand its regional footprint as it diversifies the number of transactions in which it participates. It is now in the licensing stage of a strategic reorganisation, which it expects to complete once all regulatory approvals are secured.

Even as the company supports national rebuilding, Barita is eyeing additional inorganic growth opportunities, which Small-Ferguson said often arise in the aftermath of disruptive events.

“These situations, as unfortunate as they are, can create opportunities, but we however believe the business is well-positioned to capitalise where they emerge,” he said.

Barita’s strengthened capital base — supported by several equity raises in recent years — now stands at over $34 billion, with total assets nearing $150 billion and a 55 per cent efficiency ratio.

Small-Ferguson noted that the company’s capital foundation — significantly built up during the pandemic and further reinforced despite volatile macroeconomic conditions — has proven resilient across multiple crises.

“We didn’t re-discover any area of our strategy coming out of the storm, but the type of approach we had in place I would say was weather-proof. The effects of the storm will continue to pressure test the business community, but we remain strong and very resilient,” Small-Ferguson said.

Head of Investment, Research and Strategy Richardo Williams, in citing the real economy as one sector poised for sharp growth over the short to medium term, said this will largely be driven as reconstruction accelerates and major infrastructure upgrades move forward.

“In the next two to three years traditional sectors, such as manufacturing and distribution; consumer staples; finance, along with newer ones such telecommunications, will also be among the other areas in which we expect to see growth,” Williams said.

SMALLL-FERGUSON…over the next few quarters a lot of the economic activity will be centred on rebuilding and recovery