Volta Finance Limited : Net Asset Values as at ...
Volta Finance Limited (VTA / VTAS) – February 2020 monthly report
NOT FOR RELEASE, DISTRIBUTION OR PUBLICATION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES
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Guernsey, 11 March 2020
AXA IM has published the Volta Finance Limited (the “Company” or “Volta Finance” or “Volta”) monthly report for February. The full report is attached to this release and will be available on Volta’s website shortly (www.voltafinance.com).
PERFORMANCE and PORTFOLIO ACTIVITY
In February, Volta’s NAV* total return performance was -2.6%.
The monthly performances** were, in local currency: +0.8% for Bank Balance Sheet transactions, -3.8% for CLO Equity tranches; -2.1% for CLO Debt; -0.1% for Cash Corporate Credit deals; and +0.4% for ABS.
We sold two CLO debt positions (one BB and one B rated tranche) before the market was impacted by the spreading of the COVID-19 crisis. We also refrained from investing the circa €11m cash we received from our assets in January and February.
As a result of that, at the end of February cash or cash equivalents represent close to 10% of the NAV.
In March, performance is expected, once again, to be negative despite the benefits of diversification across the portfolio – by way of example, the bank balance sheet transaction bucket produced a positive performance in February.
Beyond the current volatility we have to think about the lessons and the consequences from the current COVID-19 crisis for our fund:
- in terms of price reaction with recent episodes of price volatility, we did not see particular signs of panic or abnormal behaviour. At the time of writing, BB CLO and Equity CLO tranches prices have fallen very much in line with underlying loan market prices with usual betas (between 2 and 3);
- In terms of market liquidity, as we would have anticipated, liquidity was significantly better for US loans than for European loans. This has meant that the ability of CLO managers to adapt their loan book to the current situation has been far greater for US CLOs than for EUR CLOs. This is the principal reason why we have no positions in EUR CLO debt;
- In terms of fundamentals, we were expecting 2020 to be a challenging year once again for loan markets and, like 2019, we were expecting to have again in the area of 2.5 downgrades for every upgrade in underlying credits. With the COVID-19 crisis it could be reasonably expected that even more downgrades will occur, which will place price pressures on B/B- rated loans.
When considering the impact in terms of defaults it is important to note that, for many years, loans have been issued without maintenance covenants (cov-lite loans). Most Generally, investors have considered that as a weakness. We always claimed that it had at least one benefit: giving more time to companies to go through a temporary trough in activity. The current situation is one such where being “cov-lite” might help.
It is far too early to form a clear view on the long-term impact of the crisis but the clear mantra of European and the US governments is to take measures that will limit the spread of the virus while having the least possible impact on business activity. It is also very clear that most governments will support companies going through the crisis, for instance by permitting delayed tax payments.
For the moment, considering the level of uncertainty we have decided to refrain from investing the current cash balance. The choice we made several quarters ago to favour CLO Equity relative to CLO Debt and to reduce the repo and hence the leveraging of CLO Debt was correct. If the current crisis permits CLO managers to reinvest in loans at discounted prices or with higher spreads, we should see higher cash flows from our CLO Equities before suffering the possible consequences of the crisis.
One of the reasons for our preference for CLOs (relative to many other ABS businesses) is again playing out in our favour: loans are issued by wide range companies that are representative of the overall economy. When there is a risk we might suffer some losses (due to loan defaults or a very large number of downgrades), governments and central banks mitigate this risk because of the macro impact associated with that risk. It is clearly not an insurance that losses will always be avoided but it is a strong mitigant regarding the risk associated with our investments.
As at the end of February 2020, Volta’s NAV was €273.9m or €7.49 per share. The GAV stood at €308.4m.
*It should be noted that approximately 11.0% of Volta’s GAV comprises investments for which the relevant NAVs as at the month-end date are normally available only after Volta’s NAV has already been published. Volta’s policy is to publish its own NAV on as timely a basis as possible in order to provide shareholders with Volta’s appropriately up-to-date NAV information. Consequently, such investments are valued using the most recently available NAV for each fund or quoted price for such subordinated note. The most recently available fund NAV or quoted price was for 6.0% as at 31 January 2020, 3.8% as at 31 December 2019 and 1.2% as at 30 September 2019.
** “performances” of asset classes are calculated as the Dietz-performance of the assets in each bucket, taking into account the Mark-to-Market of the assets at period ends, payments received from the assets over the period, and ignoring changes in cross currency rates. Nevertheless, some residual currency effects could impact the aggregate value of the portfolio when aggregating each bucket.
CONTACTS
For the Investment Manager
AXA Investment Managers Paris
Serge Demay
serge.demay@axa-im.com
+33 (0) 1 44 45 84 47
Company Secretary and Administrator
BNP Paribas Securities Services S.C.A, Guernsey Branch
guernsey.bp2s.volta.cosec@bnpparibas.com
+44 (0) 1481 750 853
Corporate Broker
Cenkos Securities plc
Andrew Worne
Daniel Balabanoff
Rob Naylor
+44 (0) 20 7397 8900
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ABOUT VOLTA FINANCE LIMITED
Volta Finance Limited is incorporated in Guernsey under The Companies (Guernsey) Law, 2008 (as amended) and listed on Euronext Amsterdam and the London Stock Exchange's Main Market for listed securities. Volta’s home member state for the purposes of the EU Transparency Directive is the Netherlands. As such, Volta is subject to regulation and supervision by the AFM, being the regulator for financial markets in the Netherlands.
Volta’s investment objectives are to preserve capital across the credit cycle and to provide a stable stream of income to its shareholders through dividends. Volta seeks to attain its investment objectives predominantly through diversified investments in structured finance assets. The assets that the Company may invest in either directly or indirectly include, but are not limited to: corporate credits; sovereign and quasi-sovereign debt; residential mortgage loans; and, automobile loans. The Company’s approach to investment is through vehicles and arrangements that essentially provide leveraged exposure to portfolios of such underlying assets. The Company has appointed AXA Investment Managers Paris an investment management company with a division specialised in structured credit, for the investment management of all its assets.
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ABOUT AXA INVESTMENT MANAGERS
AXA Investment Managers (AXA IM) is a multi-expert asset management company within the AXA Group, a global leader in financial protection and wealth management. AXA IM is one of the largest European-based asset managers with 739 investment professionals and €750 billion in assets under management as of the end of March 2019.
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This press release is published by AXA Investment Managers Paris (“AXA IM”), in its capacity as alternative investment fund manager (within the meaning of Directive 2011/61/EU, the “AIFM Directive”) of Volta Finance Limited (the "Volta Finance") whose portfolio is managed by AXA IM.
This press release is for information only and does not constitute an invitation or inducement to acquire shares in Volta Finance. Its circulation may be prohibited in certain jurisdictions and no recipient may circulate copies of this document in breach of such limitations or restrictions. This document is not an offer for sale of the securities referred to herein in the United States or to persons who are “U.S. persons” for purposes of Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or otherwise in circumstances where such offer would be restricted by applicable law. Such securities may not be sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration from the Securities Act. Volta Finance does not intend to register any portion of the offer of such securities in the United States or to conduct a public offering of such securities in the United States.
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This communication is only being distributed to and is only directed at (i) persons who are outside the United Kingdom or (ii) investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the “Order”) or (iii) high net worth companies, and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”). The securities referred to herein are only available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire such securities will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this document or any of its contents. Past performance cannot be relied on as a guide to future performance.
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This press release contains statements that are, or may deemed to be, "forward-looking statements". These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms "believes", "anticipated", "expects", "intends", "is/are expected", "may", "will" or "should". They include the statements regarding the level of the dividend, the current market context and its impact on the long-term return of Volta Finance's investments. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and readers are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Volta Finance's actual results, portfolio composition and performance may differ materially from the impression created by the forward-looking statements. AXA IM does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking statements.
Any target information is based on certain assumptions as to future events which may not prove to be realised. Due to the uncertainty surrounding these future events, the targets are not intended to be and should not be regarded as profits or earnings or any other type of forecasts. There can be no assurance that any of these targets will be achieved. In addition, no assurance can be given that the investment objective will be achieved.
The figures provided that relate to past months or years and past performance cannot be relied on as a guide to future performance or construed as a reliable indicator as to future performance. Throughout this review, the citation of specific trades or strategies is intended to illustrate some of the investment methodologies and philosophies of Volta Finance, as implemented by AXA IM. The historical success or AXA IM’s belief in the future success, of any of these trades or strategies is not indicative of, and has no bearing on, future results.
The valuation of financial assets can vary significantly from the prices that the AXA IM could obtain if it sought to liquidate the positions on behalf of the Volta Finance due to market conditions and general economic environment. Such valuations do not constitute a fairness or similar opinion and should not be regarded as such.
Editor: AXA INVESTMENT MANAGERS PARIS, a company incorporated under the laws of France, having its registered office located at Tour Majunga, 6, Place de la Pyramide - 92800 Puteaux. AXA IMP is authorized by the Autorité des Marchés Financiers under registration number GP92008 as an alternative investment fund manager within the meaning of the AIFM Directive.
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