Volta Finance
Limited (VTA) - December 2017 monthly report
NOT FOR RELEASE, DISTRIBUTION OR
PUBLICATION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN OR INTO THE UNITED
STATES
*****
Guernsey, 19 January 2018
AXA IM has published the Volta
Finance Limited (the "Company" or "Volta Finance" or "Volta")
monthly report for December. 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 December, Volta's Estimated
NAV* performance was +0.6% (taking into account the December
dividend payment), bringing the performance for the year to date to
6.6% (dividends reinvested at NAV).
On 21 December, Volta paid a
quarterly dividend of 0.16 euro per share (with an ex-dividend date
of 30 November) representing an annualised yield of 9% based on the
end of November share price.
The annual performance is somewhat
below that recorded in the last few calendar years, primarily on
account of the negative performance drag caused by currency
exposure to the US Dollar (nearly 30% of the NAV on average through
2017). The overall estimated impact of currency exposures for 2017
is -3.6%, meaning that the performance of Volta, prior to the
currency impact is above 10% (net of fees) for 2017. As we have
noted previously, foreign currency exposure is not fully hedged
back to Euro to avoid excessive liquidity demands if hedges were to
move adversely and also to limit the cash drag that arises from the
need to maintain margin against open hedges. This strategy has been
in place for many years and historically has not had any material
impact on the mid to long-term performance of Volta as the
Euro/dollar cross rate has been relatively stable for many
years.
Late in December, Volta received
the equivalent of €24.2m of prepayments from two positions. These
repayments account for the rather significant amount of cash held
at the end of December. Prepayment levels were very high in 2017
and this, in large part, accounted for periodically higher levels
of cash in the Company than would be usual. However, it is
encouraging that, throughout the year, we have continued to be able
to source and reinvest in new opportunities at attractive IRRs,
which bodes well for future returns. Volta was drawn on one asset
(the lease transaction that was sourced in 2016) for the equivalent
of €1.4m during December.
In 2018 we anticipate continuing
to increase exposure to the CLO Equity bucket as well as the Bank
Balance sheet bucket. It is expected that we will continue to do so
at the expense of CLO Debt positions given the significant
tightening of CLO debt tranches. This tandem increase to CLO Equity
and Bank Balance sheets from CLO Debt means that aggregate risk
levels should not increase meaningfully.
At the end of December 2017,
Volta's Estimated NAV was €304.0m or €8.32 per share. The GAV stood
at €347.4m.
In December, mark-to-market
variations of Volta's asset classes were: +0.5% for Bank Balance
Sheet Transactions; +1.0% for CLO Equity tranches; +2.1% for CLO
Debt tranches, 0.0% for Cash Corporate Credit deals as well as for
ABS.
In December, Volta generated the
equivalent of €1.9m in interest and coupons net of repo costs
(non-euro amounts translated into euro using end-of-month cross
currency rates). This brings the total cash amount generated during
the last six months in terms of interest and coupons to €17.4m.
*It should be
noted that approximately 11.5% of Volta's GAV comprises investments
in funds 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 in funds are valued using the most recently available
NAV for each fund. The most recently available fund NAV was for
8.9% as at 30 November 2017 and for 2.6% as at 29 September
2017.
**
"Mark-to-market variation" is calculated as the Dietz-performance
of the assets in each bucket, taking into account the
Mark-to-Market of the assets at month-end, 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.
This announcement
contains information that is inside information for the purposes of
the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014. Upon the publication
of this announcement via Regulatory Information Service this inside
information is now considered to be in the public domain.
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 Portfolio Administrator
Sanne Group (Guernsey) Limited
voltafinance@sannegroup.com
+44 (0) 1481 739810
Corporate Broker
Cenkos Securities plc
Oliver Packard
Andrew Worne
Sapna Shah
+44 (0) 20 7397 1916
*****
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.
*****
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 €717 billion in assets under
management as of the end of December 2016. AXA IM employs
approximately 2,420 people around the world.
*****
This press release is distributed and 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.
*****
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.
*****
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.
*****
Volta Finance Limited - December
2017 monthly report
This
announcement is distributed by Nasdaq Corporate Solutions on behalf
of Nasdaq Corporate Solutions clients.
The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely
responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the
information contained therein.
Source: Volta Finance Limited via Globenewswire
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