TIDMVTA
Volta Finance Limited (VTA / VTAS) -- June 2022 monthly
report
NOT FOR RELEASE, DISTRIBUTION, OR PUBLICATION, IN WHOLE OR PART,
IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES
*****
Guernsey, 13 July 2022
AXA IM has published the Volta Finance Limited (the "Company" or
"Volta Finance" or "Volta") monthly report for June. 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 June, the CLO market continued to suffer in conjunction with
other credit markets. Year-to-date performances is largely in line
with more traditional credit asset classes like High Yield. In June
Volta's NAV was down 4.6%, bringing the year to date total return
to -14.6%.
This negative performance was mostly driven by CLO Equity
performances with detailed monthly performances** by asset classes
being +0.7% for Bank Balance Sheet transactions, -7.2% for CLO
equity tranches; -4.4% for CLO debt; +0.3% for Cash Corporate
Credit and ABS (together representing 2.9% of NAV).
Loans and CLOs are now priced at level that are relatively
similar to May/June 2020, just after the worst of Covid while the
situation is significantly different this time. Two years ago,
rating agencies were in the process of completing a huge wave of
loan downgrades (in the end circa 40% of loans were downgraded in a
few months) and default rates were expected to be in the 10 to 15%
range on one year/18 month horizon. This time, the rating
downgrade/upgrade ratio is still balanced, rating agencies are
expected to downgrade loans on a case by case basis and, even
though we expect to see more defaults over, we are expecting
default rates (in line with the number of loans currently trading
below 80% of par) to rise by only a few percentage points in the
coming year/18 months, a level that is absolutely manageable.
It is clear to us that the particularly attractive spreads
available from loans and CLO tranches are partially due to 2
technical effects: there is a significant number of warehouses
opened which partially ramped before or during the first weeks
after the Ukraine invasion and the market is pricing in the
probability of the liquidation of the warehouses. Even though other
options exist (re-pricing and re-use of such warehouses to price a
new CLO) this option clearly weighs on the technical of both the
loan and the CLO market, pushing prices lower waiting for a
capitulation for such positions. The second thing is that fixed
income credit markets are down due to the dual effect of spread
increases and rate increases. Floating rate instruments, like CLO
tranches, being in competition with traditional fixed rate markets,
are suffering from the fact that many players tend to sell where
they have limited losses from floating rate instruments to seize
opportunities at far higher projected yields in traditional fixed
rate markets. Rotating portfolios out of floating based instruments
into fixed rate instruments did not help for the last 2 months.
Capturing the bottom in loan and CLO markets is always
challenging when considering, for example, the time to market in
pricing a new CLO Equity tranche. So after accumulating cash for
already several months, Volta will seek to reinvest, considering
buying mezzanine CLO debts at significant discounts and/or opening
new CLO warehouses to be able to purchase loans at even deeper
prices if some others are forced to capitulate.
In June, Volta received the equivalent of EUR0.6m in terms of
interest and coupons. For the 6 months ended June 2022, Volta
received EUR22.5m interest and coupons representing a 20.6%
annualized cash flow to NAV.
Considering that the fundamental risk for our positions is not
inflation but recession we recently entered into a fixed rate
overlay, adding 1.5 year of duration to Volta through T-notes
futures/options and Euro 5 year swaptions. At the time of writing,
these positions have generated circa 0.5% performance. These
positions, due to their size, are not going to dramatically change
Volta's performance but if recession were to materialize, term
rates may not continue to rise and this kind of performance kicker
may help.
Looking ahead to the next few quarters, we do not believe that
there are any signs that Volta is likely to suffer from a diversion
of cash flows from its CLO Equity positions. Indeed, Volta's
cashflows have been increasing every month for the last 4 months
(measured as the rolling 6-month cashflows to avoid seasonality).
Receiving a continuing high level of cash flows should allow us to
take advantage of opportunities arising from the current market
environment while maintaining the payment of a steady quarterly
dividend.
As at the end of June 2022, Volta's NAV was EUR222.3m or EUR6.08
per share.
*It should be noted that approximately 1.6% 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 NAV on as
timely a basis as possible 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 notes. The most
recently available fund NAV or quoted price was 1.0% as at 31 May
2022 and 0.6% as at 31 March 2022.
** "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
https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=pxQz1WJ73frTdBJqJlLpRf-QvdHq4Ro-_pdU_jcAdrFTYrFI8HaiSBb3JcorcbbY1yOs7JKdqPXdnOhtLTCeJdi3Upe-Rkq29rLZvF5qyi4=
+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
https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=Yjt4KO9EIm2V_5izxVGk3htnMLUBF2_uj1tu9acnvZKVELYg0AMf--HonqPWDGIvXdzEZLP3IrNVnyuCzd00RWRvq_V3aGhYHpqkZB91ovgb95Oj7_HRkMPMp0i-jxeqTEZriVB5FFd84EF4QCkrrIzzjwL-YdrvcWjCnFttM1EHfPMWjhSsBjC7os1CQXYnYyy_-ceFq5VQW1shJ8VP0fMYh-yoOPeMOcqe53fZOiCApSz4u_FdRqMG1i48iPlMJFakoQRBBsDPVaJk63S1t3-YuA2rHJTTV62o-FgGy5Coi7leKilRdiYl1NxfBp_hfuNhQf0dj0mspp9QhSCwyjJtHZ8otxeI5WaYGmmzBNYSmWdaIG-RqnyrNPuF2x-0
+44 (0) 1481 750 853
Corporate Broker
Cenkos Securities plc
Andrew Worne
Daniel Balabanoff
+44 (0) 20 7397 8900
*****
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 2,460 professionals and
EUR887 billion in assets under management as of the end of December
2021.
*****
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.
*****
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.
*****
Attachment
-- Volta - Monthly Report - June 2022 final
https://ml-eu.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/6cb6c627-bf35-4973-9771-1c7a383c3820
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July 13, 2022 12:15 ET (16:15 GMT)
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