CVC Income & Growth - Equity-like return potential on senior secured debt

FY22 was the first year since its inception that CVC Income & Growth (CVC IG) saw a negative NAV total return (TR). Its euro and sterling share classes produced NAV total negative returns of c 8.3% and 6.8%, respectively, which compares with 3.3% and 1.9% negative TRs by the Credit Suisse Western European Leveraged Loan Index (CS WELLI) in euro and sterling terms, respectively. This was primarily the result of downward mark-to-market valuation adjustments (resulting in unrealised losses for CVC

CVC Income & Growth - Uncertainty creates opportunity

CVC Income & Growth’s (CVC IG; formerly Credit Partners European Opportunities) share price and NAV have been affected by the turbulent markets. The two classes of shares (euro and sterling) are down 6% and 5% over the last 12 months, with NAV total negative returns of 5% and 7%, respectively. At the same time, CVC IG’s asset quality has been holding up and yields have been boosted by the floating rate nature of leveraged loans. At current prices, CVC IG’s portfolio has a yield to maturity (YTM)

CVC Credit Partners European Opportunities - Floating rate advantage in 2022

Despite the COVID-19 challenge, 2021 was a good year for CVC Credit Partners European Opportunities (CCPEOL). NAV total return was 12.2%, outperforming the high-yield debt indices. While the manager remained positive throughout 2021, the portfolio closed the year more defensively – the credit opportunities basket was 49% of gross assets versus 67% in February and 55% in July. Management is nevertheless encouraged by the supportive economic outlook, the floating rate nature of leveraged loans and

CVC Credit Partners European Opportunities - Strong 2021 performance and dividend hike

CVC Credit Partners European Opportunities (CCPEOL) has delivered a 22.23% NAV per share total return (CCPG shares) over the last 12 months, outperforming the high-yield debt indices. The shares have returned 30% as the discount to NAV narrowed to 5%. The manager has stayed positive on the market with a focus on the upper CCC and lower B segments and this seems to have paid off. CCPEOL remains optimistic but more cautious; it has cut its credit opportunistic basket from 67% of gross assets in Fe

CVC Credit Partners European Opportunities - Remaining positive on the market

CVC Credit Partners European Opportunities (CCPEOL) has achieved a total NAV return of 1.9% (target 8% annual return) in the last 12 months. Its index outperformance was helped by sector rotation early in the COVID-19 crisis and by staying positive on the market. The manager sees the greatest opportunity in the upper CCC and lower B segments and in structured finance. CCPEOL remains optimistic in the credit opportunities segment, despite the market recovery. It expects 2021 will bring more lever

CVC Credit Partners European Opportunities - Positioned for opportunity

CVC Credit Partners European Opportunities (CCPEOL) has achieved a total NAV return loss of 4% (it targets an 8% return) in the last 12 months, affected by market turbulence. CCPEOL has a significant weighting to stressed assets in its portfolio. Although credit markets have rebounded from the March lows, the performing credit segment is still trading at historically low valuations. The manager sees the greatest opportunity in the upper CCC and lower B segments and in structured finance. As such

First Quarter of 2020

We have knitted together the impact on the investment companies from what is now widely considered to be the most severe pandemic in a century. The collapse in asset prices over the latter part of March, brought the curtain down on an up-market that lasted more than ten years. In amongst this, there were pockets, such as the technology sector, that held up well. For many industries, the worst is still to come, as we brace ourselves for the sharpest contraction to global growth since the US great

CVC Credit Partners European Opps - Restructurings starting to bear fruit

CVC Credit Partners European Opportunities (CCPEOL) achieved an NAV return of 3.1% in sterling and 1.6% in euro terms in FY19. The investment vehicle through which CCPEOL invests achieved a gross return of 2.9% (in euro terms), behind its target of 8–10% per year. This was largely due to several restructuring processes within the credit opportunities pool taking longer than expected. However, these have shown good progress recently and, together with prospective new credit investment opportuniti

CVC Credit Partners European Opps - Actively working on credit opportunities

CVC Credit Partners European Opportunities (CCPEOL) aims to achieve a blend of capital growth and income (it targets gross total returns pre fees of 8–12% pa, with c 5pp from income). It maintains two pools of assets – performing credit with assets acquired close to par and credit opportunities consisting of discounted assets. CCPEOL’s one-year NAV total return (to 10 January) was a modest 3.4% for the sterling shares and was assisted by positive returns in November and December. Throughout most

CVC Credit Partners European Opps - Defensive positioning and solid dividend cover

CVC Credit Partners European Opportunities (CCPEOL) aims to achieve a blend of capital growth and income (it targets gross total returns of 8–12% pa, with c 5pp from income). The portfolio is positioned defensively, mainly in senior secured debt of large issuers (average EBITDA above €500m) from Western Europe. Long-term NAV net total return (TR) performance remains broadly intact at 6.4% pa over three years (vs SP ELLI at 3.5% pa), despite weaker performance during the Q418 downturn. Currently

Fidante Daily Digest

CCPG – CVC Credit Partners European Opportunities – Results of fundraising

CVC Credit Partners European Opps - Credit expert with 5% yield and growth potential

CVC Credit Partners European Opportunities (CCPEOL) aims to achieve a blend of capital growth and income (target total returns of 8–12% pa, with c 5pp from income) by investing in high-yielding debt instruments such as senior secured loans and sub-investment grade bonds. The portfolio is biased towards large, liquid issuers (€600m weighted average EBITDA) in Western Europe, although up to 40% may be allocated to non-European markets. The underlying investment vehicle holds a blend of investments

Fidante Daily Digest

Blackstone / GSO Loan Financing – Half-year report | CVC Credit Partners European Opportunities – Half-year report | Woodford Patient Capital– Half-year report and portfolio update | Real Estate Credit Investments – Proposed placing

Redde

Proposed share-for-share merger with Northgate

Lowland Investment Company - Is the tide turning?

Lowland Investment Company’s (LWI’s) unconstrained, multi-cap investment policy differentiates it from most peers in the AIC UK Equity Income sector. It offers investors broad market exposure, outside of the large, traditional ‘income stocks’ at a 13% discount to NAV. The underperformance of small- and mid-cap companies versus larger peers has slowed and a turnaround would be very positive for LWI. Portfolio returns are already benefiting from acquisition activity, spurred by low valuations, and

Foxtons Group (FOXT LN) - 1Q24 IMS shows real momentum

Foxtons Group plc first quarter revenue rose 9% to £35.7m (1Q23: £32.9m) with growth delivered across all business segments. Trading is in line with management's expectations.

PCI Pal - +25% FY23 revenue growth, FY24 growth of +28% reiterated

PCI Pal’s FY23 results show revenue growth of +25% to £14.9m, gross profit growth of +31% to £13.1m at a margin of 88%, and an outlook confirming robust momentum in H1 24. The FY23 results are as expected following the August trading update, and FY23 Total Annual Contract Value (TACV) is +23% yoy to £16.4m, with ARR +14% yoy to £12.6m due to £3.1m of contracts in deployment. We expect ARR will increase +35% and +31% to £17.0m and £22.2m in FY24 and FY25, as management lands and expands following

LIBERUM: AEW UK REIT: A resilient quarterly performance

LIBERUM: PensionBee: Fully funded growth

Foresight Solar Fund - Optimising capital allocation

Foresight Solar Fund (FSFL) celebrated its 10-year anniversary of listing on the London Stock Exchange with decade-high cash distributions from assets of £120.4m in its FY23 results (year end 31 December). FY23 also saw FSFL’s divestment programme come to fruition with the sale of a 50% stake in its Spanish Lorca portfolio at a 21% premium to its holding value. The proceeds of this divestment, along with free cash, were used to pay down the fund’s variable rate debt via its revolving credit faci

Tetragon Financial Group - FY23 growth driven by idiosyncratic factors

Tetragon Financial Group (Tetragon) posted a 6.4% net asset value (NAV) per share total return (TR) in US dollar terms in FY23. Tetragon’s returns normally have a low correlation with broader markets, and therefore its FY23 performance was below the 26.3% return of the S&P 500 Index, which rallied on the artificial intelligence (AI) theme. Tetragon’s FY23 return on equity (RoE) of 5.5% was below its target of 10–15% pa. That said, its performance since listing was within the target range at 11.3

Resilient FY24, confident long-term outlook

Vp’s full year update highlights sector-leading results, once again benefiting from the diversity of its end markets and the quality of its specialist businesses. With results expected to be broadly in line with expectations, we trim our FY24 PBT forecast by c.5% to £39.0m, a shade below the FY23 outturn (£40.2m). We consider this an impressively resilient performance set against a mixed market backdrop. Under new leadership, a strategic refresh is underway and management is confident in long

Zeus Top Picks for 2024 - 2023 review and outlook for 2024

On 9 January last year, we set out our ten top stock picks for 2023, for what turned out to be another relatively poor twelve months for UK equities due to two wars, stubbornly high inflation and further tightening of monetary policy. This was even as other major markets, such as the US, largely recovered in the year. In the 2023 calendar year, the AIM All-Share index fell 8.2% and is still 42% off its 2021 high. From the release of our 2023 top picks note, the average total return (assuming div

Vector Capital - Full year results illustrate challenging backdrop; dividend maintained

Vector Capital is an established commercial lending group, focused on secured short-term and bridging loans in the property sector. This morning, the group has reported full year results to 31 December 2023, illustrating the challenging market backdrop. While underlying trading was robust, with good demand being seen for new loans, provisions for bad debts relating to historical loans of £728k in the year led to a decrease in PBT to £2.1m (WHI est. £2.4m, FY22 £2.8m). Looking ahead, although VCA

Initial Equity Trading Comments - 1 December 2023

M Winkworth+ (WINK, House Stock at 163p) - Solid FY23A results, well placed to grow

Strong H1'23 results; forecasts upgraded