Portfolio Update - August 2021

RNS Number : 6336L

NB Global Monthly Income Fund Ltd

14 September 2021

 

NOT FOR RELEASE, DISTRIBUTION OR PUBLICATION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, TO U.S. PERSONS OR INTO OR IN THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA OR JAPAN.

14^th September 2021

NB Global Monthly Income Fund*

Monthly Commentary & Portfolio Update

31^st August 2021

Key statistics

NAV (GBP)	GBP 0.9520
Current Portfolio Yield**	6.08%
Number of Investments	310
Number of Issuers	212

Asset allocation:

	Global High Yield:		30.12%
	Global Floating Rate Loans:		38.82%
Total Traditional Credit:			68.94%
	Private Debt:		17.03%
	CLO Mezzanine Debt:		9.53%
	Special Situations:		4.50%
Total Alternative Credit:			31.06%

Credit rating breakdown: as at 31st August (excluding cash), the portfolio was invested primarily in B (48.29%) and BBB/BB (15.83%) rated investments ¹

Market Update

Non-investment grade credit finished the month of August in positive territory after a modestly weaker July even as concerns over the resurgence of COVID and its impact on global economic activity spurred a mild risk-off sentiment in the first part of the month. Senior floating rate loans saw strong demand overall, especially in light of rising inflation, central bank taper expectations, reduced supply relative to July, and positive issuer fundamentals which overcame the concerns around the spread of the Delta variant.  Also, the final several trading days saw yields on global high yield corporates decline and spreads tighten as late-summer supply ceased and prior concerns around the spread of the Delta variant and central bank tapering were put to the side.  Second quarter earnings continued to come in well above expectations for issuers across non-investment grade corporate credit and a very strong U.S. payroll report (+943K in July) also provided some fuel for the risk-on sentiment over the remainder of the month.

In the month of August, U.S. senior floating rate loans, as measured by the S&P/LSTA Leveraged Loan Index (the "S&P LLI"), returned 0.47% with lower rated tiers outperforming the index as BB, B and CCC rated issuers returned 0.41%, 0.45% and 0.95%, respectively. The LL100, a measure of the largest, most liquid issuers, returned 0.59% which also outperformed the total S&P LLI.  Year to date, the S&P LLI has provided a return of 3.76%. The European Leveraged Loan Index (the "ELLI") returned 0.51% in August and 3.63% year to date, excluding currency effects. The Second Lien Loans index was up 0.72% in the month and 10.54% year to date.

The global high yield bond market also posted positive returns in August even as global high yield primary market activity was robust despite the stalled activity ahead of the late-summer holidays. The ICE BofA Global High Yield Constrained Index was up 0.69% in August and returned 3.83% year to date. Returns across rating tiers in August reversed prior trends with higher quality and non-distressed issuers underperforming the lower quality and distressed. In the month of August, the BB, B, CCC & lower rated categories of the ICE BofA Global High Yield Index returned 0.61%, 0,80%, and 0.91%, respectively. Additionally, the ICE BofA U.S. High Yield Non-Distressed Index returned 0.52%, underperforming the overall index while the ICE BofA U.S. High Yield Distressed Index returned 2.05%, significantly outperforming the ICE BofA U.S. High Yield Constrained Index.

CLO debt trading levels were roughly flat in August, as the market continued to focus on absorbing the continued significant primary market activity.  Fundamentally, the asset class has benefitted from the potential of higher near-term rates and strong underlying fundamental performance as well as continued attractive relative value vs. other fixed income assets. The CLO BB Index gained 0.78% over the month and 9.18% year to date.

The pace of defaults and default expectations continued to decline in both U.S. and European non-investment grade credit markets, which is consistent with improving fundamentals. Non-investment grade credit, especially given its lower duration profile and attractive yields relative to other fixed income, will likely continue to see favourable investor demand, especially given that ~65% of the global bond market still yields less than 1%.

Non-investment grade credit yields are compensating investors for the increasingly benign default outlook, will continue to provide durable income and are especially attractive compared to other fixed income alternatives. The economic recovery remains intact despite the risks from COVID, and we would expect the trajectory of growth and pricing power to be supportive of issuer fundamentals. Progress on the rate of vaccinations, combined with pent-up demand, strong consumer balance sheets, businesses working to rebuild inventories and rehire plus still accommodative central banks should continue to support economic activity going forward. Our global research team continues to monitor the investment thesis for each issuer in the portfolio given the uncertainty around the Delta variant and its impact on supply chains and demand in certain consumer-facing sectors such as travel, lodging, leisure and entertainment. While the new Delta variant of COVID continues to be a problem and could result in pockets of short-term volatility, we believe our bottom-up, fundamental credit research process focused on security selection while seeking to avoid credit deterioration and putting only our "best ideas" into portfolios, position us well to take advantage of any volatility.

Portfolio Positioning

The overall Fund exposure to floating rate assets is at 68% leading to an average duration of 1.14 years. Floating Rate Loans remain the biggest allocation at 38.8%, slightly higher month on month as the team participated in primary. In August, allocations to both Private Debt and Special Situations increased whilst the exposure to Global High Yield fell. Our current allocation to BBB/BB rated credits ended the month at 15.8% whilst our exposure to CCC and below rated names finished the month at 30.8%, slightly higher month on month. The new issue markets were quieter in August in Europe although busier than expected in the US, where the portfolio participated in several deals.

Recent Investments

An allocation to the 2nd lien term loan of Kenan Advantage was added in August. We have a favourable view of Kenan's position in the bulk liquid transportation market with long-standing customer relationships utilizing exclusive contracts covering liquid transportation to essential North American infrastructure and manufacturing operations. Kenan takes no commodity or fuel risk. The current management team has successfully grown Kenan via cash flow. We are comfortable with this strategy given the success of management executing on these bolt-on M&A given the highly fragmented industry. We expect Kenan to continue to pursue bolt-on acquisitions with excess opportunities.

The fund also invested in 2nd lien term loans from Teaching Strategies, a provider of curriculum, assessment and family engagement software and services to Early Childhood markets. Despite its small scale the company has a strong penetration in curriculum and assessment with over 30% market share in public pre-school markets. The company benefits from a heavy exposure to federal and state funding (83% of bookings), which has been steadily growing over the past decade. The Group is also undergoing a rapid shift from print to digital curriculum, and we expect a significant uplift from increased digital adoption, resulting in low-teens revenue growth, while print and professional services (which management views as re-occurring) grow at a slower pace.

To access the August 2021 Factsheet, please click here http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/6336L_1-2021-9-13.pdf .

The Fund's website can be found at the following address: www.nbgmif.com

1.  Source: Standard & Poor's

* Effective 9 September 2020, the fund has changed its investment policy and name to NB Global Monthly Income Fund Limited.  For more information, please refer to here.

** The Fund's Current Portfolio Yield is a market-value weighted average of the current yields of the holdings in the portfolio, calculated as the coupon (base rate plus spread) divided by current price. The calculation does not take into account any fees, fund expenses or sales charges paid, which would reduce the results. The Current Yield for the Fund will fluctuate from month to month. The Current Yield should be regarded as an estimate of the Fund's rate of investment income, and it may not equal the realized distribution rate for each share class. You should consult the Fund's prospectus for additional information about the Fund's dividends and distributions policy. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.  

-ENDS-

For further information, please contact:

Neuberger Berman Europe Limited (Manager) Elizabeth Papadopoulos	[phone]
Numis Securities Limited (Broker) Hugh Jonathan Matt Goss	[phone]
Praxis Fund Services Limited (Company Secretary) Matt Falla Gemma Woods	[phone]
KL Communications (PR) Charles Gorman Will Sanderson	[phone]

Background Information

The Company is a registered closed-ended investment company incorporated in Guernsey. It is managed by Neuberger Berman Europe Limited, which has delegated certain of its responsibilities and functions to the AIFM, Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC, both of which are indirect wholly owned subsidiaries of Neuberger Berman Group LLC.

Neuberger Berman, founded in 1939, is a private, independent, employee-owned investment manager. The firm manages a range of strategies-including equity, fixed income, quantitative and multi-asset class, private equity, real estate and hedge funds-on behalf of institutions, advisors and individual investors globally. With offices in 25 countries, Neuberger Berman's diverse team has over 2,300 professionals.

For seven consecutive years, the company has been named first or second in Pensions & Investments Best Places to Work in Money Management survey (among those with 1,000 employees or more). In 2020, the PRI named Neuberger Berman a Leader, a designation awarded to fewer than 1% of investment firms for excellence in Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) practices. The PRI also awarded Neuberger Berman an A+ in every eligible category for our approach to ESG integration across asset classes. The firm manages $402 billion in client assets as of March 31, 2021. For more information, please visit our website at www.nb.com .

RISK CONSIDERATIONS

Market Risk : The risk of a change in the value of a position as a result of underlying market factors, including among other things, the overall performance of companies and the market perception of the global economy.

Liquidity Risk:   The risk that the Fund may be unable to sell an investment readily at its fair market value. In extreme market conditions this can affect the Fund's ability to meet redemption requests upon demand.

Credit Risk:   The risk that bond issuers may fail to meet their interest repayments, or repay debt, resulting in temporary or permanent losses to the Fund.

Interest Rate Risk:   The risk of interest rate movements affecting the value of fixed-rate bonds.

Counterparty Risk: The risk that a counterparty will not fulfil its payment obligation for a trade, contract or other transaction, on the due date.

Counterparty Risk: The risk that a counterparty will not fulfil its payment obligation for a trade, contract or other transaction, on the due date.

Operational Risk:   The risk of direct or indirect loss resulting from inadequate or failed processes, people and systems including those relating to the safekeeping of assets or from external events.

Derivatives Risk:   The Fund is permitted to use certain types of financial derivative instruments ("FDI") (including certain complex instruments) which can give rise to particular risks, including market risk, liquidity risk and counterparty credit risk. This may increase the Fund's leverage significantly which may cause large variations in the value of your share.

Currency Risk:   Investors who subscribe in a currency other than the base currency of the Fund are exposed to currency risk. Fluctuations in exchange rates may affect the return on investment.

The past performance shown is based on the share class to which this factsheet relates. If the currency of this share class is different from your local currency, then you should be aware that due to exchange rate fluctuations the performance shown may increase or decrease if converted into your local currency.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

This document has been issued by NB Global Monthly Income Fund Limited (the "Company"), and should not be taken as an offer, invitation or inducement to engage in any investment activity and is solely for the purpose of providing information about the Company.

This document does not constitute or form part of, and should not be construed as, any offer for sale or subscription of, or solicitation of any offer to buy or subscribe for, any share in the Company or securities in any other entity, in any jurisdiction.

The Company is a closed-ended investment company incorporated and registered in Guernsey and is governed under the provisions of the Companies (Guernsey) Law, 2008 (as amended), and the Registered Collective Investment Scheme Rules 2008 issued by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission ("GFSC"). It is a non-cellular company limited by shares and has been declared by the GFSC to be a registered closed-ended collective investment scheme. The Company's shares are admitted to the Official List of the UK Listing Authority with a premium listing and are admitted to trading on the Premium Segment of the London Stock Exchange's Main Market for listed securities.

Neuberger Berman Europe Limited ("NBEL"), the Company's Manager, is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority ("FCA") and is registered in England and Wales, at The Zig Zag Building, 70 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6SQ and is also a Registered Investment Adviser with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") in the U.S. and regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority.

This document is addressed to professional clients only.

This document is presented solely for information purposes and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security.

We do not represent that this information, including any third party information, is complete and it should not be relied upon as such. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the Company or NBEL as a whole. All information is current as of the date of this material and is subject to change without notice. No part of this document may be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission of the Company and NBEL.

An investment in the Company involves risks, with the potential for above average risk, and is only suitable for people who are in a position to take such risks. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment or strategy is suitable for a particular investor. Each recipient of this document should make such investigations as it deems necessary to arrive at an independent evaluation of any investment, and should consult its own legal counsel and financial, actuarial, accounting, regulatory and tax advisers to evaluate any such investment. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. Investment in the Company should not constitute a substantial proportion of an investor's portfolio and may not be appropriate for all investors. Diversification and asset class allocation do not guarantee profit or protect against loss.

Past performance is not a reliable indicator of current or future results. The value of investments may go down as well as up and investors may not get back any of the amount invested. The performance data does not take account of the commissions and costs incurred on the issue and redemption of units.

The value of investments designated in another currency may rise and fall due to exchange rate fluctuations in respect of the relevant currencies. Adverse movements in currency exchange rates can result in a decrease in return and a loss of capital.

Tax treatment depends on the individual circumstances of each investor and may be subject to change, investors are therefore recommended to seek independent tax advice.

This document, and the information contained therein, is not for viewing, release, distribution or publication in or into the United States, Canada, Japan, South Africa or any other jurisdiction where applicable laws prohibit its release, distribution or publication, and will not be made available to any national, resident or citizen of the United States, Canada, Japan or South Africa.

The distribution of this document in other jurisdictions may be restricted by law and persons into whose possession this document comes must inform themselves about, and observe, any such restrictions. Any failure to comply with the restrictions may constitute a violation of the federal securities law of the United States and the laws of other jurisdictions.

The Company's shares have not been and will not be registered under the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or with any securities regulatory authority of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States. The shares may not be offered, sold, resold, pledged, delivered, distributed or otherwise transferred, directly or indirectly, into or within the United States, or to, or for the account or benefit of, US persons (as defined in Regulation S under the Securities Act). No public offering of the shares is being made in the United States.

The Company has not been and will not be registered under the US Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Investment Company Act") and, as such, holders of the shares will not be entitled to the benefits of the Investment Company Act. No offer, sale, resale, pledge, delivery, distribution or transfer of the shares may be made except under circumstances that will not result in the Company being required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. In addition, the shares are subject to restrictions on transferability and resale in certain jurisdictions and may not be transferred or resold except as permitted under applicable securities laws and regulations. Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdictions.

The "Neuberger Berman" name and logo are registered service marks of Neuberger Berman Group LLC.

© 2021 Neuberger Berman Group LLC. All rights reserved.

 

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