REG - Marble Point Ln Fin - Net Asset Value & Publication of Monthly Report

Marble Point Loan FinancingAnnouncement

23/04/2024 07:00

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RNS Number : 5937L  Marble Point Loan Financing Limited  23 April 2024

23 April 2024

 

The net asset value ("NAV") of Marble Point Loan Financing Limited ("MPLF") as
at the close of business on 31 March 2024 is as follows:

 Share class      March 2024 NAV per Ordinary Share ((1))   February 2024 NAV per Ordinary Share ((1))   Monthly Change in NAV per Share ((1))
 Ordinary Shares  USD 0.5410                                USD 0.5389                                   USD 0.0021

 

 

Performance

·      MPLF's ordinary share estimated NAV total return was 0.40% in
March, compared to the total return of the Credit Suisse Leveraged Loan Index
("CSLLI") of 0.83%.

·      Secondary loan prices continued to grind higher in March,
supported by strong CLO creation and a new issue loan calendar comprised
mainly of refinancing exercises with limited new money deals.  Loan spreads
across the CSLLI also continued to compress, moving another 3bps tighter
during the month as heavy volumes of loan repricing amendments continued
amidst the receptive market conditions. Higher loan prices have supported
headline CLO equity net asset values, however the asset spread compression is
expected to impact future distributions.  Refinancings of CLO liabilities can
mitigate this impact as the tightening liability market has unlocked certain
strategic transactions.

·      As at 31 March 2024 MPLF had no exposure to Jo-Ann Stores, the
sole constituent of the Morningstar/LSTA Index to default during the month.
The index's lagging 12-month default rate by notional amount decreased to
1.14% as at 31 March as other defaults rolled off the calculation.  Despite
this low headline rate the number of distressed exchange transactions has
continued to increase as companies and sponsors have worked towards
alternative solutions with lender groups outside of typical default
dynamics.

 

Market

·      The CSLLI delivered a 0.83% total return in March as loan prices
moved higher amidst a supportive technical, and floating rate coupons provided
a strong current interest return.  Headline primary loan issuance for the
first quarter was solid by historical standards, however the volume was
largely focused on refinancing activity with rather limited M&A driven
deals.  The total quarterly new issue loan volume of $141.9 billion was the
highest since Q3 2021, however 61% related to refinancing deals.
Non-refinancing related issuance of $55.8 billion for the first quarter was
higher than Q1 2023 volumes, but behind all other Q1 tallies since 2017,
excluding the pandemic impacted Q1 2020.

·      Loan repricing amendments, which are not counted in headline
issuance figures, totaled $151 billion in the first quarter representing a
seven year high and contributing to the downward trend in loan spreads across
the market.  The average nominal spread of the Morningstar/LCD loan index
declined over 5 basis points during Q1, and is expected to decline further as
a significant portion of the loan market remains bid above par.  The average
indicative bid price of the Morningstar/LCD loan index increased to 96.73% at
31 March from 96.45% at 29 February while the weighted average indicative bid
price of MPLF's underlying loans increased to 96.52% at 31 March from 96.16%
at 29 February.

·      March CLO issuance totaled $15.5 billion across 34 new issue
CLOs, providing a strong base of demand for loans.  Despite the significant
CLO volumes to start 2024, CLO liability levels have remained firm and
sustained a tightening trend from the end of 2023.  This has provided a
reasonable template for issuance despite more expensive asset prices.  In
addition to the new issue CLO volumes, CLO refinancing and reset activity also
increased significantly in the first quarter.  CLO reset and refinancing
volume in Q1 was $24.4 billion and $14.0 billion respectively, more than the
annual reset and refinancing volume of 2023.

·      Retail loan funds experienced an inflow of approximately $2.2
billion in March according to J.P. Morgan.  This is the highest monthly
inflow total since April 2022 and indicates retail funds have continued to
attract investors with high current coupons.

·      Since the end of March the average indicative bid price of the
CSLLI has increased by 0.16% to 95.85% (as at 18 April 2024).

 

Investment

·      On 19 March Investcorp closed the $400 million Harvest US CLO
2024-1 transaction.  As previously disclosed MPLF invested $19.2 million for
a 53.8% interest in the equity tranche of the deal.

·      On 6 March Investcorp closed the refinancing of the Floating Rate
AAA class of debt in the Marble Point CLO XIV deal, in which MPLF holds $29.6
million of the equity tranche.  The refinancing reduced the AAA floating
spread from S+154 to S+120, and the CLOs weighted average cost of debt from
S+186 to S+164.

·      Subsequent to month end Investcorp priced a refinancing of
several classes of debt in the Marble Point CLO XIX transaction, in which MPLF
holds $14.3 million notional of the equity tranche.  The refinancing reduced
the AAA floating spread from S+170 to S+140, and the CLOs weighted average
cost of debt from S+223 to S+198. The refinancing closed on 19 April.

 

MPLF's March 2024 Monthly Report is available on its
website: www.mplflimited.com (http://www.mplflimited.com/)

 

Enquiries:

Marble Point Loan Financing Limited

Investor Relations

T:  +44 (0) 20 7259 1500

E:  MPLF@suntera.com

Website: www.mplflimited.com (http://www.mplflimited.com/)

Corporate Broker:

Stifel Nicolaus Europe Limited

T:  +44 (0) 20 7710 7600

( (1)) NAV figures are provided for informational purposes only and are
unaudited, estimated by Marble Point Credit Management LLC ("Marble Point"),
the investment manager of MPLF, and subject to adjustment. Marble Point
estimates MPLF's NAV on a monthly basis as at the end of each month. Estimates
with respect to a date falling on a calendar quarter end are subject to
revision when the quarterly NAV is determined. NAV is calculated as the sum of
the value of MPLF's investment portfolio, any cash or cash equivalents and
other assets less liabilities. NAV is reduced by the amount of a dividend to
the extent the ex-dividend date occurs during the period presented.   NAV
total return figures shown are estimated, unaudited and subject to adjustment
and reflect the net total NAV return, inclusive of dividends, for the periods
shown and as from MPLF's admission to the Specialist Fund Segment of the main
market of the London Stock Exchange on 13 February 2018, after taking into
account applicable listing and offering costs and pre-admission profits and
loss. Monthly and cumulative performance figures are non-annualised and such
results reflect the deductions of applicable management fees and expenses at
the underlying investment levels.

((2))Figures shown for effective yield are estimated, unaudited, subject to
change and based on the analysis of Marble Point Credit Management LLC, the
investment manager of MPLF, as at the Closing Date.  The estimated effective
yield is provided for illustrative purposes only.  The actual effective
yield, as recorded by MPLF or other entity holding the investment may vary
over time.

Past performance is not indicative or a guarantee of future performance.

This release contains inside information.

About Marble Point Loan Financing

Marble Point Loan Financing Ltd. (LSE Ticker: MPLF LN (USD); MPLS LN (GBX))
is a Guernsey-domiciled closed-ended investment company. MPLF's investment
objective is to generate stable current income and grow net asset value by
earning a return on equity in excess of the amount distributed as dividends.

MPLF is invested in a diversified portfolio of US dollar denominated, broadly
syndicated floating rate senior secured corporate loans owned via
collateralised loan obligations ("CLOs") and related vehicles managed by
Marble Point Credit Management LLC.

About Marble Point Credit Management LLC

Marble Point Credit Management LLC ("Marble Point") is a specialist asset
manager focused exclusively on leveraged loans.  Marble Point is 100% owned
by Investcorp International Holdings Inc. ("IIHI"), which is part of the
Investcorp Group of companies. The Investcorp Group effectively operates as a
management-controlled group, substantially all whose assets and operations are
owned and controlled by Investcorp S.A., a company domiciled in the Cayman
Islands.   Investcorp Holdings B.S.C. ("Investcorp") a Bahrain based holding
company is the parent company of Investcorp S.A. ("S.A."). Certain of the
Investcorp Group's directors and senior executive officers have the ability to
indirectly control Investcorp S.A.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Marble Point Loan Financing Limited (the "Company") is a closed-ended
investment company incorporated in Guernsey with its ordinary shares
("Shares") admitted to trading on the Specialist Fund Segment of the Main
Market of the London Stock Exchange (ticker: MPLF.LN). The Company is invested
in a diversified portfolio of US dollar denominated, broadly syndicated
floating rate senior secured corporate loans via CLOs, loan accumulation
facilities and other vehicles managed by Marble Point Credit Management LLC
("Marble Point") or its affiliates. Marble Point is an investment adviser
registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

This document is provided for informational purposes only and does not
constitute an offer to sell any Shares, notes or other securities
(collectively, "Securities") issued by the Company or a solicitation of an
offer to purchase any such Securities in the United States, Australia, Canada,
the Republic of South Africa, Japan or any other jurisdiction. This document
may not be relied upon, and should not be used, for the purpose of making any
investment decision. This document and the information and views included
herein do not constitute investment advice or a recommendation or an offer to
enter into any transaction with the Company or any of its affiliates. Any
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. This document has been
issued by the Company and is the sole responsibility of the Company.

The Securities have not been and will not be registered under the U.S.
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or with any securities regulatory
authority of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States and may not
be offered or sold in the United States to, or for the account or benefit of,
U.S. persons unless they are registered under applicable law or exempt from
registration. The Company has not been and will not be registered under the
U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940, and investors will not be entitled to the
benefits of such Act.

The information shown herein is estimated, unaudited, for background purposes
only, representative as of the dates specified herein, subject to adjustment
and not purported to be full or complete. Nothing herein shall be relied upon
as a representation as to the current or future performance or portfolio
holdings of the Company or any strategy or investment vehicle. Certain
information presented herein has been obtained from third party sources and is
believed to be reliable. However, neither the Company nor Marble Point
represents that the information contained in this document (including third
party information) has been independently verified or is accurate or complete,
and it should not be relied upon as such. Index information, if any, has been
provided for illustration purposes only. Any such information does not reflect
the effect of transaction costs, management fees or other costs which would
reduce returns. An investor cannot invest directly in an index.

There is no guarantee that any of the goals, targets or objectives described
in this document will be achieved. The investment strategies of the Company
may not be suitable for all investors and are not intended to constitute a
complete investment program. Neither Marble Point nor the Company makes any
representation or warranty (express or implied) with respect to the
information contained herein (including, without limitation, information
obtained from third parties) and each of them expressly disclaims any and all
liability based on or relating to the information contained in, or errors or
omissions from, these materials; or based on or relating to the use of these
materials; or any other written or oral communications transmitted to the
recipient or any of its affiliates or representatives in the course of its
evaluation of the information herein.

Any of the views or opinions expressed herein are current views and opinions
only and may be subject to change. Statements made herein are as of the date
of this document and should not be relied upon as of any subsequent date. All
information is current as of the date of this document and is subject to
change without notice.

Past performance is not a reliable indicator of current of 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 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.

A Note on the Use of Indices as Benchmarks. The indices shown have not been
selected to represent a benchmark for MPLF's performance, but rather to allow
for comparison of MPLF's returns to those of known, recognized and/or similar
indices. The Credit Suisse Leveraged Loan Index (CSLLI) tracks the investable
universe of the U.S. leveraged loan market. The ICE BofAML US High Yield Index
(ICE BAML HYI) tracks the performance of USD-denominated below investment
grade corporate bonds publically issued in the U.S. domestic market. The
Standard & Poor's 500 Index (S&P 500) tracks the performance of U.S.
public equity markets and is based on the market capitalization of 500 large
companies having common stock listed on NYSE or NASDAQ. The performance of any
index is not an exact representation of any particular investment as you
cannot invest directly in an index.

A Note on Forward Looking Statements. This document includes forward-looking
statements. Forward-looking statements include all matters that are not
historical facts. Actual results may differ materially from any results
projected in the forward-looking statements and are subject to risks and
uncertainties. Such statements are based on current expectations, involve
known and unknown risks, a reliance on third parties for information, and
other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from the
anticipated results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.
The Company and Marble Point caution readers not to place undue reliance on
such statements. Neither the Company nor Marble Point undertakes, and each
specifically disclaims, any obligation or responsibility, to update any
forward-looking statements to reflect occurrences, developments, unanticipated
events or circumstances after the date of such statement. Actual results may
differ materially from the Company's and/or Marble Point's expectations and
estimates.

None of the Company, Marble Point or any of their respective parent or
subsidiary undertakings, or the subsidiary undertaking of any such parent
undertakings, or any of such person's respective partners, shareholders,
directors, members, officers, affiliates, agents, advisors or representatives
shall have any liability whatsoever (in negligence or otherwise) for any loss
howsoever arising from any information or opinions presented or contained in
this document nor shall they accept any responsibility whatsoever for, or make
any warranty, express or implied, as to the truth, fullness, accuracy or
completeness of the information in this document (or whether any information
has been omitted from the document) or any other information relating to the
Company, Marble Point or their respective subsidiaries or associated
companies, in any form whatsoever, howsoever transmitted or made available or
for any loss howsoever arising from any use of this document or its contents
or otherwise arising in connection therewith. This shall not affect any
liability any such person may have which may not be excluded under applicable
law or regulation.

 

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