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

Marble Point Loan FinancingAnnouncement

22/02/2023 07:00

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RNS Number : 6341Q  Marble Point Loan Financing Limited  22 February 2023

22 February 2023

 

The net asset value ("NAV") of Marble Point Loan Financing Limited ("MPLF") as
at the close of business on 31 January 2023 is as follows:

 Share class      January 2023 NAV per Ordinary Share ((1))   December 2022 NAV per Ordinary Share ((1))   Monthly Change in NAV per Share ((1))
 Ordinary Shares  USD 0.5646                                  USD 0.5467                                   USD 0.0179

 

PERFORMANCE

·      MPLF's ordinary share estimated NAV total return was 7.70% in
January, compared to the total return of the Credit Suisse Leveraged Loan
Index of 2.57%.

·      Secondary loan prices rose in January as loan investors looked to
deploy growing cash balances and broader markets rallied with a positive tone
to start the year.  Retail funds experienced outflows during January, however
at a slower rate that recent months.  New loan issuance picked up slightly in
January after a seasonally slow December calendar, but still remains muted,
further supporting the secondary market technical.  Refinancings and "amend
& extend" transactions represented a majority of headline institutional
loan volume in January, and consequently, new loan activity is not
significantly contributing to the supply of loans.

·      CLO equity valuations for the month generally increased even as
quarterly distributions were received across the portfolios.  While
recessionary concerns and elevated default expectations heading into 2023 for
leveraged borrowers remain important considerations for investors, CLO equity
yields tightened throughout the month in concert with tighter underlying loan
yields driven by the aforementioned technical and broader equity market
appreciation.

·      Quarterly distributions received by MPLF from its portfolio
holdings totaled approximately $7.4 million in January, compared to $9.2
million in Q4 2022.  While distributions for most CLO equity positions held
by MPLF were roughly flat quarter over quarter, the lower fund level total was
largely attributable to a normalised quarterly distribution for Marble Point
CLO XXIV, which had made an outsized first distribution including a par flush
in Q4 2022.  January distributions continued to be impacted by a persistent
wide basis between 1-month and 3-month rates in a rising rate environment over
the prior quarter, as loan issuers were able to pay interest based on more
favorable 1-month rates compared to 3-month rates accrued on the CLO
liabilities.   We believe this remains a localied impact on the excess
spread, and project CLO equity distributions to rebound in April as the pace
and expectation of interest rate hikes has moderated, and the basis between
reference rate tenors has diminished.  For specific context, the basis
between 1 month and 3 month LIBOR at 31 October 2022 was over 65 basis points,
compared to 24 basis points at 31 January 2023.

·      As noted in prior commentary, defaults in leveraged credit
markets have been expected to increase from historically low levels amidst
ongoing broader market volatility and adverse impacts to leveraged business
models.  As at 31 January 2023, none of MPLF's investment vehicles held
either of the Morningstar/LSTA index constituents that defaulted during the
month - Serta Simmons and Heritage Power - and MPLF experienced no defaults in
its underlying portfolios. With these two defaults, the index's lagging
12-month default rate by notional amount increased to 0.83% as at 31 January
from 0.72% at the end of December.

·      Effective 1 January 2023, 25% of the Company's outstanding
ordinary shares were redesignated to shares of its liquidating class for which
attributable assets are intended to be realised and distributed to
shareholders over time. As at 31 January, outstanding ordinary and liquidating
shares were 149,225,169 and 49,741,723, respectively.

 

MARKET

·      The CSLLI delivered a 2.57% return in January as loan markets
rallied and the average indicative bid price of the CSLLI increased to 93.55%
at 31 January from 91.89% at 30 December.  The weighted average indicative
bid price of MPLF's underlying loans increased to 94.11% at 31 January from
92.52% at 30 December.

·      January CLO issuance totaled $6.9 billion across 16 new issue
CLOs.  CLO liability levels have tightened in parallel with underlying loan
spreads to start the year spurring interest from managers in terming out
existing warehouses.

·      Institutional loan volume totaled $13.6 billion in January
according to Morningstar/LCD. While this figure is higher than the $5.0
December volume and $9.5 billion monthly average in the second half of 2022,
issuance is still significantly lower than prior years due to a confluence of
headwinds.  As we noted in our December commentary, 2022 new loan issuance
was over 60% below the 2021 total.  While we expect the rising interest rates
that impact new LBO economics, debt underwriting hesitancy from global
investment banks, and increased competition from private credit to continue
adversely affecting loan issuance to start the year, it would seem that risk
markets are getting more comfortable that the impact of rising rates on
economic activity may not be as adverse as previously expected, fostering a
better environment for loan issuance later in the year.

·      Retail loan funds experienced an outflow of approximately $2.2
billion in January according to J.P. Morgan.  While the market has
experienced consistent retail outflows over the past nine months, the January
2023 outflow was the smallest monthly outflow since flows first turned
negative in May 2022.

·      Since the end of January, the average indicative bid price of the
CSLLI has increased by 0.20% to 93.75% (as at 17 February 2023).  Secondary
loan prices have grinded higher as relatively quiet new issue loan markets
cause investors to look to secondary markets to address cash balances.

INVESTMENT MANAGER NEWS

·      On 12 January, Marble Point closed its previously announced
acquisition by Investcorp. As noted at the time of the deal announcement,
Marble Point, a specialist asset manager focused exclusively on managing CLOs
and portfolios of broadly syndicated leveraged loans with $7.8 billion of AUM,
has combined with Investcorp Credit Management, a global credit platform with
$14.9 billion in assets under management and an 18-year history of investing
across credit markets worldwide. The combined platform manages approximately
$22.7 billion in credit assets and rank among the top 15 CLO managers globally
by AUM.

 

MPLF's January 2023 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:  ir@mplflimited.com (mailto:ir@mplflimited.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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