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

Marble Point Loan FinancingAnnouncement

25/03/2024 18:00

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RNS Number : 2016I  Marble Point Loan Financing Limited  25 March 2024

25 March 2024

 

The net asset value ("NAV") of Marble Point Loan Financing Limited ("MPLF") as
at the close of business on 29 February 2024 is as follows:

 Share class      February 2024 NAV per Ordinary Share ((1))   January 2024 NAV per Ordinary Share ((1))   Monthly Change in NAV per Share ((1))
 Ordinary Shares  USD 0.5389                                   USD 0.5408                                  USD (0.0019)

 

Performance

·      MPLF's ordinary share estimated NAV total return was (0.36%) in
February, compared to the total return of the Credit Suisse Leveraged Loan
Index ("CSLLI") of 0.89%.

·      Secondary loan prices continued to grind higher in February
amidst historic new CLO creation and a still constrained new issue loan
calendar.  In addition to rising prices, nominal loan spreads across the loan
index tightened 3bps during the month as loan repricing and refinancing
activity continued amidst receptive market conditions.

·      Despite headline loan prices rising, tail risk in CLO portfolios
remains an issue for CLO equity securities.  While the average price of the
index is close to April 2022 levels, the percentage of loans bid below 80% in
the index is more than twice as high as that point in time.  CLO equity
discount rates remain elevated due to this tail risk and the pickup in loan
repricing activity that reduces excess spread, impacting CLO equity
valuations.

·      Four constituents of the Morningstar/LSTA index defaulted during
the month.  As at 29 February 2024 MPLF had no exposure to Cano Health,
Robertshaw, Tradesmen International or Avison Young, the index constituents to
default during the month.  Despite these four defaults, the index's lagging
12-month default rate by notional amount decreased to 1.41% as at 29 February
as other defaults rolled off the calculation.

Market

·      The CSLLI delivered a 0.89% total return in February as loan
prices rose during the month, spurred by historically strong CLO demand, and
high floating rate coupons enhanced the interest component of return. Headline
primary loan issuance was lower in February than in January, however the
January figures represented a significant amount of refinancing volume, while
M&A related issuance in February surpassed January activity.   Loan
repricing amendments, which are not counted in headline issuance figures,
declined from a record $84.8 billion total in January to just $11.1 billion in
February.  However, the significant year to date repricing activity coupled
with outsized refinancing volumes has pressured loan spreads and projected
excess carry within CLO financing structures.   The average indicative bid
price of the CSLLI increased to 95.74% at 29 February from 95.51% at 31
January while the weighted average indicative bid price of MPLF's underlying
loans increased to 96.16% at 29 February from 96.01% at 31 January.

·      February CLO issuance totaled $20.7 billion across 43 new issue
CLOs, which was the second highest monthly issuance total on record.  CLO
liability levels have continued a tightening trend from the end of 2023 and
managers have looked to issue deals into a more attractive CLO equity profile
despite more expensive assets.

·      Institutional loan volume totaled $35.2 billion in February
according to Pitchbook/LCD, slightly more than half the January 2024 total.
However, as previously noted approximately 70% of the headline January
issuance came from refinancing transactions as issuers looked to tighten and
extend financing in the receptive market.   February issuance was more
balanced with about half the issuance relating to refinancings and
approximately $11 billion related to M&A compared to only $8 billion in
January.  While repricing amendments declined in February, they are expected
to remain an important dynamic in the market with over 20% of the market
trading above par at month end.

·      Retail loan funds experienced an inflow of approximately $1.1
billion in February according to J.P. Morgan.  Retail fund flows have
generally tracked broader market sentiment and attracted investors with high
current coupons in the current interest rate environment.

·      Since the end of February the average indicative bid price of the
CSLLI has increased by 0.33% to 96.07% (as at 21 March 2024).

Investment

·      As previously reported, on 7 February Investcorp priced Harvest
US CLO 2024-1 ("HARUS241") a $400 million CLO, at which time MPLF committed to
invest $19.2 million for a 53.8% interest in the equity tranche of the deal.
The closing of HARUS241 occurred on 19 March 2023.

·      HARUS241 has the following features:

o  A reinvestment period of approximately five years

o  A two year non-call period

o  A 13 year final maturity

o  An estimated effective yield of 13.0-15.0% as at the pricing date of the
transaction

·      On 23 February Investcorp priced a 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.

 

MPLF's February 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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