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Volta Finance Limited (VTA / VTAS)
February 2026 monthly report
NOT FOR RELEASE, DISTRIBUTION, OR PUBLICATION, IN WHOLE OR PART, IN OR INTO
THE UNITED STATES
Guernsey, March 27th, 2026
BNPP AM has published the Volta Finance Limited (the “Company” or “Volta
Finance” or “Volta”) monthly report for February 2026. The full report
is attached to this release and will be available on Volta’s website shortly
(www.voltafinance.com).
Performance and Portfolio Activity
Dear Investors,
Volta Finance posted a net return of -3% for the month of February 2026. For
comparison, US High Yield bonds returned +0.2%*** and Euro High Yield bonds
achieved +0.3%**** over the same period, while the Morningstar Leveraged Loan
indices were down -0.8%*** in the US and --0.5%**** in Europe.
Although February was initially characterized by President Trump’s
announcement of an immediate increase in the baseline import tariff rate from
10% to 15%, the focus of the month shifted to artificial intelligence and the
disruption risks associated with recent technological breakthroughs and their
potential to transform the economic landscape. Credit markets underwent a
significant revaluation of risk, particularly in direct lending as softer
performance coupled with AI disruption risks in their software exposure and
negative market headlines led to increased redemption requests, prompting some
managers to activate redemption gates.
Similarly, Loans and CLOs experienced a notable spread repricing largely due
to their historical concentration in the software industry. The Morningstar
LSTA Leveraged Loan Indices posted negative returns in both Europe and the
USA, with Euro Loans declining around 0.7 points and US Loans falling by more
than one point. As anticipated, CLO Primary markets quickly wound down as
volatility spiked. A few transactions did price, but they were mainly
negotiated and spreads agreed earlier in the month. Secondary markets were a
lot busier, with all tranches experiencing a significant repricing of their
spread levels. Most impacted tranches were naturally the most junior ones: BBB
moved to 320bps, BBs moved to 600bps and single-Bs in the Low to Mid +900bps.
Most noticeable was the convexity offered on BB and single-B tranches, as
generic price levels respectively reached the 93.00-96.00px context. Equity
tranches underperformed as exposure to AI and weakness in risky assets in the
context of slower growth and potentially hawkish policies deterred bidders to
pay for residual risk.
The end of the month was marked by the outbreak of a new conflict in Iran,
which sparked immediate shockwaves across financial markets. Treasuries
declined sharply and oil prices surged as the conflict heightened fears of
potential disruptions to global oil supply – and subsequently rising
inflation, reigniting a 2022 déjà-vu. Persistent oil price rises will impact
growth and may also delay anticipated rate reductions from central banks,
adding to the pressure on Credit markets.
In terms of CLO liability management, we took advantage of market conditions
at the beginning of the month to reset one of our amortizing US CLO positions.
This reset required around USD 4 million of additional equity from the fund.
The cost of debt was reduced by around 130 bps, and the manager benefitted
from the volatility during the portfolio ramp-up.
In terms of trading activity, we bought some EUR BBs as well as single-B
tranches in a spread range of + 860-950 bps. We also bought in the secondary
market one controlling EUR equity tranche (EUR 5.6 million for the fund) with
a tier-1 manager.
The fund generated more than EUR 21 million in interest proceeds over the last
six months, which is about 17% of February’s NAV on an annualized basis.
In terms of performance breakdown, Volta’s CLO Equity tranches returned
-4.4%** while CLO Debt tranches returned -0.6% performance**.
As of end of February 2026, Volta’s NAV* was €248.5m, i.e. €6.79 per
share.
*It should be noted that approximately 2.79% of Volta’s NAV comprises
investments for which the relevant NAVs as at the month-end date are normally
available only after Volta’s NAV has already been published. Volta’s
policy is to publish its NAV on as timely a basis as possible to provide
shareholders with Volta’s appropriately up-to-date NAV information.
Consequently, such investments are valued using the most recently available
NAV for each fund or quoted price for such subordinated notes. The equivalent
% proportions of Volta’s NAV as of 31 January were 2.79%.
** “performances” of asset classes are calculated as the Dietz-performance
of the assets in each bucket, taking into account the Mark-to-Market of the
assets at period ends, payments received from the assets over the period, and
ignoring changes in cross-currency rates. Nevertheless, some residual currency
effects could impact the aggregate value of the portfolio when aggregating
each bucket.
*** These figures are presented in USD. Source: BNPP AM – Bloomberg –
Morningstar – February 28(th), 2026
**** These figures are presented in EUR. Source: BNPP AM – Bloomberg –
Morningstar – February 28(th), 2026
CONTACTS
For the Investment Manager
BNP Paribas Asset Management Europe
Olivier Pons
Olivier.pons@axa-im.com
+33 (0) 1 44 45 87 30
Matthieu Laurence
Matthieu.laurence@axa-im.com
+33 (0) 1 44 45 88 82
Company Secretary and Administrator
BNP Paribas S.A, Guernsey Branch
guernsey.bp2s.volta.cosec@bnpparibas.com
+44 (0) 1481 750 850
Corporate Broker
Cavendish Securities plc
Andrew Worne
Daniel Balabanoff
+44 (0) 20 7397 8900
*****
ABOUT VOLTA FINANCE LIMITED
Volta Finance Limited is incorporated in Guernsey under The Companies
(Guernsey) Law, 2008 (as amended) and listed on Euronext Amsterdam and the
London Stock Exchange's Main Market for listed securities. Volta’s home
member state for the purposes of the EU Transparency Directive is the
Netherlands. As such, Volta is subject to regulation and supervision by the
AFM, being the regulator for financial markets in the Netherlands.
Volta’s Investment objectives are to preserve its capital across the credit
cycle and to provide a stable stream of income to its Shareholders through
dividends that it expects to distribute on a quarterly basis. The Company
currently seeks to achieve its investment objectives by pursuing exposure
predominantly to CLO’s and similar asset classes. A more diversified
investment strategy across structured finance assets may be pursued
opportunistically. The Company has appointed BNP Paribas Asset Management
Europe an investment management company with a division specialised in
structured credit, for the investment management of all its assets.
*****
This press release is published by BNP Paribas Asset Management Europe
(“BNPP AM”), in its capacity as alternative investment fund manager
(within the meaning of Directive 2011/61/EU, the “AIFM Directive”) of
Volta Finance Limited (the "Volta Finance") whose portfolio is managed by BNPP
AM.
This press release is for information only and does not constitute an
invitation or inducement to acquire shares in Volta Finance. Its circulation
may be prohibited in certain jurisdictions and no recipient may circulate
copies of this document in breach of such limitations or restrictions. This
document is not an offer for sale of the securities referred to herein in the
United States or to persons who are “U.S. persons” for purposes of
Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
“Securities Act”), or otherwise in circumstances where such offer would be
restricted by applicable law. Such securities may not be sold in the United
States absent registration or an exemption from registration from the
Securities Act. Volta Finance does not intend to register any portion of the
offer of such securities in the United States or to conduct a public offering
of such securities in the United States.
*****
This communication is only being distributed to and is only directed at (i)
persons who are outside the United Kingdom or (ii) investment professionals
falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000
(Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the “Order”) or (iii) high net worth
companies, and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling
within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons together being
referred to as “relevant persons”). The securities referred to herein are
only available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe,
purchase or otherwise acquire such securities will be engaged in only with,
relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or
rely on this document or any of its contents. Past performance cannot be
relied on as a guide to future performance.
*****
This press release contains statements that are, or may deemed to be,
"forward-looking statements". These forward-looking statements can be
identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms
"believes", "anticipated", "expects", "intends", "is/are expected", "may",
"will" or "should". They include the statements regarding the level of the
dividend, the current market context and its impact on the long-term return of
Volta Finance's investments. By their nature, forward-looking statements
involve risks and uncertainties and readers are cautioned that any such
forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Volta
Finance's actual results, portfolio composition and performance may differ
materially from the impression created by the forward-looking statements. BNPP
AM does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise
forward-looking statements.
Any target information is based on certain assumptions as to future events
which may not prove to be realised. Due to the uncertainty surrounding these
future events, the targets are not intended to be and should not be regarded
as profits or earnings or any other type of forecasts. There can be no
assurance that any of these targets will be achieved. In addition, no
assurance can be given that the investment objective will be achieved.
The figures provided that relate to past months or years and past performance
cannot be relied on as a guide to future performance or construed as a
reliable indicator as to future performance. Throughout this review, the
citation of specific trades or strategies is intended to illustrate some of
the investment methodologies and philosophies of Volta Finance, as implemented
by BNPP AM. The historical success or BNPP AM’s belief in the future
success, of any of these trades or strategies is not indicative of, and has no
bearing on, future results.
The valuation of financial assets can vary significantly from the prices that
the BNPP AM could obtain if it sought to liquidate the positions on behalf of
the Volta Finance due to market conditions and general economic environment.
Such valuations do not constitute a fairness or similar opinion and should not
be regarded as such.
Editor: BNP PARIBAS ASSET MANAGEMENT Europe, a company incorporated under the
laws of France, having its registered office located at 1 boulevard Haussmann
- 75009 Paris, registered with the Paris Trade and Companies Register under
number 319 378 832, and a Portfolio Management Company, holder of AMF approval
no. GP 96002, issued on 19 April 1996.
*****