16 Mar 2020 07:00
16 March 2020
CVC Credit Partners European Opportunities Limited
(a closed-ended investment company incorporated in Jersey with registration number 112635)
Registered Office: IFC 1, The Esplanade, St Helier, Jersey, JE1 4BP
CVC Credit Partners Market Update Note
CVC Credit Partners European Opportunities Limited ("the Company") announces the publication of the following market update note by CVC Credit Partners Investment Management Limited ("CVC Credit Partners"), as Investment Vehicle Manager to the Company. This update will also be available on the Company's website www.ccpeol.com.
Enquiries:
BNP Paribas Securities Services S.C.A. Jersey Branch
Tel: +44 (0) 1534 709181/813820
CVC Credit Partners
Market Update Note: 13th March 2020
Following our 2nd March note addressing the initial impact of the Coronavirus outbreak, global credit markets have continued to experience significant volatility in the past weeks, driven by (i) the continued expansion of the Coronavirus epidemic on a global scale, and (ii) the break-up of the OPEC+ alliance and downward pressure on crude oil pricing.
As at 12th March, leveraged loan markets month-to-date ("MTD") were down -6.22% in Europe and -6.41% in the U.S., and year-to-date ("YTD") -6.71% and -7.18%, respectively. In HY, the impact continued to be more acute with MTD Europe down -7.89% and U.S. -8.27%, and YTD at -9.45% and -9.95%, respectively. The dislocation seen in credit markets, however, has been dwarfed by that seen across equity markets with the FTSE100 index returning -20% MTD and -31% YTD.
Current market volatility and uncertainty has led investors to "safe haven" assets, driving the U.S. 10-year and 30-year treasury yields below 1% for the first time, and the UK 10-year and 30-year GILTs to near-zero this week.
As we expected in our prior note, the impact on global credit markets has been supported by central bank policies and government-led fiscal stimulus globally. U.S. and UK central banks reduced rates this week by 50bps to record lows and the ECB announced €120bn of bond purchases and additional bank loans. Fiscal stimulus measures were announced globally that included tax breaks, debt relief measures and direct funding support for businesses.
In light of these developments, our base case scenario remains a six to nine month disruption period for issuers, however, this could be further extended depending on the development of the epidemic in the coming weeks and into Q2.
Portfolio Impact
The impact of the above events is being closely monitored across the portfolio, and we are actively risk managing individual positions that we believe could be most exposed to these events. This includes pre-emptively divesting positions in issuers with material Italian operations, issuers in the transportation, leisure and logistics sectors, and structured finance positions subject to higher volatility, and utilising sale proceeds to build up cash positions.
We remain in active dialogue with issuers of credit positions we currently hold, and today the portfolio remains conservatively positioned with regards to industries and regions most severely affected by recent events: (i) zero exposure to oil and gas and related sectors (ii)
We further believe the current environment will create attractive investment opportunities, particularly in the credit opportunities segment driven by the technical dislocation across this asset class. However, we remain cautious in adding new positions to the portfolio, and only where we have real conviction the issuer is well positioned in light of current events.
As the situation continues to develop in the coming weeks, we will provide further updates, and are of course very happy to speak to any investors directly to discuss these implications on the strategy.
Andrew Davies
Partner, Head of Europe,
Senior Portfolio Manager
Certain information contained in this Communication constitutes forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements or results in this Communication are based upon current assumptions, may be simplified and may depend on events outside CVC Credit Partners' control. Changes to any assumptions may have a material impact on any forecasts, projections or results. Actual results may therefore be materially different from any forecast, opinion, projection or result in this Communication. Any opinions expressed herein represent the current, good faith views CVC Credit Partners at the time of publication and are provided for limited purposes, are not definitive investment advice, and should not be relied on as such. The information presented herein has been developed internally and/or obtained from sources believed to be reliable; however, CVC Credit Partners does not guarantee the accuracy, adequacy or completeness of such information. Predictions, opinions, and other information contained in this communication are subject to change continually and without notice of any kind and may no longer be true after the date indicated. Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and CVC Credit Partners assumes no duty to and does not undertake to update forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties, which change over time. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements. Investors should keep in mind that the securities and loan markets are volatile and unpredictable. All data included herein is as at 12 March 2020 and specific data sources can be made available on request.