Alma Selwood Market Neutral Credit
Overview
Share Class
NAV
Cumulative Performance (%)
Fund Inception 13 April 2018
Daily | Monthly | Ytd | 1Yr | 3Yr | 5Yr | Incept. | Incept.Date |
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The performance data shown represents past performance. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance quoted. The investment return and the principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost.
Strategy & Manager
Funds Strategy
The Fund provides access to a UCITS compliant version of the Selwood Market Neutral Credit Strategy managed by Sofiane Gharred and his team at Selwood Asset Management (“Selwood”). The strategy was launched in September 2015 and trades a single investment strategy focused on liquid credit indices within the investment grade credit space. It implements the strategy by investing in CDX and iTraxx indices, tranches of these, index options and single name CDS.
The goal is to achieve a market neutral portfolio which has a positive carry and positive convexity. The strategy attempts to monetise the dislocation between the actual credit spread of the CDX and iTraxx index and that implied by the CDS of the underlying index components. There has been a persistent difference between these spreads since the indices were launched in 2004, largely due to the indices being used predominantly to hedge credit exposure. The team will buy CDS on the most risky single name credits in order to minimise the risk of default to the portfolio.
In addition to the core strategy supplemental alpha opportunities arise roll yield as the index rolls twice per annum to the new on-the-run series, the strategy will profit from the technical cheapening of the previous on-the-run index; the strategy also utilises derivatives such as options to create a positively convex return profile in order to try to minimise market risk.
Investment Manager
Selwood AM LLP was founded by Sofiane Gharred in 2015. Mr Gharred is a pioneer of the synthetic credit derivatives market with 17 years of experience on both the buy side and sell side. He has gathered a team of seasoned professionals dedicated to offer investors access to unique alternative credit investments. Selwood AM LLP aims at generating superior risk-adjusted returns over a broad range of market environments. Investment approach implemented since 2006 and tested through various market cycles.
Key Persons
Sofiane Gharred
CIO
Prior to founding Selwood AM, Mr Sofiane Gharred was a partner at Chenavari Financial Group. During Mr Gharred’s tenure, he developed and managed the liquid Corporate Credit Strategy, developed the risk management framework for the firm and significantly contributed to Chenavari winning multiple awards over his 7 years at the firm.
Prior to that, Mr Gharred was Managing Director and Global Head of Structured Credit Trading at Credit Agricole CIB. He was responsible for all structured credit proprietary activities with over 20 traders reporting to him. In this capacity, he successfully managed a $200bn delta equivalent correlation book across a variety of credit markets, notably producing positive returns during the correlation crisis in 2005 and the sub-prime crisis in 2007.
Mr Gharred has a strong quantitative background, with an MSc (Hons) in Applied Mathematics in Finance graduating from Ecole Centrale Paris, and a DEA (Hons) in Mathematical modelling in economics from Sorbonne University.
Statistics & Commentary
Performance
The performance data shown represents past performance. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. The investment return and the principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor's shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost.
Investment Manager's Commentary
as of 28/08/2020Market Review and Outlook
Risk assets had a rollercoaster ride through December, although as headlines improved credit spreads and equities rallied by month end. European credit indices ended tighter and outperformed US peers as the UK and EU signed a trade agreement before the Brexit transition period ended. GBP was the best performing G10 currency on the back of this, rallying to YTD highs vs. USD. European sentiment was also boosted as the ECB increased and extended the PEPP, as expected. In the US, SPX ended the year at a new high after President Trump eventually signed off on a bipartisan stimulus package, primarily aimed at helping the unemployed. Political tensions eased with President-elect Biden’s victory being largely accepted, although the Georgia Senate run-off remained in the balance (subsequent run-off vote did see the Democrats take a slim majority in the Senate). COVID-19 infection and hospitalisation data continued to worsen with additional restrictions being implemented across much of Europe and the US. The UK, US and Europe gave regulatory approval for a number of vaccines and while a wholesale rollout may take time, this represents the key factor supporting investor sentiment into 2021. Finally, oil rallied and ended at YTD highs – WTI closed at USD48.52/bbl – on expectations that OPEC+ would extend further its lower production levels at its January meeting.
Effect | Gross Performance contribution | ||||||||
Credit | 0.40% | ||||||||
Carry | 0.48% | ||||||||
Other | 0.05% | ||||||||
Total | 0.93% |
Exposure Comment:
– We added tail hedges ahead of year-end with Brexit deadline on the calendar
– We recycled some index hedges into options, adding both Jan-20 and Feb-21 hedges
Facts & Documents
Facts
Fund Domicile: Luxembourg
Fund Type: UCITS SICAV
Fund Launch: 13 April 2018
Base Currency: EUR
Depositary, Administrator, Transfert Agent: RBC Investor Services Bank S.A.
Dealing: Weekly with a 4-day notice
Cut-off time: 3 pm CET
Management Company: Alma Capital Investment Management
Investment Manager: Selwood Asset Management LLP
Countries where the fund is registered:
Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Singapore, United Kingdom
Identifiers:
I3C-E
ISIN: LU1769347433
Ticker: DBSI3CE LX
Launch: 13 Apr 2018
I1C-E
ISIN: LU1769346898
Ticker: DPSI1CE LX
Launch: 13 Apr 2018
I1C-G
ISIN: LU1769346625
Ticker: DBSILCG LX
Launch: 6 Feb 2019
I1C-U
ISIN: LU1769346971
Ticker: DPSI1CU LX
Launch: 13 Apr 2018
I2C-E
ISIN: LU1769347276
Ticker: DBSI2CE LX
Launch: 13 Apr 2018
R1C-E
ISIN: LU1769346039
Ticker: DBSR1CE LX
Launch: 13 Apr 2018
R1C-U
ISIN: LU1769346112
Ticker: DBSR1CU LX
Launch: 13 Apr 2018
Documents
available upon request