Alma Selwood Market Neutral Credit

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.