The End is Near …to the Year

September was an awful month for risk markets as the full realization of the Federal Reserve’s determination to break the back of inflation destroyed investor sentiment. While the price of both oil (WTI down over 11%) and natural gas (Henry Hub down almost 26%) fell dramatically in September, the High Yield energy sector outperformed in the month. Despite the drop in commodity prices, producers are benefiting from prices that are well above what they averaged in 2021.

In September 2022, Lysander-Fulcra Corporate Securities Fund’s (the “Fund”) position in the Rockpoint Gas Storage 7% bond due March 2023 was called at par. The private natural gas storage and infrastructure company benefited from the increase in natural gas prices and with the help of its equity owner, Brookfield, decided to refinance the bonds internally.

Oil and gas equity valuation multiples have recently hit multi-year lows, despite these companies benefiting from increased cash flows due to higher commodity prices. These lower valuations may be driven by public announcements of some institutions divesting from the sector. However, it has created an interesting opportunity for credit investors who can benefit from buying shorter duration bonds as these companies are now more capable to refinance, partially or completely, these obligations internally. The added flexibility of not having to rely on capital markets to refinance is, currently, a very attractive investment trait.

Elsewhere in the Fund, the two largest negative contributors to September’s performance came from Rite Aid’s 7.5% bond due 2025 and the Telesat 5.625% bond due 2026. Both companies generate free cash flow, despite their storied pasts. Rite Aid, its multiple attempts to sell but now committed to a turnaround, and Telesat issuing bonds previously to fund its new satellite network at an unrestricted subsidiary while experiencing launch delays due to supply constraints from satellite manufacturers.

September was the Fund’s worst performing month of the year and moved the Fund into negative territory YTD (performance annualized performance from January to September 2022). While never pleased with a negative result, the Fund’s relative outperformance to High Yield indices thus far in 2022 has been helped by an allocation to a handful of term loans. The coupons of term loans float, so as interest rates rise so do the coupon payments to investors. While increased coupon payments to investors mitigate duration risk, it does increase the cost of debt for the issuer – a credit negative. However, not all companies and balance sheets are the same. Interestingly, many issuers in a position of financial strength may look to reduce or redeem a loan sooner given the rise in interest rates. The Fund’s position in the US Silica term loan is a great example.

We purchased the US Silica term loan two years ago as we were drawn to the strong asset coverage of its industrial materials business that was acquired in 2018 with the proceeds of the term loan. Prior to this acquisition, the company’s business was much more cyclical given its then singular focus as a service company to the oil & gas industry. In the middle of 2020 economic uncertainty from the COVID-19 pandemic created many difficult to analyze/predict outcomes. The term loan of US Silica traded at a significant discount, suggesting the market still considered the company to be an oil & gas-focused company, despite the cash flow valuation from the much steadier industrial business capable of supporting the debt on its own. As both lines of business have seen increased cash flows this year, management has used this opportunity to reduce debt by $150 million over two separate tender offers in the last six months.

For investors, 2022 has been marked by losses in most liquid asset classes. As a result, our view is that Q4 will likely be marked by continued volatility (and opportunities) given the added influence of tax loss selling, rebalancing, and broad shifts in asset allocations. Flexibility and execution into the first half of 2023 will likely be the hallmarks of outsized investment returns as we look to the horizon over the next two years.

Lysander Funds Limited (“Lysander”) is the investment fund manager of Lysander-Fulcra Corporate Securities Fund (the “Fund”). Fulcra Asset Management Inc. (“Fulcra”) is the portfolio manager of the Fund. This document was prepared by Fulcra as portfolio manager of the Fund. In this document, “we”, “our” and “us” means Fulcra. This document has been prepared solely for information purposes. Information in this document is not intended to constitute legal, tax, securities or investment advice and is made available on an "as is" basis. Neither Lysander nor Fulcra make any warranties or representations regarding the information herein. Information in this document is subject to change without notice. Neither Lysander nor Fulcra assume any duty to update any information herein. Certain information in this document has been derived or obtained from sources believed to be trustworthy and/or reliable. Neither Lysander nor Fulcra assume responsibility for the accuracy, currency, reliability or correctness of any such information.
Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with mutual fund investments. Please read the prospectus before investing. Investment funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently, and past performance may not be repeated.
This document is not an invitation to invest in the Fund and does not constitute a public offering of sale. Purchases in the Fund can only be made through an Investment Professional on the terms in the fund’s offering document by eligible investors. Each purchaser of units in a fund may have statutory or contractual right of action.
This document may contain forward-looking statements. Statements concerning a Fund’s or entity’s objectives, goals, strategies, intentions, plans, beliefs, expectations and estimates, and the business, operations, financial performance and condition are forward looking statements. The words “believe”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “estimate”, “intend”, “aims”, “may”, “will”, “would” and similar expressions and the negative of such expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward- looking statements contain these identifying words. These forward- looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. While Lysander and Fulcra consider these risks and uncertainties to be reasonable based on information currently available, they may prove to be incorrect.
Nothing in this document should be considered a recommendation to buy, sell or short a particular security. Any specific securities discussed are intended as an illustration of the portfolio manager’s security selection process. The portfolio manager may sell these securities at any time, or purchase securities that have previously been sold. The positions may increase or decrease in value after the date hereof, and the portfolio that hold such positions may accordingly gain or lose money on the investment. The statements by the portfolio manager in their commentaries are intended to illustrate their approach in managing the portfolios, and should not be relied upon for any other purpose.
®Lysander Funds is a registered trademark of Lysander Funds Limited.