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Carmignac P. Credit: Letter from the Fund Managers

Author(s)
Pierre VERLÉ,Alexandre DENEUVILLE
Published on
11 July 2024
Read time
2 minute(s) read
+2.27%
Carmignac P. Credit’s performance in Q2 2024 for the A EUR Share class.
+0.48%
Reference indicator’s performance in Q2 2024 for the 75% ICE BofA Euro Corporate Index et 25% ICE BofA Euro High Yield Index.
+5.36%
Of annualized performance since launch of the fund (31/07/2017)2, compared to +0.72% for its reference indicator1.

Carmignac Portfolio Credit was up +2.27% (for the EUR A share) during the second quarter of 2024 versus 0.48% for the reference indicator, outperforming by 1.80%. Since the beginning of the year, the EUR A share is up 4.84% versus 1.18% for the reference indicator, outperforming by 3.66%.

Review of Q2 2024 performance

Credit markets were stable during the quarter, despite a minor bout of volatility triggered by dissolution of the French National Assembly. Primary markets were very active, thanks to refinancings as well as new issuers coming to the market for the first time – sometimes offering very interesting opportunities. All our performance drivers contributed to the performance of the fund, with an important part of the outperformance driven by the recovery of our two largest special situations.
As we already discussed last quarter, the current environment is very conducive for our investment approach. Credit markets are back to rich valuations yet risk-free rates offer a healthy cushion on the downside, through extra yield and the potential for cuts in a recession-led market dislocation. With market yields in low to mid-single digit territory for investment grade and mid to high -single digit for high yield (in euro as well as in dollar), the appetite of the benchmarked credit investor community for complex situations is relatively low. As a result, the complexity premia which are our bread and butter stand at healthy levels.
For example, in May we invested in a B/BB rated bond of an office focused real estate company with a yield in the low teens. We did some extended diligence to make sure assets were of high quality, well in demand in the relevant markets and valued appropriately. The loan-to-value is reasonable and leaves our bond very well covered, even in catastrophic scenarios. Yet, because European credit investors have too much exposure to weaker real estate credits, included in shaky office markets, there was very little appetite to deploy incremental capital in the space, even for a very attractive remuneration. In the current market regime, we often come across similar situations across our investment universe and we have managed to build a diversified and liquid portfolio for Carmignac Portfolio Credit, yielding far in excess, in our view, of its fundamental cost of risk.

Outlook

It is becoming clearer and clearer that many companies with weak business models that ran ever increasing leverage during the decade prior to 2022, at a cost suppressed by financial repression, are now getting closer to a refinancing wall that they will not be able to climb. We believe the special situations space, which has contributed nicely to the fund’s performance in the past despite a reduced opportunity set, is about to offer very interesting asymmetric opportunities – and the potential for sharp outperformance for investors with the right skillset and experience.
In summary, we are very excited for the potential for performance and outperformance going forward and would be disappointed if Carmignac Portfolio Credit does not offer a mid-to-high single digit return in the next two to three years. End of June the portfolio is yielding 7.6% for a BB+ average rating, and accounting for our 20%+ hedging position through CDX HY and Xover, the yield is above 7% for an average BBB- rating. In addition, we have several special situations in the book where we see strong upside potential. Given the depth of the opportunity set across our investment universe, we are keeping the fund very diversified, with more than 250 positions and 150 issuers, and hence very liquid.

Sources: Carmignac, 30/06/2024. Performance of the A EUR acc share class ISIN code: LU1623762843. 1Reference indicator: 75% BofA Merrill Lynch Euro Corporate Index, 25% BofA Merrill Lynch Euro High Yield Index. 231/07/2017.
Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future performance. The return may increase or decrease as a result of currency fluctuations. Performances are net of fees (excluding possible entrance fees charged by the distributor). Marketing communication. Please refer to the KID/prospectus of the fund before making any final investment decisions

Carmignac Portfolio Credit

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Carmignac Portfolio Credit A EUR Acc

ISIN: LU1623762843
Recommended minimum investment horizon
3 years
Risk indicator*
2/7
SFDR - Fund Classification**
Article 6

*Risk Scale from the KID (Key Information Document). Risk 1 does not mean a risk-free investment. This indicator may change over time. **Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) 2019/2088. The SFDR classification of the Funds may change over time.

Main risks of the fund

Credit: Credit risk is the risk that the issuer may default.
Interest Rate: Interest rate risk results in a decline in the net asset value in the event of changes in interest rates.
Liquidity: Temporary market distortions may have an impact on the pricing conditions under which the Fund might be caused to liquidate, initiate or modify its positions.
Discretionary Management: Anticipations of financial market changes made by the Management Company have a direct effect on the Fund's performance, which depends on the stocks selected.
The Fund presents a risk of loss of capital. Please refer to the Fund’s prospectus to view the exhaustive list of risks.

Fees

ISIN: LU1623762843
Entry costs
2.00% of the amount you pay in when entering this investment. This is the most you will be charged. Carmignac Gestion doesn't charge any entry fee. The person selling you the product will inform you of the actual charge.
Exit costs
We do not charge an exit fee for this product.
Management fees and other administrative or operating costs
1.20% of the value of your investment per year. This estimate is based on actual costs over the past year.
Performance fees
20.00% when the share class overperforms the Reference indicator during the performance period. It will be payable also in case the share class has overperformed the reference indicator but had a negative performance. Underperformance is clawed back for 5 years. The actual amount will vary depending on how well your investment performs. The aggregated cost estimation above includes the average over the last 5 years, or since the product creation if it is less than 5 years.
Transaction Cost
0.23% of the value of your investment per year. This is an estimate of the costs incurred when we buy and sell the investments underlying the product. The actual amount varies depending on the quantity we buy and sell.

Performance

ISIN: LU1623762843
Carmignac Portfolio Credit−1.5+6.7+8.2+10.6−13.0+3.0+10.4+20.9+1.7+1.8
Reference Indicator−0.6+3.6+5.7+9.0−13.3+0.1+2.8+7.5−1.7+1.1
Carmignac Portfolio Credit+6.4%+1.8%+4.9%
Reference Indicator+4.6%+0.6%+1.3%

Source: Carmignac at 30 Oct 2026.
Date of 1st NAV : 31/07/2017.
Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future performance. Performances are net of fees (excluding possible entrance fees charged by the distributor). The Fund presents a risk of loss of capital.
The return may increase or decrease as a result of currency fluctuations, for the shares which are not currency-hedged.

Reference Indicator: 75% ICE BofA Euro Corporate Index + 25% ICE BofA Euro High Yield index. Rebalancing Frequency: Quarterly

Share

Marketing communication. Please refer to the KID/KIID, prospectus of the fund before making any final investment decisions. This document is intended for professional clients.

This material may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, without prior authorisation from the Management Company. This material does not constitute a subscription offer, nor does it constitute investment advice. This material is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for, accounting, legal or tax advice. This material has been provided to you for informational purposes only and may not be relied upon by you in evaluating the merits of investing in any securities or interests referred to herein or for any other purposes. The information contained in this material may be partial information and may be modified without prior notice. They are expressed as of the date of writing and are derived from proprietary and non-proprietary sources deemed by Carmignac to be reliable, are not necessarily all-inclusive and are not guaranteed as to accuracy. As such, no warranty of accuracy or reliability is given and no responsibility arising in any other way for errors and omissions (including responsibility to any person by reason of negligence) is accepted by Carmignac, its officers, employees or agents.

Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future performance. Performances are net of fees (excluding possible entrance fees charged by the distributor). The return may increase or decrease as a result of currency fluctuations, for the shares which are not currency-hedged.

Reference to certain securities and financial instruments is for illustrative purposes to highlight stocks that are or have been included in the portfolios of funds in the Carmignac range. This is not intended to promote direct investment in those instruments, nor does it constitute investment advice. The Management Company is not subject to prohibition on trading in these instruments prior to issuing any communication. The portfolios of Carmignac funds may change without previous notice. The reference to a ranking or prize, is no guarantee of the future results of the UCIS or the manager.

Morningstar Rating™ : © Morningstar, Inc. All Rights Reserved. The information contained herein: is proprietary to Morningstar and/or its content providers; may not be copied or distributed; and is not warranted to be accurate, complete or timely. Neither Morningstar nor its content providers are responsible for any damages or losses arising from any use of this information.

Access to the Funds may be subject to restrictions regarding certain persons or countries. This material is not directed to any person in any jurisdiction where (by reason of that person’s nationality, residence or otherwise) the material or availability of this material is prohibited. Persons in respect of whom such prohibitions apply must not access this material. Taxation depends on the situation of the individual. The Funds are not registered for retail distribution in Asia, in Japan, in North America, nor are they registered in South America. Carmignac Funds are registered in Singapore as restricted foreign scheme (for professional clients only). The Funds have not been registered under the US Securities Act of 1933. The Funds may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, for the benefit or on behalf of a «U.S. person», according to the definition of the US Regulation S and FATCA.
The risks, fees and ongoing charges are described in the KID (Key Information Document). The KID must be made available to the subscriber prior to subscription. The subscriber must read the KID. Investors may lose some or all their capital, as the capital in the funds are not guaranteed. The Funds present a risk of loss of capital.

The Funds’ prospectus, KIDs, NAVs and annual reports are available at www.carmignac.com/en, or upon request to the Management Carmignac Portfolio refers to the sub-funds of Carmignac Portfolio SICAV, an investment company under Luxembourg law, conforming to the UCITS Directive. The French investment funds (fonds communs de placement or FCP) are common funds in contractual form conforming to the UCITS or AIFM Directive under French law.

  • In the United Kingdom: the Funds’ respective prospectuses, KIIDs and annual reports are available at www.carmignac.com/en-gb, or upon request to the Management Company, or for the French Funds, at the offices of the acilities Agent, Carmignac UK Ltd, 2 Carlton House Terrace, London, SW1Y 5AF. This document was prepared by Carmignac Gestion, Carmignac Gestion Luxembourg or Carmignac UK Ltd. FP Carmignac ICVC (the “Company”) is an Investment Company with variable capital incorporated in England and Wales under registered number 839620 and is authorised by the FCA with effect from 4 April 2019 and launched on 15 May 2019. FundRock Partners Limited is the Authorised Corporate Director (the “ACD”) of the Company and is authorised and regulated by the FCA. Registered Office: Hamilton Centre, Rodney Way, Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 3BY, UK; Registered in England and Wales with number 4162989. Carmignac Gestion Luxembourg SA has been appointed as the Investment Manager and distributor in respect of the Company. Carmignac UK Ltd (Registered in England and Wales with number 14162894) has been appointed as a sub-Investment Manager of the Company and is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority with FRN:984288.

  • In Switzerland: the prospectus, KIDs and annual report are available at www.carmignac.com/en-ch, or through our representative in Switzerland, CACEIS (Switzerland), S.A., Route de Signy 35, CH-1260 Nyon. The paying agent is CACEIS Bank, Montrouge, Nyon Branch / Switzerland, Route de Signy 35, 1260 Nyon.

  • In Belgium: This document is intended for professional clients. This content has not been validated by FSMA. The decision to invest in the promoted fund should take into account all its characteristics or objectives as described in its prospectus. This communication is published by Carmignac Gestion S.A., a portfolio management company approved by the Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF) in France, and its Luxembourg subsidiary Carmignac Gestion Luxembourg, S.A., an investment fund management company approved by the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF). “Carmignac” is a registered trademark. “Investing in your Interest” is a slogan associated with the Carmignac trademark. This document does not constitute advice on any investment or arbitrage of transferable securities or any other asset management or investment product or service. The information and opinions contained in this document do not take into account investors’ specific individual circumstances and must never be interpreted as legal, tax or investment advice. The information contained in this document may be partial and could be changed without notice. This document may not be reproduced in whole or in part without prior authorisation. The risks and fees are described in the KID (Key Information Document). The prospectus, KID, the net asset-values and the latest (semi-) annual management report may be obtained, free of charge, in French or in Dutch, from the management company (tel. +352 46 70 60 1) or by consulting its website or www.fundinfo.com. These materials may also be obtained from Caceis Belgium S.A., the financial service provider in Belgium, at the following address: avenue du port, 86c b320, B-1000 Brussels. The Fund (fonds commun de placement or FCP) is a common fund in contractual form conforming to the UCITS Directive under French law. Access to the Fund may be subject to restrictions regarding certain persons or countries. The Funds are not registered for retail distribution in Asia, in Japan, in North America, nor are they registered in South America. Carmignac Funds are registered in Singapore as restricted foreign scheme (for professional clients only). The Funds have not been registered under the US Securities Act of 1933. The Funds may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, for the benefit or on behalf of a «U.S. person», according to the definition of the US Regulation S and FATCA. In case of subscription to a fund subject to Article 19bis of the Belgian Income Tax Code (CIR92), the investor will have to pay, upon redemption of his or her shares, a withholding tax of 30% on the income (in the form of interest, or capital gains or losses) derived from the return on assets invested in debt claims. Distributions are subject to withholding tax of 30% without income distinction. In case of subscription in a French investment fund (fonds commun de placement or FCP), you must declare on tax form, each year, the share of the dividends (and interest, if applicable) received by the Fund. Any complaint may be referred to complaints@carmignac.com or CARMIGNAC GESTION - Compliance and Internal Controls - 24 place Vendôme Paris France or on the website www.ombudsfin.be.

The Management Company can cease promotion in your country anytime. Investors have access to a summary of their rights at section 5 entitled "summary of investor rights" on the following links: UK ; Switzerland ; France ; Luxembourg ; Sweden. Belgium (French) ; Belgium (Dutch)

For Carmignac Portfolio Long-Short European Equities: Carmignac Gestion Luxembourg SA in its capacity as the Management Company for Carmignac Portfolio, has delegated the investment management of this Sub-Fund to White Creek Capital LLP (Registered in England and Wales with number OCC447169) from 2nd May 2024. White Creek Capital LLP is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority with FRN : 998349.

Carmignac Private Evergreen refers to the Private Evergreen sub-fund of the SICAV Carmignac S.A. SICAV – PART II UCI, registered with the Luxembourg RCS under number B285278.