This is a financial promotion for The First Sentier Global Listed Infrastructure Fund. This information is for professional clients only in the UK and elsewhere where lawful. Investing involves certain risks including:
- The value of investments and any income from them may go down as well as up and are not guaranteed. Investors may get back significantly less than the original amount invested.
- Currency risk: the Fund invests in assets which are denominated in other currencies; changes in exchange rates will affect the value of the Fund and could create losses. Currency control decisions made by governments could affect the value of the Fund's investments and could cause the Fund to defer or suspend redemptions of its shares.
- Single sector risk: investing in a single economic sector may be riskier than investing in a number of different sectors. Investing in a larger number of sectors helps to spread risk.
- Listed infrastructure risk: the infrastructure sector and the value of the Fund is particularly affected by factors such as natural disasters, operational disruption and national and local environmental laws.
- Concentration risk: the Fund invests in a relatively small number of companies which may be riskier than a fund that invests in a large number of companies.
- Emerging market risk: Emerging markets tend to be more sensitive to economic and political conditions than developed markets. Other factors include greater liquidity risk, restrictions on investment or transfer of assets, failed/delayed settlement and difficulties valuing securities.
For details of the firms issuing this information and any funds referred to, please see Terms and Conditions and Important Information.
For a full description of the terms of investment and the risks please see the Prospectus and Key Investor Information Document for each Fund.
If you are in any doubt as to the suitability of our funds for your investment needs, please seek investment advice.
Market review
Global Listed Infrastructure delivered mixed returns in November following news of a potentially more infectious coronavirus variant, and on indications that the US Federal Reserve may start to reduce monetary stimulus measures sooner than expected. The FTSE Global Core Infrastructure 50/50 index returned +0.2%, while the MSCI World index^ ended the month +1.3% higher.
The best performing infrastructure sector was Water / Waste (+1%) as investors sought defensive exposure. Toll Roads (+1%) also held up well, with Asia-Pacific operators tending to outperform European peers.
The worst performing infrastructure sector was Pipelines (-6%), on concerns that the Omicron coronavirus variant may hinder the global economic recovery and reduce demand for energy. Airports (-6%) underperformed as strong October passenger volumes were overshadowed by an uncertain outlook for global mobility, as a number of countries tightened travel restrictions.
The best performing infrastructure region was the UK (+7%), reflecting gains from its utility stocks. The worst performing infrastructure region was Canada (-5%) owing to underperformance from its pipelines.
Fund performance
The Fund delivered flat returns after fees in November1, 15bps behind the FTSE Global Core Infrastructure 50/50 Index (GBP, Net TR).
Annual Performance (% in GBP) to 30 November 2021
These figures refer to the past. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. For investors based in countries with currencies other than the share class currency, the return may increase or decrease as a result of currency fluctuations.
Performance figures have been calculated since the launch date. Performance data is calculated on a net basis by deducting fees incurred at fund level (e.g. the management and administration fee) and other costs charged to the fund (e.g. transaction and custody costs), save that it does not take account of initial charges or switching fees (if any). Income reinvested is included on a net of tax basis. Source: Lipper IM / First Sentier Investor (UK) Funds Limited.*The benchmark changed from the UBS Global Infrastructure & Utilities 50-50 Index on 01/04/2015.
The best performing stock in the portfolio was CCR (+8%), Brazil’s largest toll road operator. Having underperformed in recent months on concerns for country / political risk and rising interest rates, the stock gained as investors identified value. Traffic volumes on its toll road network remain robust, running close to or exceeding 2019 levels. In the medium term CCR is well positioned to benefit from the country’s efforts to privatize and improve its roads, airports and passenger rail networks. Chinese peer Jiangsu Expressway (+3%), whose assets include the main road between major cities Shanghai and Nanjing; and Transurban (+2%), Australia’s dominant toll road operator, also outperformed.
However, French-listed Vinci (-9%) and Italy’s Atlantia (-3%) sold off, reflecting swift decisions by several European countries to tighten travel restrictions in an effort to slow the spread of Omicron; and both companies’ exposure to the Airports sector. Pleasingly, both stocks have recovered some ground in the early part of December.
The portfolio’s water utilities including Guangdong Investment (+6%) performed well in this environment. Guangdong’s core business involves supplying water to Hong Kong within a regulated framework, under a concession agreement that runs until 2030. Severn Trent (+5%), which provides drinking water to over eight million people across central England and mid-Wales, rose on the appeal of its regulated business model, stable cash flows and inflation-linked dividend. The company also increased guidance for its Outcome Delivery Incentives – a measure used by the regulator to monitor the company’s performance against customer-focused criteria such as water quality and supply interruptions.
Towers / data centres delivered mixed returns. Italian tower company operator Inwit (+6%) rallied after an €11 billion (US$12.5 billion) bid for co-controlling shareholder Telecom Italia boosted sentiment about M&A in the European communications sector. US peer American Tower (-7%) lagged following a sceptical market reaction to its US$10 billion takeover of data centre operator CoreSite (+20%, not held). American Tower expects the deal to provide value creation opportunities, owing to the growing overlap between towers and data centres in a 5G and cloudbased world. The portfolio’s other communications infrastructure holding, SBA Communications (flat), was steady in falling markets.
The worst performing stock in the portfolio was China Gas (-28%), as a lower number of new residential connections and increased safety spending resulted in lower-than-expected half year profits. This news follows a number of other headwinds for the stock including a growing focus on China political / country risk, a slowdown in China’s property sector, and two gas pipeline accidents earlier in the year. While this earnings result has disappointed, the company will continue to play a central role in the Chinese government’s policy of replacing coal with cleaner sources of energy.
The general risk-off mood continued to weigh on specialist energy supply and storage operator Rubis (-12%), which has a presence in a range of developed and emerging economies. At current valuation multiples, we believe the market has also taken an overly negative view of this company’s prospects, and of the essential role its assets play within a number of niche markets against limited competition.
The other main area of weakness in the portfolio came from its airport holdings. AENA (-9%), Flughafen Zurich (-7%) and ASUR (-5%) fell on concerns that the Omicron coronavirus variant would affect passenger volumes. West Japan Railway (-9%) also underperformed after Japan introduced particularly stringent travel restrictions at the end of the month, closing its borders to all overseas travellers.
Fund activity
The Fund added a holding in US utility Sempra Energy. The company’s assets include electric and gas utility businesses in Southern California (San Diego Gas & Electric and SoCalGas); Texas’ largest electric transmission and distribution company (Oncor); and Sempra Infrastructure, which develops and operates natural gas transportation networks and liquefaction facilities in the US and Mexico. Sempra’s unfashionable conglomerate structure has contributed to a sustained period of share price underperformance. The company now trades at a discount to peers, presenting an appealing entry point to its high quality collection of underlying assets.
The Fund also initiated a position in energy infrastructure company DT Midstream, whose modern and reliable networks are focused on North America’s most prolific natural gas basin (the Marcellus / Utica); and the fast-growing Texas / Louisiana Haynesville basin. Spun off from its utility parent company DT Energy in July 2021, the newly independent entity is run by an experienced and well-regarded management team. Forecast production growth in the Haynesville basin and steady demand from existing customers are expected to underpin healthy earnings growth into the medium term. This growth potential could also make the company an acquisition target for mature, lower growth peers.
The Fund increased its exposure to toll roads by initiating a position in Australian-listed Atlas Arteria. The company’s main asset is a ~30% stake in central French toll road APRR, a ~2,300km motorway network which connects major French cities including Paris and Lyon. Atlas also owns two smaller assets - the Dulles Greenway toll road in Virginia, and Warnow Tunnel in Germany. Long distance toll road traffic volumes in Europe have largely recovered to prepandemic levels. The continuing rollout of coronavirus vaccinations and the recent development of anti-viral pills by Merck and Pfizer are likely to provide additional momentum to the return to the office and commuter traffic volumes, despite the emergence of the Omicron variant.
Data centre operator CyrusOne was divested after accepting a US$11.5 billion takeover bid from private equity firm KKR and fund manager Global Infrastructure Partners. The transaction is the third acquisition within the data centre space this year, alongside the previously mentioned takeover of CoreSite by American Tower, which was announced on the same day; and the US$10 billion purchase of QTS in August 2021 by alternatives-focused investment manager Blackstone. Large-cap regulated US electric utility Duke Energy was sold during the month. Following several positive developments over the past year, including settling rate cases in North Carolina and Florida, and raising capital via the sale of a minority stake in its Indiana utility business, greater mispricing is now evident in other US utility names. The Fund sold its holding in Tokyo Gas, Japan’s largest natural gas utility. Structural growth challenges in their domestic market and rising input costs are likely to represent a headwind to the company profits.
Market outlook and Fund positioning
The Fund invests in a range of global listed infrastructure assets including toll roads, airports, railroads, utilities, pipelines, and wireless towers. These sectors share common characteristics, like barriers to entry and pricing power, which can provide investors with the potential for inflation-protected income and strong capital growth over the medium-term.
Toll roads represent the portfolio’s largest sector overweight, via positions in European, Asia Pacific and Latin American operators. We believe these companies represent exceptional value at current levels, with traffic volumes proving significantly more resilient than those of other transport infrastructure assets. While new coronavirus variants have clouded the near term outlook, we remain confident that toll roads will lead a return to normal demand levels as economic activity levels continue to pick up.
The portfolio is also overweight Railroads, primarily via exposure to large cap North American freight rail operators. These firms are unique and valuable franchises. Their wholly-owned track networks are high quality infrastructure assets which can never be replicated. They typically operate under duopoly market conditions, with significant numbers of captive customers such as grain, chemical and auto producers giving them strong pricing power over long haul routes. Improving operating efficiency provides further scope to grow earnings.
The portfolio is underweight Electric / Multi-Utilities. While these companies represent a large segment of the global listed infrastructure universe, and are a good source of yield and defence, some are trading at levels where limited mispricing is evident. That said, a substantial portion of the portfolio still consists of high conviction utility holdings. The portfolio’s focus is on companies with the scope to derive steady, low risk earnings growth from rate base investment (replacing ageing distribution networks, upgrading substations, expanding transmission lines); and the replacement of older coal-fired power stations with wind farms and solar power.
The portfolio is also underweight the Airports sector. The emergence of the Omicron variant has underscored how vulnerable airlines remain to coronavirus-related disruption. The portfolio’s exposure is focused primarily on higher quality European operators such as Spain’s AENA whose passenger mix is tilted towards Leisure and VFR (visiting friends and relatives) travellers. These categories could see numbers rebound sharply as travel restrictions are lifted.
1 Performance is based on OEIC B Acc share class, net of fees, expressed in GBP.
^ MSCI World Net Total Return Index, GBP.
All stock and sector performance data expressed in local currency terms. Source: Bloomberg.
Important Information
This document has been prepared for informational purposes only and is only intended to provide a summary of the subject matter covered and does not purport to be comprehensive. The views expressed are the views of the writer at the time of issue and may change over time. It does not constitute investment advice and/or a recommendation and should not be used as the basis of any investment decision. This document is not an offer document and does not constitute an offer or invitation or investment recommendation to distribute or purchase securities, shares, units or other interests or to enter into an investment agreement. No person should rely on the content and/or act on the basis of any material contained in this document.
This document is confidential and must not be copied, reproduced, circulated or transmitted, in whole or in part, and in any form or by any means without our prior written consent. The information contained within this document has been obtained from sources that we believe to be reliable and accurate at the time of issue but no representation or warranty, express or implied, is made as to the fairness, accuracy, or completeness of the information. We do not accept any liability whatsoever for any loss arising directly or indirectly from any use of this information.
References to “we” or “us” are references to First Sentier Investors.
In the UK, issued by First Sentier Investors (UK) Funds Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (registration number 143359). Registered office Finsbury Circus House, 15 Finsbury Circus, London, EC2M 7EB number 2294743. Outside the UK and the EEA, issued by First Sentier Investors International IM Limited which is authorised and regulated in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority (registered number 122512). Registered office: 23 St. Andrew Square, Edinburgh, EH2 1BB number SCO79063.
Certain funds referred to in this document are identified as sub-funds of First Sentier Investors ICVC, an open ended investment company registered in England and Wales (“OEIC”). Following the UK departure from the European Union, the OEIC has ceased to qualify as a UCITS scheme and is instead an Alternative Investment Fund (“AIF”) for European Union purposes under the terms of the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (2011/61/EU). Accordingly, no marketing activities relating to the OEIC are being carried-out by First Sentier Investors in the European Union (or the additional EEA states) and the OEIC is not available for distribution in those jurisdictions. This document does not constitute an offer or invitation or investment recommendation to distribute or purchase shares in the OEIC in the European Union (or the additional EEA states). Further information is contained in the Prospectus and Key Investor Information Documents of the OEIC which are available free of charge by writing to: Client Services, First Sentier Investors (UK) Funds Limited, PO Box 404, Darlington, DL1 9UZ or by telephoning 0800 587 4141 between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday or by visiting www.firstsentierinvestors.com. Telephone calls may be recorded. The distribution or purchase of shares in the funds, or entering into an investment agreement with First Sentier Investors may be restricted in certain jurisdictions.
Representative and Paying Agent in Switzerland: The representative and paying agent in Switzerland is BNP Paribas Securities Services, Paris, succursale de Zurich, Selnaustrasse 16, 8002 Zurich, Switzerland. Place where the relevant documentation may be obtained: The prospectus, key investor information documents (KIIDs), the instrument of incorporation as well as the annual and semi-annual reports may be obtained free of charge from the representative in Switzerland.
First Sentier Investors entities referred to in this document are part of First Sentier Investors a member of MUFG, a global financial group. First Sentier Investors includes a number of entities in different jurisdictions. MUFG and its subsidiaries do not guarantee the performance of any investment or entity referred to in this document or the repayment of capital. Any investments referred to are not deposits or other liabilities of MUFG or its subsidiaries, and are subject to investment risk including loss of income and capital invested.
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