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At AlbaCore, we focus on the long-term. As one of Europe’s leading alternative credit specialists, we invest in private capital solutions, opportunistic and dislocated credit, and structured products. 

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Leader in active quantitative equities across Australian equities, global equities, emerging markets and global small companies.

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This is a financial promotion for The First Sentier Global Listed Infrastructure Fund. This information is for professional clients only in the EEA 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.

Global Listed Infrastructure - Monthly update - November 2020

Market review

Global Listed Infrastructure climbed strongly in November, helped by signs of progress in the fight against coronavirus and optimism regarding Joe Biden’s victory in the US presidential election. The FTSE Global Core Infrastructure 50/50 index rose +7.8%, while the MSCI World index^ ended the month +12.8% higher.

The best performing infrastructure sector was Airports (+22%) as investors looked forward to a return to international travel. Pipelines (+15%) also gained, on the view that a coronavirus vaccine will lead to a quicker economic recovery and greater demand for fuel. The worst performing infrastructure sector was Multi-Utilities (-1%) as investors switched to assets with economic sensitivity. Electric Utilities (+3%) delivered positive returns, but also underperformed rising markets for the same reason. Having performed well when coronavirus was worsening, Towers / Data Centres (+2%) lagged in November.

The best performing infrastructure region was Europe ex-UK (+17%), which was led higher by its airports and toll road operators. Infrastructure stocks in Latin America (+14%) also outperformed on the view that a return to international travel will support developing economies. The worst performing infrastructure region was the United Kingdom (-3%) reflecting its high utilities weighting, and investor caution ahead of the year-end deadline for Brexit trade talks.

Fund performance

The Fund returned 9.3% after fees1 in November, 156 bps ahead of the FTSE Global Core Infrastructure 50/50 Index (USD, Net TR).

Annual Performance (% in USD) to 30 November 2020

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 Investors (UK) Funds Limited. *The benchmark changed from the UBS Global Infrastructure & Utilities 50-50 Index on 01/04/2015.

1 Performance is based on VCC ID share class, net of fees, expressed in USD.

^ MSCI World Net Total Return Index, USD.

All stock and sector performance data expressed in local currency terms. Source: Bloomberg.

The best performing stock in the portfolio was French toll road operator Eiffage (+32%) which rallied strongly as investor sentiment improved. The company’s contracting business segment is well positioned to benefit from the €100 billion French economic stimulus package announced in September. After exiting the first lockdowns, traffic volumes on its French motorway business have proved resilient. Larger peer Vinci (+26%) outperformed for similar reasons. Pre-pandemic, over 10% of its earnings came from its airport concessions business, giving it additional scope to benefit from a return to economic normality.

European airports Flughafen Zurich (+24%) and AENA (+18%) were propelled higher by the prospect of a return to international travel. As well as positive vaccine news, Mexican operator ASUR (+23%) was supported by a positive revision to the regulatory terms for peer GAP that will allow it to increase tariffs; and sequential improvements in passenger volumes.

Energy infrastructure stocks were also beneficiaries of November’s developments. French-listed energy supply and storage business Rubis (+27%) was buoyed by the improving outlook and the announcement of a €250 million share buyback, equivalent to ~9% of its market capitalisation. Pembina Pipeline (+19%) and Magellan Midstream Partners (+19%) rallied strongly as investors identified value after a sustained period of underperformance. Best-in-class Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) exporter Cheniere (+18%) also rose on the prospect of strengthening natural gas demand from Asia. Gas utility China Gas (+20%) outperformed on the view that a return to economic normality in China would increase demand for natural gas from its industrial and commercial customers. Government policies promoting a switch from coal to natural gas for residential heating continue to underpin demand from retail customers.

The worst performing stock in the portfolio was UK multiutility National Grid (-6%), on investor caution ahead of the UK regulator’s Final Determination of RIIO-2 (the price framework that will apply to the country’s gas and electricity transmission utilities for the next five years) in December. UK water utility Severn Trent (-2%) lagged as investors rotated away from defensive businesses, despite strong Outcome Delivery Incentives performance (a mechanism allowing the company to earn financial incentives in return for meeting key operational performance targets). Electric utility SSE (+7%) fared better; its offshore wind business appears likely to be a primary beneficiary of the UK’s recently announced 10-point plan for a green industrial revolution. US utilities including Alliant Energy (-5%), Xcel Energy (-4%) and Dominion Energy (-2%) paused for breath in November, following several months’ strong performance in the lead-up to the US presidential election.

Mobile Towers lagged as these perceived safe havens suffered a reversal of equity flows, including portfolio holdings SBA Communications (-1%) and American Tower (+2%). Despite this, Italian operator Inwit (+16%) released an updated business plan with better-than-expected earnings growth and dividend payout. US-based Crown Castle (+7%) was the first tower company to sign a leasing agreement with new entrant DISH, as a precursor to further revenue growth ahead.

Fund activity

The Fund initiated a position in FirstEnergy, a US regulated utility with 24,000 miles of transmission network connecting the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions; and ten electric distribution companies serving customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland and New York. Company executives have been implicated in a bribery scandal in the company’s Ohio business, relating to the payment of state subsidies to a former FirstEnergy subsidiary. As a result, FirstEnergy’s share price has materially underperformed peers in recent months. While concerning and likely to create regulatory uncertainty for FirstEnergy’s Ohio operations, our analysis suggests the market has over-reacted to events and created a mispricing opportunity.

Arizona-based utility Pinnacle West was also added to the portfolio. The company’s main businesses are Arizona Public Service, the state’s largest integrated electric utility; and Bright Canyon Energy, a transmission and renewable energy developer. The company operates in what has been a difficult regulatory jurisdiction. However, the appointment of a well-regarded new CEO to the company, and new commissioners to the state utility regulator, are now expected to lead to a more constructive regulatory environment. Solar energy, now the lowest-cost new generation source in many parts of the US, is well suited to Arizona’s climate and likely to represent a long term source of capex and earnings growth for the company.

Balancing these two US utility additions, American Electric Power was sold on the view that valuation multiples now reflect its capex-driven growth opportunities. The company continues to replace aging transmission networks and invest in renewables across its sprawling mid-West service territory. New Mexico and west Texas electric utility PNM Resources was also sold after agreeing in October to an US$8 billion takeover offer from Avangrid. The portfolio’s exposure to the Airport sector was trimmed by divesting positions in Auckland Airport and Signature Aviation after recent share price gains. Chinese gas utility ENN Energy was also divested after sharp share price gains moved the stock to a lower ranking within our investment process.

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.

The listed infrastructure asset class delivered strong increases in November, helping to reduce the losses seen earlier in the year. While changes to share prices have in many cases been substantial, valuations still look reasonable overall. However mispricing in some sectors has now reduced, and portfolio weights have been adjusted to reflect this.

The Fund’s exposure to the Airports sector has been reduced. While valuation multiples now reflect positive scenarios over the months ahead, it remains to be seen how quickly consumer behaviour will return to normal. Business travel may never regain previous levels. The decision by Singapore and Hong Kong to delay the launch of an air “travel bubble”, originally scheduled for mid-November but now pushed back to 2021, serves as a reminder of the logistical challenges still facing the sector. An underweight exposure to the Pipelines sector has been maintained, reflecting the structural headwinds that many of these companies face as Net Zero initiatives gather pace.

More positively, we believe Toll roads still represent exceptional value, even after recent gains. Traffic volumes have proved more resilient than those of other transport infrastructure assets, with positive momentum in many regions as the year progressed. While increased flexibility to work-from-home may result in adjustments to traffic, we see clear evidence that people prefer to travel by private car than by public transport in order to maintain social distancing. The portfolio’s exposure to the Towers and Data Centres sector was raised from neutral to overweight, as relative value emerged. The sector’s structural growth drivers of increasing data mobility / connectivity needs in the years ahead remain intact.

The Fund has maintained a large absolute exposure to Multi/ Electric utilities. The resilience and predictability of regulated utility earnings – showcased over the past year – does not appear to be fully appreciated by the market. Further, we expect that the ongoing repair and replacement of old equipment and technology, along with the accelerating build-out of renewables, will represent a source of steady earnings growth over long time frames, particularly for larger utilities with substantial economies of scale.

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.

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