RNS Number : 0631C
NB Distressed Debt Invest. Fd. Ltd
29 August 2024
 

NB DISTRESSED DEBT INVESTMENT FUND LIMITED

2024 INTERIM Report

 

unaudited CONSOLIDATED interim Financial Statements

For the six month period ended 30 june 2024

 

COMPANY OVERVIEW | Features

NB Distressed Debt Investment Fund Limited (the "Company")

The Company is a closed-ended investment company incorporated and registered in Guernsey on 20 April 2010 with registration number 51774. The Company is governed under the provisions of the Companies (Guernsey) Law, 2008 (as amended) (the "Law"), and the Registered Collective Investment Scheme Rules and Guidance 2021 issued by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission ("GFSC"). It is a non-cellular company limited by shares and has been declared by the GFSC to be a registered closed-ended collective investment scheme. The Company trades on the Specialist Fund Segment ("SFS") of the London Stock Exchange ("LSE").

The Company is a member of the Association of Investment Companies (the "AIC") and is classified within the Debt - Loans & Bonds Category.

 

Investment Objective

 

The Company's primary objective is to provide investors with attractive risk-adjusted returns through long-biased, opportunistic exposure to stressed, distressed and special situation credit-related investments while seeking to limit downside risk by, amongst other things, focusing on senior and senior secured debt with both collateral and structural protection.

 

Investment Policy

 

More information on the Company's investment policy is provided on page 4 of the Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2023.

 

Alternative Investment Fund Manager ("AIFM") and Manager

 

Investment management services are provided to the Company by Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC (the "AIFM") and Neuberger Berman Europe Limited (the "Manager"), collectively the "Investment Manager". The AIFM is responsible for risk management and discretionary management of the Company's Portfolio and the Manager provides, amongst other things, certain administrative services to the Company.

 

Share Capital

 

As at 30 June 2024 the Company's share capital comprised the following1:

 

Ordinary Share Class ("NBDD")

15,382,770 Ordinary Shares, none of which were held in treasury

 

Extended Life Share Class ("NBDX")

44,234,790  Extended Life Shares, none of which were held in treasury.

 

New Global Share Class ("NBDG")

27,821,698 New Global Shares, none of which were held in treasury.

 

For the purposes of efficient portfolio management, the Company has established a number of wholly-owned subsidiaries domiciled in Luxembourg. All references to the Company in this document refer to the Company together with its wholly-owned subsidiaries.

 

Non-Mainstream Pooled Investments

 

The Company currently conducts its affairs so that the shares issued by the Company can be recommended by Independent Financial Advisers to ordinary retail investors in accordance with the Financial Conduct Authority's ("FCA") rules in relation to non-mainstream pooled investment ("NMPI") products and intends to continue to do so for the foreseeable future.

 

The Company's shares are excluded from the FCA's restrictions which apply to NMPI products.

 

Company Numbers

 

Ordinary Shares

LSE ISIN code: GG00BDFZ6F78

Bloomberg code: NBDD: LN

 

Extended Life Shares

LSE ISIN code: GG00BR88RQ95

Bloomberg code: NBDX:LN

 

New Global Shares

LSE ISIN code: GG00BNTXRB08

Bloomberg code: NBDG:LN

 

Legal Entity Identifier

YRFO7WKOU3V511VFX790

 

Website

www.nbddif.com

 

1 In addition the Company has two Class A Shares in issue. Further information is provided in the Capital Structure section of this report below.

 

Capital Structure

 

The Company's share capital consists of three different share classes, all of which are in the harvest period: the Ordinary Share Class; the Extended Life Share Class; and the New Global Share Class. These share classes each have different capital return profiles and, in one instance a different geographical remit. In addition, the Company has two Class A Shares in issue. While the Company's share classes are all now in harvest, returning capital to shareholders, the Company's corporate umbrella itself has an indefinite life to allow for flexibility for the Company to add new share classes if demand, market opportunities and shareholder approval supported such a move, although the Company has no current plans to create new share classes. Each share class is considered in turn below.

               

Ordinary Share Class

 

NBDD was established at the Company's launch on 10 June 2010 with a remit to invest in the global distressed debt market with a focus on North America. The investment period of NBDD expired on 10 June 2013.

 

Voting rights:                                          Yes

Denomination:                                        US Dollars

Hedging:                                                 Portfolio hedged to US Dollars

Authorised share capital:                       Unlimited

Par value:                                               Nil

 

Extended Life Share Class

 

A vote was held at a class meeting of NBDD shareholders on 8 April 2013 where the majority of shareholders voted in favour of a proposed extension.

 

Following this meeting and with the NBDD shareholders' approval of the extension, on 9 April 2013 a new Class, NBDX, was created and the NBDX Shares were issued to 72% of initial NBDD investors who elected to convert their NBDD Shares to NBDX Shares. NBDX had a remit to invest in the global distressed debt market with a focus on North America. The investment period of NBDX expired on 31 March 2015.

 

Voting rights:                                          Yes

Denomination:                                        US Dollars

Hedging:                                                 Portfolio hedged to US Dollars

Authorised share capital:                       Unlimited

Par value:                                               Nil

 

New Global Share Class

 

NBDG was created on 4 March 2014 and had a remit to invest in the global distressed market with a focus on Europe and North America. The investment period of NBDG expired on 31 March 2017.

 

Voting rights:                                          Yes

Denomination:                                        Pound Sterling

Hedging:                                                 Unhedged portfolio

Authorised share capital:                       Unlimited

Par value:                                               Nil

 

Class A Shares

 

The Class A Shares are held by a trustee pursuant to a purpose trust established under Guernsey law. Under the terms of the Trust Deed the Trustee holds the Class A Shares for the purpose of exercising the right to receive notice of general meetings of the Company but the Trustee shall only have the right to attend and vote at general meetings of the Company when there are no other Shares of the Company in issue.

 

Voting rights:                                          No

Denomination:                                        US Dollars

Authorised share capital:                       10,000 Class A Shares

Par value:                                               US Dollar $1

 

 

2024 INTERIM PERFORMANCE REVIEW | Financial Highlights


Financial Highlights

Key Figures

AS At 30 June 2024 (UNAUDITED)

Ordinary

Share Class

Extended Life Share Class

New Global

Share Class1

Aggregated

Net Asset Value ("NAV") ($ millions)

11.9

44.9

21.3

78.0

NAV per Share ($)

0.7743

1.0140

0.7645

-

Share Price ($)

0.620

0.5400

0.3666

-

NAV per Share (£)

-

-

0.6048

-

Share Price (£)

-

-

0.29

-

Premium /(Discount) to NAV per Share

(19.93%)

(46.75%)

(52.05%)

-

Portfolio of Distressed Investments ($ millions)

6.4

25.4

21.0

52.8

Cash and Cash Equivalents ($ millions)

4.4

14.0

0.2

18.6

Total Expense Ratio ("TER")2

1.28%

1.39%

2.90%

-

Ongoing Charges 3

1.24%

1.34%

2.86%

-






AS At 31 December 2023 (AUDITED)

Ordinary

Share Class

Extended Life Share Class

New Global Share Class1

Aggregated

Net Asset Value ("NAV") ($ millions)

12.4

45.6

22.1

80.1

NAV per Share ($)

0.8071

1.0312

0.7954

-

Share Price ($)

0.6900

0.5300

0.3952

-

NAV per Share (£)

-

-

0.6239

-

Share Price (£)

-

-

0.31

-

Premium /(Discount) to NAV per Share

(14.51%)

(48.60%)

(50.32%)

-

Portfolio of Distressed Investments ($ millions)

7.4

32.0

21.5

60.9

Cash and Cash Equivalents ($ millions)

4.3

11.9

0.3

16.5

Total Expense Ratio ("TER")2

1.28%

1.38%

2.21%

-

Ongoing Charges 3

1.22%

1.31%

2.17%

-

 

1 Stated in US Dollars, the £ price as at 30 June 2024 and 31 December 2023 converted to US Dollars using respective period/year end exchange rates.

2 The TERs represent the operating expenses, as required by US Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("US GAAP"), expressed as a percentage of average net assets.

3 In the period to 30 June 2024, the Company's Ongoing Charges were 1.74%. This figure is based on an expense figure for the period to 30 June 2024 of $688,133. This figure, which has been prepared in accordance with AIC guidance represents the Company's operating expenses, excluding finance costs payable, expressed as a percentage of average net assets. Effective 18 March 2021, the Investment Manager had waived its entitlement to all fees from the Company. The Ongoing Charges by share class are disclosed above.

 

Summary of Value in Excess of Original Capital Invested

 

AS At 30 June 2024

Ordinary
Share Class ($)

Extended Life
Share Class ($)

New Global
Share Class (£)

Original Capital Invested

(124,500,202)

(359,359,794)

(110,785,785)

Total Capital Distributions

129,627,394

294,070,076

51,444,766

Total Income Distributions 1

3,166,835

20,695,255

5,070,285

Distributions as % of Original Capital

107%

88%

51%

Total Buybacks

0

12,112,379

10,924,963

NAV

11,911,235

44,855,112

16,825,621

Total of NAV Plus Capital and Income Returned ("Value")

144,705,464

371,732,822

84,265,635

Value in Excess of Original Capital Invested

20,205,262

12,373,028

(26,520,150)

Value as % of Original Capital Invested

116%

103%

76%

 

AS At 31 December 2023

Ordinary
Share Class ($)

Extended Life
Share Class ($)

New Global
Share Class (£)

Original Capital Invested

(124,500,202)

(359,359,794)

(110,785,785)

Total Capital Distributions

129,627,394

294,070,076

51,444,766

Total Income Distributions 1

3,166,835

20,695,255

5,070,285

Distributions as % of Original Capital

107%

88%

51%

Total Buybacks

-

12,112,379

10,924,963

NAV

12,415,231

45,614,485

17,358,035

Total of NAV Plus Capital and Income Returned ("Value")

145,209,460

372,492,195

84,798,049

Value in Excess of Original Capital Invested

20,709,258

13,132,401

(25,987,736)

Value as % of Original Capital Invested

117%

104%

77%

 

1 By way of dividend

 

2024 INTERIM PERFORMANCE REVIEW | Chairman's Statement

 

Chairman's Statement

 

I am disappointed to have to report that the significant realisations we had expected to occur during the first half of this year have not yet materialised. While the reasons for this are varied, such as the European economic environment which has not been favourable for a capital market exit, changes in regulations and extended negotiations on specific investment sales, we are engaged and focused on harvesting the investments and returning capital to our shareholders. 

 

 

  

Company Performance

 

As at 30 June 2024, the Company had returned a total of $132.8m or 107% of NBDD investors' original capital of $124.5m, $326.9m or 91% of NBDX investors' original capital of $359.4m and £67.4m or 61% of NBDG investors' original capital of £110.8m. We remain in what we hope to be the final stages of harvesting a number of investments and we will keep investors informed as they occur. It is our intention to fully harvest NBDD during the next 12 months, subject to market conditions, and with this in mind the Investment Manager continues to evaluate all options. The Board continues to monitor all costs to ensure that they are appropriate as we are conscious that shareholders may be concerned about the impact of costs on a reducing portfolio during the harvest period. We would therefore remind shareholders that our investment manager no longer charges any fees.

 

Annual General Meeting ("AGM") Results

 

While all of the resolutions tabled at our Annual General Meeting held on 26 June 2024 were passed I would note the significant number of votes against buybacks. As previously mentioned the Board does not expect to carry out any buybacks preferring to make all returns of capital via share redemptions. However, your Board thought it prudent to keep this option open lest an unexpected situation arose where a buyback would be extremely advantageous to the remaining shareholders.

 

My own re-election received some opposition which is easily understood given my unanticipated extended tenure. I am grateful that my Board colleagues remain supportive of my continuing in office and that this view was supported by nearly 80% of the votes cast. I look forward to continuing to work with all my colleagues to secure the earliest possible winding up of our Company.

 

Board Composition, Independence and Diversity

 

Due to the expected wind up of the fund it is not considered appropriate or practical to refresh the board at present and we believe the results of the relevant AGM resolutions endorse this approach.

 

Distributions

 

We will continue to put our income distribution policy to a shareholder vote at each annual general meeting. I would like to remind shareholders that such distributions occur on an ad-hoc basis and are not expected to be either material or equal for each share class.

 

Outlook

 

As I said in previous reports, the final distributions from each share class have been delayed. The Ordinary class of shares is expected to be the first to commence the final wind-up process in the next 12 months, followed by the Extended share class and then the New Global share class. As is normally the case with investment companies, as opposed to those with commercial undertakings, this does not currently have any material impact on the Company's ability to continue as a going concern or to remain viable. However, the whole process must be managed in a way that ensures compliance with UK regulations. The Extended and Global classes will continue to distribute until their net assets are reduced to approximately $37.3m and £8.4m respectively. In certain cases, the cash associated with these share classes will need to remain in underlying corporate vehicles while tax and other matters relating to those vehicles are concluded. We will keep investors appraised of developments in respect of the remaining assets.

 

For regulatory reasons, the final 10% of the total return (NAV plus cumulative distributions) in respect of any class of participating shares in the Company will be returned to shareholders with a final compulsory redemption of all of the outstanding shares of that class.

 

On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank our longstanding shareholders for your support of our Company. We look forward to updating you further on investment realisations throughout this year.

 

John Hallam

Chairman

28 August 2024

 

2024 INTERIM PERFORMANCE REVIEW | Investment Manager's Report

 

Ordinary Share Class

 

Summary

 

The NAV per share decreased by 4.06% for the period ended 30 June 2024. During the first half of 2024 financial markets focused on moderating, albeit sticky, inflation trends combined with the resilience of the US economy. Looking ahead, investors will continue to monitor multiple trends including economic growth dynamics, the ultimate destination of interest rates and geopolitical events. All could lead to elevated volatility over the next 12 months and beyond. Given these circumstances, the timing and quantum of any financial impact on the portfolio remain difficult to predict. Despite the uncertainty, the investment manager remains committed to realising the investments in an orderly manner and winding down the share class as soon as practicable, but there is one asset we are working through which will determine the final distribution date. Currently we are in what we hope to be the final stages of harvesting a number of investments and we will keep investors informed as they occur. Although this is not happening as fast as we had hoped it is our intention to fully harvest NBDD during the next 12 months.

 

Portfolio Update

 

NBDD ended the period with a NAV per share of $0.7743 compared to $0.8071 at end of 2023. The NAV decrease was principally driven by a decrease in value of a surface transport investment. As of 30 June 2024, 55% of NBDD's NAV was invested in distressed assets, and $4M in US Government securities which represented a further 45% of NAV, with a minimal amount cash net of payables (see table below). Cash balances will continue to increase as assets are realised, subject to variations in collateral cash, but as noted previously cannot be distributed until the final liquidation of the share class. The portfolio consists of 4 issuers across 3 sectors being containers & packaging, surface transportation and financial intermediaries.

 

Cash Analysis


Balance Sheet - Cash

$4.4m

Collateral cash

($3.1m)

Other payables

($0.0m)

Total available cash

$1.3m

  

Significant Price Movement during period ended 30 June 2024 (more than 1% of NBDD NAV or approximately $120,000)

 

INDUSTRY

 INSTRUMENT

 TOTAL RETURN
 (US DOLLARS MILLIONS)

Financial Intermediaries

Private Equity

0.1

Surface Transport

Total Return Swap

(0.2)

Containers & Packaging

Private Equity

(0.6)

 

Exits

During the period ended 30 June 2024, we had two exits. The total number of exits since inception in NBDD is 53, with a total return of $29.3m.

 

Distributions

 

To date, $132.8m or 107% of original capital has been distributed to investors in the form of capital distributions via redemptions and income dividends. Total value to investors including NAV and all distributions paid is $144.7m (116% of original capital). For regulatory reasons, the final 10% of the total return (NAV plus cumulative distributions) in respect of any class of participating shares in NBDDIF will be returned to shareholders with a final compulsory redemption of all the outstanding shares of that class. The next distribution for NBDD will be the final distribution to shareholders and will wind down the share class. Our current expectation is to wind down the share class in 2025, assuming supportive market conditions. We will continue to update investors as we gain clarity on the realisations.

 

Extended Life Share Class

Summary

 

The NAV per share decreased by 1.66% for the period ended 30 June 2024. During the first half of 2024 financial markets focused on moderating, albeit sticky, inflation trends combined with the resilience of the US economy. Looking ahead, investors will continue to monitor multiple trends including economic growth dynamics, the ultimate destination of interest rates and geopolitical events. All could lead to elevated volatility over the next 12 months and beyond. Given these circumstances, the timing and quantum of any financial impact on the portfolio remain difficult to predict. Despite the uncertainty, the investment manager remains committed to realising the investments in an orderly manner and winding down the share class as soon as practicable, but there is one asset we are working through which will determine the final distribution date. Currently we are in what we hope to be the final stages of harvesting a number of investments and we will keep investors informed as they occur. Although this is not happening as fast as we had hoped it is our intention to fully harvest NBDX during the next 12 months or so.

 

Portfolio Update

 

NBDX ended the period with a NAV per share of $1.0140 compared to $1.0312 at end of 2023. As of 30 June 2024, 86% of NBDX's NAV was invested in distressed assets, and $1.9M in US Government securities which represented a further 14% of NAV with cash net of payables (see table below). Cash balances will continue to increase as assets are realised, subject to variations in collateral cash, but as noted previously not all can be distributed until the final liquidation of the share class. The NAV per share decrease during the year was principally driven by a decrease in value of an automobile components investment, offset by an increase in value of a packaging investment and two surface transport investments. The NBDX portfolio consists of 7 issuers across 5 sectors being surface transportation, financial intermediaries, containers & packaging, oil & gas and lodging & casinos.

 

Cash Analysis

 

Balance Sheet - Cash

$13.3m

Collateral cash

($7.9m)

Other payables

($1.1m)

Total available cash

$4.3m

 

Significant Price Movements during period ended 30 June 2024 (approximately 1% of NBDX NAV or $450,000)

INDUSTRY

 INSTRUMENT

TOTAL RETURN
 (USD MILLIONS)

Financial Intermediaries

Private Equity

1.6

Automobile components                  

Private Equity                

(1.2)

Containers & Packaging

Private Equity

(1.6)


Exits

During period ended 30 June 2024, we had two exits. The total number of exits since inception in NBDX to 73 with total return of $37.8m.

 

Distributions

 

NBDX made no distributions during the period. The total distributions to date (dividends, redemptions and buy-backs) amount to $326.9m or 91% of original capital. Total value to investors including NAV and all distributions paid is $371.7m or 103% of original capital. For regulatory reasons, the final 10% of total return in respect of any class of participating shares in NBDDIF will be returned to shareholders with the final compulsory redemption of all the outstanding shares of that class. The investment manager has undertaken a review of all the investments in the light of a changed market and we have updated the distribution schedule for the investments based on current expectations. Our current expectation is to wind down the share class in 2025, assuming supportive market conditions. We will continue to update investors as we gain clarity on the realisations.

 

New Global Share Class

Summary

The NAV per share decreased by 3.07% for the period ended 30 June 2024. During the first half of 2024 financial markets focused on moderating, albeit sticky, inflation trends combined with the resilience of the US economy. Looking ahead, investors will continue to monitor multiple trends including economic growth dynamics, the ultimate destination of interest rates and geopolitical events. All could lead to elevated volatility over the next 12 months and beyond. Given these circumstances, the timing and quantum of any financial impact on the portfolio remain difficult to predict. Despite the uncertainty, the investment manager remains committed to realising the investments in an orderly manner and winding down the share class as soon as practicable. Currently we are in what we hope to be the final stages of harvesting a number of investments and we will keep investors informed as they occur. Although this is not happening as fast as we had hoped it is our intention to fully harvest NBDG during the next 12 months or so.

 

Portfolio Update

NBDG ended the period with a NAV per share of £0.6048 compared to £0.6239 at the end of 2023. As of 30 June 2024, 99.7% of NBDG's NAV was invested in distressed assets and 0.3% of NAV with a minimal amount of cash net of payables (see table below). NAV per share decreased during the year principally due to a reduction in value of a lodging & casino investment and an automobile components investment, offset by an increase in value of a surface transport investment. The portfolio consisted of 4 issuers across 4 sectors being lodging & casinos, commercial mortgage, surface transport and oil & gas.

 

Cash Analysis

 

Balance Sheet - Cash

$0.2m

Other payables

($0.2m)

Total available cash

$ 0.0m

 

There were no notable events during period ended 30 June 2024.

 

 

Significant Price Movements during period ended 30 June, 2024 (approximately 1% of NBDG NAV or £170,000)

 

INDUSTRY

 INSTRUMENT

 TOTAL RETURN
 (USD MILLIONS)

Surface Transport

Bank Debt Investments

0.3

Automobile Components

                Private Equity

(0.5)

Surface Transport

                Bank Debt Investments

(0.2)

 

Exits

 

During the period ended 30 June 2024, there was one exit. The total number of exits since inception is 33 with a total return of £ (10.4)m. Detailed descriptions of the exits are at the end of this report.

 

Distributions

 

NBDG made no distributions during the period. The total distributions to date (dividends, redemptions, and buy-backs) have been £67.4m or 61% of original capital. Total value to investors including NAV and all distributions paid is £84.3m or 76% of original capital. For regulatory reasons, the final 10% of total return in respect of any class of participating shares in NBDDIF will be returned to shareholders with the final compulsory redemption of all the outstanding shares of that class. The investment manager has undertaken a review of all the investments in the light of a changed market and we have updated the distribution schedule for the investments based on current expectations. Our current expectation is to wind down the share class in 2025, assuming supportive market conditions. We will continue to update investors as we gain clarity on the realisations.

 

Summary of Exits across all Share Classes

Exits experienced from inception to date were as follows:

NBDD 53 exits with a total return of $29.3m, IRR1 of 8% and ROR of 16% 

NBDX 73 exits with a total return of $37.8m, IRR1 of 2% and ROR of 7%

NBDG 33 exits with a total return of £ (10.4) m, IRR1 of (8) % and ROR of (8) %

 

The annualised internal rate of return ("IRR") is computed based on the actual dates of the cash flows of the security (purchases, sales, interest and principal pay downs), calculated in the base currency of each portfolio. The Rate of Return ("ROR") represents the change in value of the security (capital appreciation, depreciation, and income) as a percentage of the purchase amount. The purchase amount can include multiple purchases. Total Return represents the inception to date gain/loss on an investment.

 

Exit A2 (Exit 33 for NBDG)

 

 

Exit A2

Exit

 

Cash Invested

(millions)

 

Cash Received

(millions)

 

Total Return

(millions)

 

 

IRR

 

 

ROR

 

Months Held

NBDG

33

£12.2

£3.9

£ (8.2)

(46.2) %

(67.6) %

120

 

Exit A3 & A4 (Exit 72 & 73 for NBDX)

 

 

Exit A3

Exit

 

Cash Invested

(millions)


Cash Received

(millions)


Total Return

(millions)

 

 

IRR

 

 

ROR

 

Months Held

NBDX

72

$36.8

$15.1

$(21.7)

(44.4) %

(59.0)%

131

 

 

 

Exit A4

Exit

 

Cash Invested

(millions)

 

Cash Received

(millions)

 

Total Return

(millions)

 

 

IRR

 

 

ROR

 

Months Held

NBDX

73

$20.0

$2.5

$(17.5)

(20.3) %

(87.4)%

131


Exit Z & A1 (Exit 52 & 53 for NBDD)

 

 

Exit Z

Exit

 

Cash Invested

(millions)

 

Cash Received

(millions)

 

Total Return

(millions)

 

 

IRR

 

 

ROR

 

Months Held

NBDD

52

$7.1

$2.4

$(4.7)

(55.2) %

(66.3) %

131

 

 

 

Exit A1

Exit

 

Cash Invested

(millions)

 

Cash Received

(millions)

 

Total Return

(millions)

 

 

IRR

 

 

ROR

 

Months Held

NBDD

53

$1.6

$0.2

$(1.4)

(19.8) %

(86.5) %

131

 

 

Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC             Neuberger Berman Europe Limited

28 August 2024                                                                       28 August 2024

 

 

2024 INTERIM PERFORMANCE REVIEW | Portfolio Information

 

Portfolio Information

 

Ordinary Share Class

 

Holdings1 as at 30 June 2024

 

 

Holding

 

Sector

Purchased Instrument

 

Status

 

Country

% of NAV

 

Primary Asset

1

Surface Transport2

Trade Claim

Defaulted

Brazil

30%

Municipal Claim

2

Specialty Packaging

Post-Reorg Equity

Post-Reorg

Luxembourg

17%

Manufacturing Plant and Equipment

3

Financial Intermediaries

Secured Notes

Post-Reorg

US

2%

Cash & Securities

Total





49%



Sector Breakdown3

 

For Investment Structure of the Company, click on, or paste the following link into your web browser, to view page 1 in the associated PDF document]

http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/0631C_1-2024-8-28.pdf

 

 1 Ordinary Share Class holds three investments by issuer.

 

2 As at 30 June 2024 collateral pledged is included in the Surface Transport Market Value.

 

3 Categorisations determined by Neuberger Berman; percentages determined by Neuberger Berman and U.S Bank Global Fund Services (Guernsey) Limited / U.S. Bank Global Fund Services (Ireland) Limited as Administrator / Sub-Administrator to the Company. Surface Transport - Trade Claims have not been included in the Sector breakdown chart.

 

 

[For Investment Structure of the Company, click on, or paste the following link into your web browser, to view page 2 in the associated PDF document]

http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/0631C_1-2024-8-28.pdf

 

4 Categorisations determined by Neuberger Berman and percentages determined by the Administrator, as a percentage of the net asset values as at 30 June 2024 and 31 December 2023.

 

5 As at 30 June 2024 collateral pledged is included in the Brazil Market Value.

 

Extended Life Share Class

 

Holdings1 as at 30 June 2024

 

 

Holding

 

Sector

Purchased Instrument

 

Status

 

Country

% of NAV

 

Primary Asset

1

Surface Transport2

Trade Claim

Defaulted

Brazil

21%

Municipal Claim

2

Oil & Gas

Post-Reorg Equity

Post-Reorg

US

18%

Ethanol Plant

3

Specialty Packaging

Post-Reorg Equity

Post-Reorg

Luxembourg

12%

Manufacturing Plant and Equipment

4

Surface Transport

Secured Loan

Defaulted

Spain

11%

Concession

5

Commercial Mortgage

Secured Loan

Defaulted

Netherlands

10%

Commercial Real Estate

6

Specialty Packaging

Post-Reorg Equity

Post-Reorg

Luxembourg

2%

Manufacturing Plant and Equipment

Total

 

 

 

 

74%

 

 

Sector Breakdown3

 

[For Investment Structure of the Company, click on, or paste the following link into your web browser, to view page 3 in the associated PDF document]

http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/0631C_1-2024-8-28.pdf


 

1 Extended Share Class holds 6 investments by issuer.

 

2 As at 30 June 2024 collateral pledged is included in the Surface Transport Market Value.

 

3 Categorisations determined by Neuberger Berman; percentages determined by Neuberger Berman and U.S Bank Global Fund Services (Guernsey) Limited / U.S. Bank Global Fund Services (Ireland) as Administrator / Sub-Administrator to the Company. Surface Transport - Trade Claims have not been included in the Sector breakdown chart.

 

 

[For Investment Structure of the Company, click on, or paste the following link into your web browser, to view page 4 in the associated PDF document]

http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/0631C_1-2024-8-28.pdf


4 Categorisations determined by Neuberger Berman and percentages determined by the Administrator, as a percentage of the net asset values as at 30 June 2024 and 31 December 2023.

 

5 As at 30 June 2024 collateral pledged is included in the Brazil Market Value.

 

 

New Global Share Class

 

Holdings1 as at 30 June 2024

 

 

Holding

 

Sector

Purchased Instrument

 

Status

 

  Country

% of NAV

 

Primary Asset

1

Lodging & Casino

Secured Loan / Private Equity

Current

Spain

35%

Hotel/Casino

2

Commercial Mortgage

Secured Loan

Defaulted

Netherlands

27%

Commercial Real Estate

3

Surface Transportation

Secured Loan

Defaulted

Spain

23%

Legal Claim

4

Oil & Gas

Private Equity

Post-Reorg

US

15%

Ethanol Plant

Total

 

 

 

 

100%

 

 

Sector Breakdown2   

 

[For Investment Structure of the Company, click on, or paste the following link into your web browser, to view page 5 in the associated PDF document]

http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/0631C_1-2024-8-28.pdf


 

1 Global Share Class holds 4 investments by issuer

 

2 Categorisations determined by Neuberger Berman; percentages determined by Neuberger Berman and U.S Bank Global Fund Services (Guernsey) Limited / U.S. Bank Global Fund Services (Ireland) Limited as Administrator / Sub-Administrator to the Company.

 

[For Investment Structure of the Company, click on, or paste the following link into your web browser, to view page 6 in the associated PDF document]

http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/0631C_1-2024-8-28.pdf


 

 

   3 Categorisations determined by Neuberger Berman and percentages determined by the Administrator, as a percentage of the net asset values as at 30 June 2024 and 31 December 2023.

 

 

2024 INTERIM PERFORMANCE REVIEW | GOVERNANCE

 

Interim Management Report and Directors' Responsibility Statement

 

Principal and Emerging Risks and Uncertainties

The principal and emerging risks of the Company are in the following areas:

·     investment activity and performance;

·     principal risks associated with harvest periods;

·     level of premium or discount;

·     market price risk;

·     fair valuation of illiquid assets;

·     accounting, legal and regulatory risk;

·     operational risk;

 

These risks, and the way in which they are managed, are described in more detail in the Strategic Report on pages 23 to 24 of the Company's latest annual report and audited financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2023, which can be found on the Company's website at https://www.nbddif.com/pdf/NB_Distressed_Debt_31_12_2023_US_GAAP.pdf. The Board's view is that these risks remain appropriately identified for the remainder of 2024.

 

In addition to the Principal Risks, the Company has considered the ongoing global geopolitical events and the risks associated with their potential impact on asset values, and while no direct impact has been identified, values are affected by their impact on the global economy. To manage these risks further, the Investment Manager reviews time to realisation quarterly to ensure balance between timing and value.

               

Going Concern

The financial position of the Company is set out below. In addition, note 4 to the Unaudited Consolidated Interim Financial Statements includes the Company's objectives, policies and processes for managing its capital, its financial risk management and its exposures to credit risk and liquidity risk.

 

The Directors have undertaken a rigorous review of the Company's ability to continue as a going concern including reviewing the on-going cash flows and the level of cash balances, the likely liquidity of investments and any income deriving from those investments as of the reporting date as well as taking into consideration the impact of emerging risks and have determined that the Company has adequate financial resources to meet its liabilities as they fall due.

 

As there is no plan to liquidate the Company imminently and having reassessed the principal and emerging risks, the Directors consider it appropriate to prepare the Unaudited Consolidated Interim Financial Statements (the "Financial Statements") on a going concern basis.

 

Related Party Transactions

The contracts with the Investment Manager and Directors are the only related party transactions currently in place. Other than fees payable in the ordinary course of business, there have been no material transactions with related parties, which have affected the financial position or performance of the Company in the six month period ended 30 June 2024. Additional related party disclosures are given in Note 6 to the Unaudited Consolidated Interim Financial Statements below.

 

Directors' Responsibilities Statement

The Board of Directors confirms that, to the best of its knowledge:

 

·     The Financial Statements have been prepared in conformity with US generally accepted accounting principles ("US GAAP"), give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and the return of the undertakings included in the consolidation as a whole as required by DTR 4.2.4R of the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules ("DTR") of the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (the "UK FCA"); and

 

·   The combination of the Chairman's Statement, the Investment Manager's Report, this Interim Management Report and the notes to the Financial Statements meet the requirements of an interim management report, and include a fair view of the information required by:

 

1.     DTR 4.2.7R, being an indication of important events that have occurred during the first six months of the current financial year and their impact on the set of financial statements together with a description of the principal risks and uncertainties for the remaining six months of the year; and

 

2.     DTR 4.2.8R, being related party transactions that have taken place in the first six months of the current financial year and that have materially affected the financial position or performance of the Company during that period; and any changes in the related party transactions described in the last annual report that could do so.

 

The Directors are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the Company's website and for the preparation and dissemination of Financial Statements. Legislation in Guernsey governing the preparation and dissemination of the Financial Statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

 

These Interim Report and Financial Statements have been reviewed by the Company's auditor and their report is set out on below.

 

By order of the Board

 

John Hallam                                                        Christopher Legge

Chairman                                                          Director

28 August 2024                                                    28 August 2024

 

 

2024 INTERIM PERFORMANCE REVIEW | GOVERNANCE


Independent Review Report to NB Distressed Debt Investment Fund Limited

 

Conclusion

We have been engaged by NB Distressed Debt Investment Fund Limited (the "Company") to review the consolidated financial statements (the "financial statements") in the half-yearly financial report for the six months ended 30 June 2024 of the Company and its subsidiaries (together, the "Group"), which comprises the unaudited consolidated statement of assets and liabilities, the unaudited consolidated statement of operations, the unaudited consolidated statement of changes in net assets, the unaudited consolidated statement of cash flows, the unaudited consolidated condensed schedule of investments and the related explanatory notes.

Based on our review, nothing has come to our attention that causes us to believe that the financial statements in the half-yearly financial report for the six months ended 30 June 2024 do not give a true and fair view of the financial position of the Group as at 30 June 2024 and of its financial performance and its cash flows for the six month period then ended, in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules ("the DTR") of the UK's Financial Conduct Authority ("the UK FCA").

Scope of review

We conducted our review in accordance with International Standard on Review Engagements (UK) 2410 Review of Interim Financial Information Performed by the Independent Auditor of the Entity ("ISRE (UK) 2410") issued by the Financial Reporting Council for use in the UK.  A review of interim financial information consists of making enquiries, primarily of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters, and applying analytical and other review procedures.  We read the other information contained in the half-yearly financial report and consider whether it contains any apparent misstatements or material inconsistencies with the information in the financial statements.  

A review is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) and consequently does not enable us to obtain assurance that we would become aware of all significant matters that might be identified in an audit. Accordingly, we do not express an audit opinion.

Conclusions relating to going concern

Based on our review procedures, which are less extensive than those performed in an audit as described in the Scope of review section of this report, nothing has come to our attention to suggest that the directors have inappropriately adopted the going concern basis of accounting or that the directors have identified material uncertainties relating to going concern that are not appropriately disclosed.

This conclusion is based on the review procedures performed in accordance with ISRE (UK) 2410. However future events or conditions may cause the the Group and the Company to cease to continue as a going concern, and the above conclusions are not a guarantee that the the Group and the Company will continue in operation.

Directors' responsibilities

The half-yearly financial report is the responsibility of, and has been approved by, the directors. The directors are responsible for preparing the interim financial report in accordance with the DTR of the UK FCA.

The financial statements included in this interim report have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

In preparing the half-yearly financial report, the directors are responsible for assessing the Group's ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless liquidation is imminent.

 

Our responsibility

Our responsibility is to express to the Company a conclusion on the financial statements in the half-yearly financial report based on our review. Our conclusion, including our conclusions relating to going concern, are based on procedures that are less extensive than audit procedures, as described in the scope of review paragraph of this report.

The purpose of our review work and to whom we owe our responsibilities

This report is made solely to the Company in accordance with the terms of our engagement letter to assist the Company in meeting the requirements of the DTR of the UK FCA. Our review has been undertaken so that we might state to the Company those matters we are required to state to it in this report and for no other purpose.  To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the Company for our review work, for this report, or for the conclusions we have reached. 

 

Andrew J. Salisbury

For and on behalf of KPMG Channel Islands Limited

Chartered Accountants

Guernsey

28 August 2024

 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | Unaudited Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities

 

Unaudited Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities

 

AS AT 30 JUNE 2024 AND 31 DECEMBER 2023

(EXPRESSED IN US DOLLARS EXCEPT WHERE STATED OTHERWISE)

30 JUNE 2024

(UNAUDITED)

 

31 December 2023

(AUDITED)

Assets

 

 

 

Investments, at fair value (2024: cost of $68,194,515; 2023: cost of $90,284,529)

52,740,364


60,883,590

Forward currency contracts, at fair value

1,005,944


18,235

Total Return Swaps, at fair value (2024: cost of $Nil, 2023: cost of $Nil)

1,948,978


3,648,201

Cash and cash equivalents

7,780,956


4,809,578

Restricted cash:




                            Forward currency contracts collateral

-


790,000

                           Total return swap collateral

10,970,000


10,970,000


74,446,242

 

81,119,604

Other assets




Interest receivables

503,121


691,898

Receivables for investments sold

4,122,515


-

Other receivables and prepayments

28,029


57,691

Withholding tax receivable

251,051


251,051

Total assets

79,350,958

 

82,120,244

 

 


 

Liabilities

 

 

 

Forward currency contracts, at fair value

15,780


1,545,570

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

463,178


395,627

Credit default swap, at fair value (2024: cost of $11,279; 2023: cost of $19,860)

16,386


21,309

Due to Broker

820,000


-

Total liabilities

1,315,344

 

1,962,506

 




Net assets

78,035,614

 

80,157,738





Net assets attributable to Ordinary Shares (shares 2024: 15,382,770;

 2023: 15,382,770)

11,911,235

 

12,415,231

Net asset value per Ordinary Share

0.7743

 

0.8071

 

 

 

 

Net assets attributable to Extended Life Shares (shares 2024: 44,234,790;

2023: 44,234,790)

44,855,112

 

45,614,485

Net asset value per Extended Life Share

1.0140

 

1.0312

 

 

 

 

Net assets attributable to New Global Shares (shares 2024: 27,821,698;

2023: 27,821,698)

16,825,621

 

£17,358,035

Net asset value per New Global Share

£0.6048

 

£0.6239

 

 

 

 

Net assets attributable to New Global Shares (USD equivalent)

21,269,267

 

              22,128,022

Net asset value per New Global Share (USD equivalent)

0.7645

 

                   0.7954

 

The Unaudited Consolidated Interim Financial Statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Board of Directors on 28 August 2024 and signed on its behalf by:

 

 

John Hallam                                                                                              Christopher Legge

Chairman                                                                 Director

 

The accompanying notes below are an integral part of the Unaudited Consolidated Interim Financial Statements.

 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | Unaudited Consolidated Statement of Operations

 

Unaudited Consolidated Statement of Operations


FOR THE SIX MONTH PERIOD ENDED 30 JUNE 2024 AND 30 JUNE 2023 (UNAUDITED)

 

(EXPRESSED IN US DOLLARS)

 

30 june 2024

(unaudited)

 

 

30 june 2023

(unaudited)

Income

 

 

 

 

 

Interest income


1,539,010



1,196,890

 

 

1,539,010

 

 

1,196,890

 

 


 

 


Expenses

 


 

 


Professional and other expenses


298,802



175,548

Audit fee


135,634



133,039

D&O Insurance fee


57,301



57,301

Company Secretary fee


58,671



53,092

Administration fee


42,918



43,636

Loan administration and custody fees


14,910



9,959

Directors' fees and expenses


97,550



96,725

 

 

705,786

 

 

569,300







Net investment income


833,224

 

 

627,590

 

 

 

 

 

 

Realised and unrealised (loss)/gain from investments and foreign exchange

 

 

 

 

 

Net realised (loss)/gain on investments, credit default swap, total return swap and forward currency transactions


(16,391,216)



1,836,516

Net change in unrealised gain on investments, credit default swap, total return swap and forward currency transactions


13,435,868



1,050,289



 




Realised and unrealised (loss)/gain from investments and foreign exchange


(2,955,348)



2,886,805

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net (decrease)/increase in net assets resulting from operations

 

(2,122,124)

 

 

3,514,395

 

The accompanying notes below are an integral part of the Unaudited Consolidated Interim Financial Statements.

 

 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | Unaudited Consolidated Statement of Changes in Net Assets

Unaudited Consolidated Statement of Changes in Net Assets

 

FOR THE SIX MONTH PERIOD ENDED 30 JUNE 2024 (UNAUDITED)

 

(EXPRESSED IN US DOLLARS)

30 jUNE 2024

Ordinary Shares

30 jUNE 2024

Extended Life Shares

30 jUNE 2024

New Global Shares

30 jUNE 2024

Aggregated

Net assets at the beginning of the period

12,415,231

45,614,485

22,128,022

80,157,738






Net investment income

6,556

399,596

427,072

833,224

Net realised loss on investments, credit default swap and forward currency transactions

(998,209)

(14,455,094)

(937,913)

(16,391,216)

Net change in unrealised gain/(loss) on investments, credit default swap and forward currency transactions

487,657

13,296,125

(347,914)

13,435,868






Net assets at the end of the period

11,911,235

44,855,112

21,269,267

78,035,614

 

FOR THE SIX MONTH PERIOD ENDED 30 JUNE 2023 (UNAUDITED)

 

(EXPRESSED IN US DOLLARS)

30 JUNE 2023

Ordinary Shares

30 JUNE 2023

Extended Life Shares

30 JUNE 2023

New Global Shares

30 JUNE 2023

Aggregated

Net assets at the beginning of the period

11,890,321

58,477,990

24,778,428

95,146,739

 

 

 

 

 

Net investment income

11,102

188,164

428,324

627,590

Net realised gain/(loss) on investments, credit default swap and forward currency transactions

365,374

2,059,942

(588,800)

1,836,516

Net change in unrealised gain/(loss) on investments, credit default swap and forward currency transactions

(22,901)

(71,372)

1,144,562

1,050,289

Shares redeemed during the period

-

(11,502,691)

(2,697,863)

(14,200,554)

 

 

 

 

 

Net assets at the end of the period

12,243,896

49,152,033

23,064,651

84,460,580

 

The accompanying notes below are an integral part of the Unaudited Consolidated Interim Financial Statements.

 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | Unaudited Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

 

Unaudited Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

 

FOR THE SIX MONTH PERIOD ENDED 30 JUNE 2024 AND 30 JUNE 2023


(EXPRESSED IN US DOLLARS)


 

30 JUNE 2024

(UNAUDITED)

 

30 JUNE 2023

(UNAUDITED)

 

Cash flows from operating activities:





 

Net (decrease)/increase in net assets resulting from operations


(2,122,124)


3,514,395

 






 

Adjustment to reconcile net increase/(decrease) in net assets resulting from operations to net cash flow provided by operations:





 

Net realised loss/(gain) on investments, credit default swap, total return swap and forward currency transactions


16,391,216


(1,836,516)

 

Net change in unrealised gain on investments, credit default swap, total return swap and forward currency transactions


(13,435,868


(1,050,289)

 

Accretion of discount on loans and bonds


28,106


63,648

 

Changes in due to broker


820,000


-

 

Changes in interest receivable


188,777


159,288

 

Changes in receivables for investments sold


(4,122,515)


458,607

 

Changes in other receivables and prepayments


29,662


42,441

 

Changes in accrued expenses and other liabilities


67,551


(30,379)

 

Cash received on settled forward currency contracts and spot currency contracts


(152,212)


(2,334,367)

 

Capitalised payment in kind


(1,385,257)


(1,101,998)

 

Purchase of investments


59,443


-

 

Sale of investments


5,827,588


16,897,272

 






 

Net cash provided by operating activities


2,194,367


14,782,102

 

 

 

 


 

 

Cash flows from financing activities:





 

Shares redeemed during the period


-


(14,200,554)

 

Net cash used in from financing activities


-


(14,200,554)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash


2,194,367


581,548

 

 

 

 

 

 


Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period


4,809,578


8,733,589

 

Restricted cash at the beginning of the period


11,760,000


11,060,000

 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents


(12,989)


32,059

 






 

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period


7,780,956


8,617,196

 

Restricted cash at the end of the period

 

10,970,000

 

11,790,000

 

 

The accompanying notes below are an integral part of the Unaudited Consolidated Interim Financial Statements.

 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | Unaudited Consolidated Condensed Schedule of Investments

 

Unaudited Consolidated Condensed Schedule of Investments (by financial instrument)

 

AS AT 30 JUNE 2024 (UNAUDITED)

(EXPRESSED IN US DOLLARS)

Cost

Fair Value

Ordinary

Shares

(%)1

Extended Life

Shares

(%)1

New Global Shares

(%)1

Total Company

(%)1

Portfolio of Distressed Investments







Bank Debt Investments

46,813,473

27,205,578

-

21.04

83.53

34.86

Private Equity

14,082,302

19,543,097

19.45

31.23

15.14

25.04

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Short term Investments

 

 

 

 

 

 

US Treasury Bills

7,298,740

5,991,689

34.07

4.31

-

7.68

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Investments

68,194,515

52,740,364

53.52

56.58

98.67

67.58

 Portfolio per share class



 




Ordinary Shares

5,479,597

6,375,180

53.52

-

-

8.17

Extended Life Shares

28,511,139

25,378,285

-

56.58

-

32.52

New Global Shares

34,203,779

20,986,899

-

-

98.67

26.89

 

68,194,515

52,740,364

53.52

56.58

98.67

67.58




 




Credit Default Swap







Ordinary Shares

(11,279)

(4,593)

(0.04)

-

-

(0.01)

Extended Life Shares

(28,957)

(11,793)

-

(0.03)

-

(0.02)

 

(40,236)

(16,386)

(0.04)

(0.03)

-

(0.03)

 







Forward Currency Contracts







 Assets







Ordinary Shares

-

269,135

2.26

-

-

0.34

Extended Life Shares

-

736,809

-

1.64

-

0.94

 

-

1,005,944

2.26

1.64

-

1.28

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ordinary Shares

-

(4,131)

(0.03)

-

-

(0.01)

Extended Life Shares

-

(11,649)

-

(0.03)

-

(0.01)

 

-

(15,780)

(0.03)

(0.03)

-

(0.02)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Return Swap2

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ordinary Shares

-

544,221

4.57

-

-

0.70

Extended Life Shares

-

1,404,757

-

3.12

-

1.80

 

-

1,948,978

4.57

3.12

-

2.50

 

1 This is the Fair Value expressed as a percentage of total Ordinary Share NAV, Extended Life Share NAV, New Global Share NAV and Company NAV.

 

2 The trade claim was structured through a fully funded total return swap with a major US financial institution. See Note 3.

 

The accompanying notes below are an integral part of the Unaudited Consolidated Interim Financial Statements.

 

AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2023 (AUDITED)

(EXPRESSED IN US DOLLARS)

Cost

Fair Value

Ordinary

Shares

(%)1

Extended Life

Shares

(%)1

New Global Shares

(%)1

Total Company

(%)1

Portfolio of Distressed Investments







Bank Debt Investments

45,428,216

27,125,693

-

20.66

79.99

33.83

Private Equity

17,788,091

23,948,613

24.40

37.62

17.00

29.88

Private Note

19,741,373

3,724,142

2.22

7.56

-

4.65

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Short term Investments

 

 

 

 

 

 

US Treasury Bills

7,326,847

6,085,142

33.20

4.30

-

7.59

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Investments

90,284,527

60,883,590

59.82

70.14

96.99

75.95

 Portfolio per share class



 




Ordinary Shares

6,993,271

7,426,240

59.82

-

-

9.26

Extended Life Shares

48,959,822

31,996,330

-

70.14

-

39.92

New Global Shares

34,331,434

21,461,020

-

-

96.99

26.77

 

90,284,527

60,883,590

59.82

70.14

96.99

75.95




 




Credit Default Swap







Ordinary Shares

(5,567)

(5,973)

(0.05)

-

-

(0.01)

Extended Life Shares

(14,293)

(15,336)

-

(0.03)

-

(0.01)

 

(19,860)

(21,309)

(0.05)

(0.03)

-

(0.02)

 







Forward Currency Contracts







 Assets







Ordinary Shares

-

3,808

0.03

-

-

-

Extended Life Shares

-

14,427

-

0.03

-

0.02

 

-

18,235

0.03

0.03

-

0.02

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ordinary Shares

-

(348,550)

(2.81)

-

-

(0.44)

Extended Life Shares

-

(1,197,020)

-

(2.63)

-

(1.49)

 

-

(1,545,570)

(2.81)

(2.63)

-

(1.93)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Return Swap2

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ordinary Shares

-

1,018,720

8.21

-

-

1.27

Extended Life Shares

-

2,629,481

-

5.76

-

3.28

 

-

3,648,201

8.21

5.76

-

4.55

 

1 This is the Fair Value expressed as a percentage of total Ordinary Share NAV, Extended Life Share NAV, New Global Share NAV and Company NAV.

 

2 The trade claim was structured through a fully funded total return swap with a major US financial institution. See Note 3.

 

The accompanying notes below are an integral part of the Unaudited Consolidated Interim Financial Statements.

 

Investments with the following issuers comprised greater than 5% of Total Company NAV

 

AS AT 30 JUNE 2024 (UNAUDITED)

(EXPRESSED IN US DOLLARS)

Country

Industry

Nominal

Cost

Fair Value

Ordinary

Shares

(%)1

Extended

Life

Shares

(%)1

New

Global

Shares

(%)1

Total Company

(%)1

Investments at fair value










White Energy Holding Company LLC

(Private Equity, Ordinary Shares)

United States

Oil & Gas

367

9,174,989

11,254,667

-

17.91

15.14

14.42

AB Zwolle T/L2 EUR

31/12/2024

(Bank Debt Investments)

Netherlands

Commercial Mortgage

20,826,237

14,907,776

10,343,329

-

10.22

27.07

13.25

Package Holdings 1

(Private Equity, Ordinary Shares)

Luxembourg

Containers and Packaging

11,108,610

-

7,279,116

17.08

11.69

-

9.33

Package Holdings 6
(Private Equity, Ordinary Shares)

Luxembourg

Containers and Packaging

2,948,481

1,893,980

1,009,315

2.37

1.62

-

1.29

TP Ferro Concesionaria T/L 1L 0.0% 31/03/2016

(Bank Debt Investments)

Spain

Surface Transport

18,787,735

18,531,522

4,027,151

-

4.50

9.43

5.16

TP Ferro Concesionaria TP Ferro T/L-A  (First-Lien)

25% 31/12/2024

(Bank Debt Investments)

Spain

Surface Transport

669,296

748,932

717,318

-

0.80

1.69

0.92

TP Ferro Concesionaria TP Ferro 1L T/L-B EUR  (First-Lien) EUR

25% 31/12/2024

(Bank Debt Investments)

Spain

Surface Transport

408,630

408,630

408,630

-

0.46

0.96

0.52

TP Ferro PIK 5A 4/20

25% 01/06/2025

(Bank Debt Investments)

Spain

Surface Transport

3,324,171

3,324,171

3,324,171

-

3.71

7.81

4.26

TP Ferro PIK 5C 7/23

25% 01/06/2025

(Bank Debt Investments)

Spain

Surface Transport

289,531

289,531

289,531

-

0.32

0.68

0.37

TP Ferro PIK 5B 7/22

25% 01/06/2025

(Bank Debt Investments)

Spain

Surface Transport

589,459

589,459

589,459

-

0.66

1.39

0.76

TP Ferro Concesionaria TP Ferro 1L T/L-C  (First-Lien)

25% 31/12/2024

(Bank Debt Investments)

Spain

Surface Transport

336,358

336,358

336,358

-

0.37

0.79

0.43

Hotel Puerta America PIK T/L EUR

7.25% 09/01/2025

(Bank Debt Investments)

Spain

Lodging & Casinos

4,178,566

4,599,106

4,330,592

-

-

20.36

5.55

Hotel Puerta America PIK Addon

7.25% 09/01/2025

 EUR (Bank Debt Investments)

Spain

Lodging & Casinos

1,649,372

1,796,090

1,709,380

-

-

8.04

2.19

Hotel Puerta America PIK PPL EUR

0.00% 31/12/2024

(Bank Debt Investments)

Spain

Lodging & Casinos

1,090,003

1,281,898

1,129,660

-

-

5.31

1.45

Hotel Puerta America EUR

(Private Equity, Ordinary Shares)

Spain

Lodging & Casinos

934

3,013,332

-

-

-

-

-

US Treasury N/B

1.50% 02/15/30

(US Treasury Bills)

United States

United States

6,975,000

7,298,740

5,991,688

34.07

4.31

-

7.68





68,194,515

52,740,365

53.52

56.58

98.67

67.58

 

1 This is the Fair Value expressed as a percentage of total Ordinary Share NAV, Extended Life Share NAV, New Global Share NAV and Company NAV.

2 Floating Rate Note (FRN) - variable coupon rate during the period as per contract notice.

 

The accompanying notes below are an integral part of the Unaudited Consolidated Interim Financial Statements.

 

Investments with the following issuers comprised greater than 5% of Total Company NAV

 

AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2023 (AUDITED)

(EXPRESSED IN US DOLLARS)

Country

Industry

Nominal

Cost

Fair Value

Ordinary

Shares

(%)1

Extended

Life

Shares

(%)1

New

Global

Shares

(%)1

Total

Company

(%)1

Investments at fair value










White Energy Holding Company LLC

(Private Equity, Ordinary Shares)

United States

Oil & Gas

367

9,174,989

11,010,000

-

17.23

14.24

13.74

AB Zwolle T/L2 EUR

31/12/2024

(Bank Debt Investments)

Netherlands

Commercial Mortgage

20,223,504

14,595,720

10,879,528

-

10.57

27.37

13.57

Package Holdings 1

(Private Equity, Ordinary Shares)

Luxembourg

Containers and Packaging

11,108,610

-

9,473,309

21.32

14.96

-

11.82

Package Holdings 6
(Private Equity, Ordinary Shares)

Luxembourg

Containers and Packaging

2,948,481

1,893,980

1,313,564

2.97

6.38

-

1.64

TP Ferro Concesionaria T/L 1L 0.00% 31/03/2016

(Bank Debt Investments)

Spain

Surface Transport

18,787,735

18,531,522

4,150,774

-

4.57

9.35

5.18

TP Ferro Concesionaria TP Ferro T/L-A  (First-Lien)

25% 31/12/2024

(Bank Debt Investments)

Spain

Surface Transport

2,945,545

2,945,545

2,945,545

-

3.23

6.66

3.67

TP Ferro Concesionaria TP Ferro 1L T/L-B EUR  (First-Lien) EUR

25% 31/12/2024

(Bank Debt Investments)

Spain

Surface Transport

593,063

666,784

655,127

-

0.72

1.48

0.82

TP Ferro PIK 5A 4/20

25% 01/06/2025

(Bank Debt Investments)

Spain

Surface Transport

522,319

522,319

522,319

-

0.57

1.18

0.65

TP Ferro PIK 5C 7/23

25% 01/06/2025

(Bank Debt Investments)

Spain

Surface Transport

361,262

361,262

361,262

1.00

0.40

0.82

0.45

TP Ferro PIK 5B 7/22

25% 01/06/2025

(Bank Debt Investments)

Spain

Surface Transport

298,046

298,046

298,046

-

0.33

0.67

0.37

TP Ferro Concesionaria TP Ferro 1L T/L-C  (First-Lien)

25% 31/12/2024

(Bank Debt Investments)

Spain

Surface Transport

256,553

256,553

256,553

-

0.28

0.58

0.32

Hotel Puerta America PIK T/L EUR

7.25% 09/01/2025

(Bank Debt Investments)

Spain

Lodging & Casinos

3,901,657

4,293,218

4,215,146

-

-

19.05

5.26

Hotel Puerta America PIK Addon

7.25% 09/01/2025

 EUR (Bank Debt Investments)

Spain

Lodging & Casinos

1,540,070

1,675,349

1,663,811

-

-

7.52

2.08

Hotel Puerta America PIK PPL EUR

0.00% 31/12/2024

(Bank Debt Investments)

Spain

Lodging & Casinos

1,090,003

1,281,898

1,177,582

-

-

5.32

1.47

Hotel Puerta America EUR

(Private Equity, Ordinary Shares)

Spain

Lodging & Casinos

934

3,013,332

-

-

-

-

-

US Treasury N/B

1.50% 02/15/30

(US Treasury Bills)

United States

United States

6,975,000

7,326,847

6,085,143

33.20

4.30

-

7.59

 




63,824,032

55,007,709

58.49

63.54

94.24

68.63

 

     1 This is the Fair Value expressed as a percentage of total Ordinary Share NAV, Extended Life Share NAV, New Global Share NAV and Company NAV.

     2 Floating Rate Note (FRN) - variable coupon rate during the year as per contract notice.

 

     The accompanying notes below are an integral part of the Unaudited Consolidated Interim Financial Statements

 

.     Unaudited Consolidated Condensed Schedule of Investments (by geography)

 

AS AT 30 JUNE 2024

(UNAUDITED)

(EXPRESSED IN US DOLLARS)

 

 

Cost

Fair Value

Ordinary

Shares

(%)1

Extended Life

Shares

(%)1

New Global Shares

(%)1

Total

Company

(%)1









Geographic diversity of Portfolios








 








Portfolio of Distressed Investments








Luxembourg


1,893,980

8,288,431

19.45

13.31

-

10.62

Netherlands


14,907,776

10,343,329

-

10.22

27.07

13.25

Spain


34,919,030

16,862,248

-

10.83

56.46

21.61

United States


9,174,989

11,254,667

-

17.91

15.14

14.42



 






Short term Investments (US Treasury Bills)








United States


7,298,740

5,991,689

34.07

4.31

-

7.68



68,194,515

52,740,364

53.52

56.58

98.67

67.58

 

      1 This is the Fair Value expressed as a percentage of total Ordinary Share NAV, Extended Life Share NAV, New Global Share NAV and Company NAV.

 

       The accompanying notes below are an integral part of the Unaudited Consolidated Interim Financial Statements.


AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2023

(AUDITED)

(EXPRESSED IN US DOLLARS)

 

 

Cost

Fair Value

Ordinary

Shares

(%)1

Extended Life

Shares

(%)1

New Global Shares

(%)1

Total

Company

(%)1









Geographic diversity of Portfolios








 








Portfolio of Distressed Investments








Luxembourg


1,893,980

10,786,873

24.28

17.04

-

13.46

Netherlands


14,595,720

10,879,528

-

10.57

27.37

13.57

Spain


33,845,829

16,246,165

-

10.09

52.62

20.27

United States


32,622,153

16,885,882

2.34

28.14

17.00

21.06









Short term Investments (US Treasury Bills)








United States


7,326,847

6,085,142

33.20

4.30

-

7.59



90,284,529

60,883,590

59.82

70.14

96.99

75.95

 

1 This is the Fair Value expressed as a percentage of total Ordinary Share NAV, Extended Life Share NAV, New Global Share NAV and Company NAV.

 

The accompanying notes below are an integral part of the Unaudited Consolidated Interim Financial Statements.

 

 Unaudited Consolidated Condensed Schedule of Investments (by sector)


AS AT 30 JUNE 2024 (UNAUDITED)

(EXPRESSED IN US DOLLARS)

Cost

Fair Value

Ordinary

Shares

(%)1

Extended Life

Shares

(%)1

New Global

Shares

(%)1

Total Company

(%)1

Industry diversity of Portfolios







 







Portfolio of Distressed Investments







Commercial Mortgage

14,907,776

10,343,329

-

10.22

27.07

13.24

Containers and Packaging

1,893,980

8,288,432

19.45

13.31

-

10.62

Lodging & Casinos

10,690,426

7,169,630

-

-

33.71

9.19

Oil & Gas

9,174,989

11,254,667

-

17.91

15.14

14.42

Surface Transport

24,228,604

9,692,617

-

10.83

22.75

12.43


 

 





Short term Investments







US Treasury Bills

7,298,740

5,991,689

34.07

4.31

-

7.68


68,194,515

52,740,364

53.52

56.58

98.67

67.58

 

1 This is the Fair Value expressed as a percentage of total Ordinary Share NAV, Extended Life Share NAV, New Global Share NAV and Company NAV.

 

The accompanying notes below are an integral part of the Unaudited Consolidated Interim Financial Statements.


AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2023 (AUDITED)

(EXPRESSED IN US DOLLARS)

Cost

Fair Value

Ordinary

Shares

(%)1

Extended Life

Shares

(%)1

New Global

Shares

(%)1

Total Company

(%)1

Industry diversity of Portfolios







 







Portfolio of Distressed Investments







Auto Components

3,705,793

2,151,740

0.11

3.35

2.76

2.68

Commercial Mortgage

14,595,720

10,879,528

-

10.57

27.37

13.57

Containers and Packaging

1,893,980

10,786,873

24.28

17.04

-

13.46

Financial Intermediaries

19,741,371

3,724,142

2.23

7.56

-

4.65

Lodging & Casinos

10,263,797

7,056,540

-

-

31.89

8.80

Oil & Gas

9,174,989

11,010,000

-

17.23

14.24

13.74

Surface Transport

23,582,032

9,189,625

-

10.09

20.73

11.46








Short term Investments







US Treasury Bills

7,326,847

6,085,142

33.20

4.30

-

7.59


90,284,529

60,883,590

59.82

70.14

96.99

75.95

 

1 This is the Fair Value expressed as a percentage of total Ordinary Share NAV, Extended Life Share NAV, New Global Share NAV and Company NAV.

 

The accompanying notes below are an integral part of the Unaudited Consolidated Interim Financial Statements.

 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | Notes to the Unaudited Consolidated Interim Financial Statements

 

NOTE 1 - ORGANISATION AND DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS

 

NB Distressed Debt Investment Fund Limited (the "Company") is a closed-ended investment company registered and incorporated in Guernsey under the provisions of the Companies (Guernsey) Law, 2008 (as amended) (the "Companies Law") with registration number 51774. The Company's shares are traded on the Specialist Fund Segment ("SFS") of the London Stock Exchange ("LSE"). All share classes are in the harvest period.

 

The Company's objective is to provide investors with attractive risk-adjusted returns through long-biased, opportunistic stressed, distressed and special situation credit-related investments while seeking to limit downside risk by, amongst other things, focusing on senior and senior secured debt with both collateral and structural protection.

 

The Company's share capital is denominated in US Dollars for Ordinary Shares and Extended Life Shares and Pounds Sterling for New Global Shares.

 

NOTE 2 - SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

(a)   Basis of Preparation

The accompanying Unaudited Consolidated Interim Financial Statements ("Financial Statements") give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and return and have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted principles ("US GAAP") and Companies Law and are expressed in US Dollars. All adjustments considered necessary for the fair presentation of the financial statements, for the period presented, have been included.

The Company is regarded as an Investment Company and follows the accounting and reporting guidance in Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") and Financial Services - Investment Companies Topic 946: Amendments to the Scope, Measurement, and Disclosure Requirements. (Topic 946). Accordingly, the Company reflects its investments on the Unaudited Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities at their estimated fair values, with unrealised gains and losses resulting from changes in fair value reflected in net change in unrealised gain/(loss) on investments, credit default swap, total return swap and forward currency transactions in the Unaudited Consolidated Statement of Operations.

 

The Board recognises that the Portfolios (the Ordinary Share Class; the Extended Life Share Class; and the New Global Share Class) are now in their harvest periods. The Directors have a reasonable expectation that the Company has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the twelve months from the date these accounts are signed and the foreseeable future. Thus, they continue to prepare the Financial Statements on a going concern basis, as liquidation is not imminent.

 

(b)   Principles of Consolidation

 

The Financial Statements include the results of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, whose accounting policies are consistent with those of the Company. The Financial Statements include full consolidation of any owned subsidiaries, except where the effect on the Company's financial position and results of operations are immaterial. Transactions between the Company and the subsidiaries have been eliminated on consolidation.

 

Wholly-owned subsidiaries, London Lux Masterco 1 S.a.r.l., London Lux Debtco 1 S.a.r.l. and London Lux Propco 1 S.a.r.l. are incorporated in Luxembourg.

 

(c)   Use of Estimates

The preparation of these Financial Statements in conformity with US GAAP requires that the Directors make estimates and assumptions (as mentioned in detail in note 2 (f) below) that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period.

 

Actual results could differ significantly from these estimates.

 

(d)   Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash

The Company holds cash and cash equivalents in US Dollar and non-US Dollar denominated currencies with original maturities of less than 90 days that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash. As at 30 June 2024, the Company has cash balances in various currencies equating to $17,930,956 (Cost: $17,939,623) (31 December 2023: $16,569,578 (Cost: $16,566,075) including cash and cash equivalents of $7,780,956 (31 December 2023: $4,809,578) as well as restricted cash of $10,150,000 (31 December 2023: $11,760,000). Restricted cash of $10,970,000 (31 December 2023: $10,970,000) is collateral for the total return swap positions and restricted cash of $Nil (31 December 2023: $790,000) is collateral for forward currency contracts.

 

(e)   Foreign Currency Translation

Assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currency are translated into US Dollars at the currency exchange rates on the date of valuation. On initial recognition, foreign currency sales and purchases transactions are recorded and translated at the spot exchange rate at the transaction date and for all other transactions, the average rate is applied. Non-monetary assets and liabilities are translated at the historic exchange rate.

 

The Company does not separate the changes relating to currency exchange rates from those relating to changes in fair value of the investments. These fluctuations are included in the net realised gain and net change in unrealised gain/(loss) on investments, credit default swap, total return swap and forward currency transactions in the Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

(f)  Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The fair value of the Company's assets and liabilities that qualify as financial instruments under FASB ASC 825, Financial Instruments, approximate the carrying amounts presented in the Unaudited Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

 

Fair value prices are estimates made at a discrete point in time, based on relevant market data, information about the financial instruments, and other factors.

 

The Company follows guidance in ASC 820, Fair Value Measurement ("ASC 820"), where fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.

 

Fair value is determined using available market information and appropriate valuation methodologies. Estimates of fair value of financial instruments without quoted market prices are subjective in nature and involve various assumptions and estimates that are matters of judgement. Accordingly, fair values are not necessarily indicative of the amounts that will be ultimately realised on disposal of financial instruments. The use of different market assumptions and/or estimation methodologies may have a material effect on estimated fair value amounts.

 

The following estimates and assumptions were used as at 30 June 2024 and 31 December 2023 to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instruments:

 

·      Cash and cash equivalents - The carrying value reasonably approximates fair value due to the short-term nature of these instruments.

 

·      Quoted investments are valued according to their bid price at the close of the relevant reporting date. Investments in private securities are priced at the bid price using a pricing service for private loans. If a price cannot be ascertained from the above sources, the Company will seek bid prices from third party broker/dealer quotes for the investments.

 

·      In cases where no third-party price is available, or where the Investment Manager determines that the provided price is not an accurate representation of the fair value of the investment (e.g. level 3 investments included overleaf), the Investment Manager determines the valuation based on its fair valuation policy. Further information on valuations is provided in Note 2 (g), "Investment transactions, investment income/expenses and valuation", below.

 

·      Forward currency contracts are revalued using the forward exchange rate prevailing at the Unaudited Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities date.

 

·      Total Return Swaps are priced using Mark to market prices provided by a third party broker.

 

·      Credit Return Swaps are priced using a pricing service provided by Markit Partners.

Fair value measurements are determined within a framework that establishes a three-tier hierarchy which maximises the use of observable market data and minimises the use of unobservable inputs to establish a classification of fair value measurements for disclosure purposes.

 

Inputs refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk, such as the risk inherent in a particular valuation technique used to measure fair value using a pricing model and/or the risk inherent in the inputs for the valuation technique. Inputs may be observable or unobservable.

Observable inputs reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Company. Unobservable inputs reflect the Company's own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on the information available. The inputs or methodology used for valuing assets or liabilities may not be an indication of the risks associated with investing in those assets or liabilities.

 

ASC 820 classifies the inputs used to measure these fair values into the following hierarchy:

 

Level 1: Quoted prices are available in active markets for identical investments as of the reporting date.

 

Level 2: Pricing inputs are other than quoted prices in active markets, which are either directly or indirectly observable as of the reporting date, and fair value is determined through the use of models or other valuation methodologies.

 

Level 3: Pricing inputs are unobservable for the investment and include situations where there is little, if any, market activity for the investment. The inputs used in the determination of the fair value require significant management judgement or estimation.

 

In all cases, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement in its entirety falls has been determined based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The Company's assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgement and considers factors specific to each investment.

 

The following is a summary of the levels within the fair value hierarchy in which the Company invests:

 

FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AS AT 30 JUNE 2024 (UNAUDITED)

(EXPRESSED IN US DOLLARS)

LEVEL 1

LEVEL 2

LEVEL 3

TOTAL

Bank Debt Investments

-

-

27,205,578

27,205,578

Private Equity

-

-

19,543,097

19,543,097

US Treasury Bills

5,991,689

-

-

5,991,689

Investments at fair value

5,991,689

-

46,748,675

52,740,364

Credit Default Swap

-

(16,386)

-

(16,386)

Total Return Swap

-

-

1,948,978

1,948,978

Forward Currency Contracts - Assets

-

1,005,944

-

1,005,944

Forward Currency Contracts - Liabilities


(15,780)


(15,780)

Total investments that are accounted for at fair value

5,991,689

973,778

48,697,653

55,663,120

 

FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2023 (AUDITED)

(EXPRESSED IN US DOLLARS)

LEVEL 1

LEVEL 2

LEVEL 3

TOTAL

Bank Debt Investments

-

-

27,125,693

27,125,693

Private Equity

-

-

23,948,613

23,948,613

Private Note

-

-

3,724,142

3,724,142

US Treasury Bills

6,085,142

-

-

6,085,142

Investments at fair value

6,085,142

-

54,798,448

60,883,590

Credit Default Swap

-

(21,309)

-

(21,309)

Total Return Swap

-

-

3,648,201

3,648,201

Forward Currency Contracts - Assets

-

18,235

-

18,235

Forward Currency Contracts - Liabilities


(1,545,570)


(1,545,570)

Total investments that are accounted for at fair value

6,085,142

(1,548,644)

58,446,649

62,983,147


The following table summarises the significant unobservable inputs the Company used to value its investments categorised within Level 3 as at 30 June 2024. The table is not intended to be all-inclusive but instead captures the significant unobservable inputs relevant to our determination of fair values.

 

Type

Sector

Fair Value ($)

Primary Valuation Technique

Significant unobservable Inputs

Range Input

Bank Debt Investments

Commercial Mortgage

10,343,328

Market Comparatives

Discount Rate

10%

Bank Debt Investments

Lodging & Casinos

7,169,632

Market Comparatives

Discount Rate

15%

Bank Debt Investments

Surface Transport

9,692,618

Market Information

Unadjusted Broker Quote

N/A

Private Equity

Containers and Packaging

8,288,431

Market Comparatives

EBITDA Multiple

10.75X

Private Equity

Oil & Gas

11,254,666

Market Information

Unadjusted Broker Quote

N/A

Total Return Swap

Surface Transport

1,948,978

Market Information

Unadjusted Broker Quote

N/A

Total


48,697,653

 



 

The following table summarises the significant unobservable inputs the Company used to value its investments categorised within Level 3 as at 31 December 2023. The table is not intended to be all-inclusive but instead captures the significant unobservable inputs relevant to our determination of fair values.

 

Type

Sector

Fair Value ($)

Primary Valuation Technique

Significant unobservable Inputs

 Range Input

Bank Debt Investments

Commercial Mortgage

10,879,528

Market Comparatives

Discount Rate

10%

Bank Debt Investments

Lodging & Casinos

7,056,540

Market Comparatives

Discount Rate

15%

Bank Debt Investments

Surface Transport

9,189,625

Market Information

Unadjusted Broker Quote

N/A

Private Equity

Auto Components

2,151,740

Market Information

EBITDA Multiple

4.5X

Private Equity

Containers and Packaging

10,786,873

Market Comparatives

EBITDA Multiple

10.75X

Private Equity

Oil and Gas

11,010,000

Market Information

Unadjusted Broker Quote

N/A

Private Note

Financial Intermediaries

3,724,142

Market Information

Unadjusted Broker Quote

N/A

Total Return Swap

Surface Transport

3,648,201

Market Information

Unadjusted Broker Quote

N/A

Total


58,446,649




 

Changes in any of the above inputs may positively or adversely impact the fair value of the relevant investments.

 

Level 3 assets are valued using single bid-side broker quotes or by good faith methods of the Investment Manager. For single broker quotes the Investment Manager uses unobservable inputs to assess the reasonableness of the broker quote. For good faith valuations, the Investment Manager directly uses unobservable inputs to produce valuations. The significant unobservable inputs used in Level 3 assets as at 30 June 2024 and 31 December 2023 are outlined in the tables above.

 

These inputs vary by asset class. For example, real estate asset valuations may utilise discounted cash flow models using an average value per square foot and appropriate discount rate. Other assets may be valued based on analysis of the liquidation of the underlying assets. In general, increases/(decreases) to per unit valuation inputs such as value per square foot, will result in increases/(decreases) to investment value.

 

Similarly, increases/(decreases) of asset realisation inputs (liquidation estimate, letter of intent, etc.) will also result in increases/(decreases) in value. In situations where discounted cash flow models are used, increasing/(decreasing) discount rates or increasing/(decreasing) weighted average life, in isolation, will generally result in (decreased)/increased valuations.

 

The following is a reconciliation of opening and closing balances of assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis using Level 3 inputs:

 

FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30 JUNE 2024 (UNAUDITED)

(EXPRESSED IN US DOLLARS)

 



Bank Debt Investments

 

Private Equity

 

Trade Claim

 

Private Note

 

Total

Balance, 31 December 2023


27,125,693

 

23,948,613

 

3,648,201

 

3,724,142

 

58,446,649

Purchases (includes purchases-in-kind)


1,385,256


-


-


-


1,385,256

Sales and distributions


-


(398,370)


-


(5,480,179)


(5,878,549)

Realised loss on sale of investments


-


(3,307,422)


1,343,355


(14,261,194)


(16,225,261)

Unrealised loss/(gain) on investments


(1,305,371)


(699,724)


(3,042,578)


16,017,231


10,969,558

Transfers from Level 2 into Level 3


-




-


-


-

Balance, 30 June 2024


27,205,578


19,543,097


1,948,978


-


48,697,653

Change in unrealised loss/(gain) on investments included in Audited Consolidated Statement of Operation for Level 3 investments held as at 30 June 2024


(1,305,372)

 

(699,718)

 

(1,699,223)

 

16,017,231

 

12,312,918

 

The Company's policy is to recognise transfers into and out of Level 3 as of the actual date of the event or change in circumstances that caused the transfer. During the period the Company had no transfers out of Level 3 into Level 2 of fair value amounting to $Nil. The Company had no transfers out of Level 2 into Level 3 of fair value amounting to $Nil.

 

The following is a reconciliation of opening and closing balances of assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis using Level 3 inputs:

 

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 (AUDITED)

(EXPRESSED IN US DOLLARS)

 



Bank Debt Investments

 

Private Equity

 

Trade Claim

 

Private Note

 

Total

Balance, 31 December 2022


27,358,457

 

13,492,057

 

1,558,420

 

8,362,230

 

50,771,164

Purchases (includes purchases-in-kind)


2,303,563


-


-


-


2,303,563

Sales and distributions


(2,508,112)


-


-


(4,511,654)


(7,019,766)

Realised (loss)/gain on sale of investments


(70,506)


-


-


3,794,178


3,723,672

Unrealised gain/(loss) on investments


42,291


(553,444)


2,089,781


(3,920,612)


(2,341,984)

Transfers from Level 2 into Level 3


-


11,010,000


-


-


11,010,000

Balance, 31 December 2023


27,125,693

 

23,948,613

 

3,648,201

 

3,724,142

 

58,446,649

Change in unrealised (loss)/gain on investments included in Audited Consolidated Statement of Operation for Level 3 investments held as at 31 December 2023


(98,561)

 

(553,444)

 

2,089,781

 

(3,920,612)

 

(2,482,836)

 

The Company's policy is to recognise transfers into and out of Level 3 as of the actual date of the event or change in circumstances that caused the transfer. During the year the Company had no transfers out of Level 3 into Level 2 of fair value amounting to $Nil. The Company had one transfer out of Level 2 into Level 3 of fair value amounting to $11,010,000 as only a single broker quote was observable.

 

(g) Investment transactions, investment income/expenses and valuation

Investment transactions are accounted for on a trade-date basis. Upon sale or maturity, the difference between the consideration received and the cost of the investment is recognised as a realised gain or loss under Net realised (loss)/gain on investments, credit default swap, total return swap and forward currency transactions in the Unaudited Consolidated Statement of Operations. The cost is determined based on the average cost method. All transactions relating to the restructuring of current investments are recorded at the date of such restructuring. The difference between the fair value of the new consideration received and the cost of the original investment is recognised as a realised gain or loss. Unrealised gains and losses on an investment are the difference between the cost if purchased during the period or fair value at the previous period end and the fair value at the current period end. Unrealised gains and losses are included under Net change in unrealised (loss)/gain on investments, credit default swap, warrants and forward currency transactions in the Unaudited Consolidated Statement of Operations.

 

For the period ended 30 June 2024, $28,106 (30 June 2023: $63,648) was recorded to reflect accretion of discount on loans and bonds during the period and is included as Interest Income in the Unaudited Consolidated Statement of Operations.

 

Interest earned on debt instruments is accounted for, net of applicable withholding taxes and it is recognised as income over the terms of the loans and bonds. Discounts received or premiums paid in connection with the acquisition of loans and bonds are amortised into interest income using the effective daily interest method over the contractual life of the related loan and bond. If a loan is repaid prior to maturity, the recognition of the fees and costs is accelerated as appropriate. The Company raises a provision when the collection of interest is deemed doubtful. Dividend income is recognised on the ex-dividend date net of withholding tax.

 

Payment-in-kind ("PIK") interest is computed at the contractual rate specified in the loan agreement for any portion of the interest which may be added to the principal balance of a loan rather than paid in cash by the obligator on the scheduled interest payment date. PIK interest is periodically added to the principal balance of the loan and recorded as interest income. The Investment Manager places a receivable on non-accrual status when the collection of principal or interest is deemed doubtful. The amount of interest income recorded, plus initial costs of underlying PIK interest is reviewed periodically to ensure that these do not exceed fair value of those assets.

 

The Company carries investments on its Unaudited Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities at fair value in accordance with US GAAP, with changes in fair value recognised in the Unaudited Consolidated Statement of Operations in each reporting period. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received on the sale of an asset or paid to transfer a liability (i.e. the "exit price") in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.

 

Quoted investments are valued according to their bid price at the close of the relevant reporting date. Investments in private securities are priced at the bid price using a pricing service for private loans.

 

If a price cannot be ascertained from the above sources the Company will seek bid prices from third party broker/dealer quotes for the investments. The Investment Manager believes that bid price is the best estimate of fair value and is in line with the valuation policy adopted by the Company.

 

In cases where no third party price is available, or where the Investment Manager determines that the provided price is not an accurate representation of the fair value of the investment, the Administrator will value such investments with the input of the Investment Manager who will determine the valuation based on its fair valuation policy. As part of the investment fair valuation policy, the Investment Manager prepares a fair valuation memorandum for each such investment presenting the methodology and assumptions used to derive the price. This analysis is presented to the Investment Manager's Valuation Committee for approval.

 

The following criteria are considered when applicable:

 

·      The valuation of other securities by the same issuer for which market quotations are available;

·      The reasons for absence of market quotations;

·      The soundness of the security, its interest yield, the date of maturity, the credit standing of the issue and the current general interest rates;

·      Any recent sales prices and/or bid and ask quotations for the security;

·      The value of similar securities of issuers in the same or similar industries for which market quotations are available;

·      The economic outlook of the industry;

·      The issuer's position in the industry;

·      The financial statements of the issuer; and

·      The nature and duration of any restriction on disposition of the security.

 

(h) Derivative Contracts

The Company may, from time to time, hold derivative financial instruments for the purposes of managing foreign currency exposure and to provide a measure of protection against defaults of corporate or sovereign issuers. These derivatives are measured at fair value in conformity with US GAAP with changes in fair value recognised under Realised and unrealised (loss)/gain from investments and foreign exchange in the Unaudited Consolidated Statement of Operations in each reporting period.

 

As part of the Company's investment strategy, the Company enters into over-the-counter ("OTC") derivative contracts which may include forward currency contracts, credit default swaps and total return swaps.

 

Forward currency contracts are valued at the prevailing forward exchange rate of the underlying currencies on the reporting date and the value recorded in the financial statements represents net unrealised gain and loss on forwards as at 30 June. Forward contracts are generally categorised in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

 

The credit default swap has been entered into on the OTC market. The fair value of the credit default swap contract is derived using a pricing service provided by Markit Partners. Markit Partners use a pricing model that is widely accepted by marketplace participants. Their pricing model takes into account multiple inputs including specific contract terms, interest rate yield curves, interest rates, credit curves, recovery rates, and current credit spreads obtained from swap counterparties and other market participants. Many inputs into the model do not require material subjectivity as they are observable in the marketplace or set per the contract. Other than the contract terms, valuation is mainly determined by the difference between the contract spread and the current market spread. The contract spread (or rate) is generally fixed and the market spread is determined by the credit risk of the underlying debt or reference entity. If the underlying debt is liquid and the OTC market for the current spread is active, credit default swaps are categorised in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. If the underlying debt is illiquid and the OTC market for the current spread is not active, credit default swaps are categorised in Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.

 

The total return swap is valued using a mark to market prices provided by a third-party broker.

 

(i) Taxation

The Company is not subject to income taxes in Guernsey; however, it may be subject to taxes imposed by other countries on income it derives from investments.

 

Such taxes are reflected in the Unaudited Consolidated Statement of Operations. In accordance with US GAAP, management is required to determine whether a tax position of the Company is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by the applicable taxing authority, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefit to be recognised is measured as the largest amount of benefit that is greater than fifty percent likely of being realised upon ultimate settlement. De-recognition of a tax benefit previously recognised could result in the Company recording a tax liability that would reduce net assets. US GAAP also provides guidance on thresholds, measurement, de-recognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure, and transition that is intended to provide better financial statement comparability among different entities.

 

There were no uncertain tax positions as at 30 June 2024 or 31 December 2023. The Company files its tax returns as prescribed by the tax laws of the jurisdictions in which it operates. In the normal course of business, the Company is subject to examination by federal and certain state, local, and other foreign tax regulators. State, local and foreign tax returns, if applicable, are generally subject to audit according to varying limitations dependent upon the jurisdiction. As of 30 June 2024, the Company's U.S. federal income tax returns are subject to examination under the three-year statute of limitations.

 

During the period ended 30 June 2024, the Company recorded current income tax expense $Nil (30 June 2023 income tax expense: $Nil). Deferred taxes are recorded to reflect the tax consequences of future years' differences between the tax basis of assets and their financial reporting basis. The deferred tax benefit recorded for the period ended 30 June 2024 was $Nil (30 June 2023 deferred tax benefit: $Nil). The net total income tax benefit/expense from realised/unrealised gains/(losses) on investments for the period ended 30 June 2024 was $Nil (30 June 2023 income tax expense: $Nil).

 

(j) Operating Expenses

Operating expenses are recognised on an accruals basis. Operating expenses include amounts directly or indirectly incurred by the Company as part of its operations. Each share class will bear its respective pro-rata share based on its respective Net Asset Value ('NAV') of the ongoing costs and expenses of the Company. Each share class will also bear all costs and expenses of the Company determined by the Directors to be attributable solely to it. Any costs incurred by a share buyback are charged to that share class.

 

(k)   Payables/Receivables on Investments Purchased/Sold

At 30 June 2024, $4,122,515 (30 June 2023: $Nil) was receivable on investments purchased/sold represents amounts due for investments purchased/sold that have been contracted for but not settled on the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

 

NOTE 3 - DERIVATIVES

 

In the normal course of business, the Company uses derivative contracts in connection with its proprietary trading activities. Investments in derivative contracts are subject to additional risks that can result in a loss of all or part of the derivative investment. The Company's derivative activities and exposure to derivative contracts are classified by the following primary underlying risks: foreign currency exchange rate, credit, and equity price. In addition to its primary underlying risks, the Company is also subject to additional counterparty risk due to inability of its counterparties to meet the terms of their contracts.

 

Forward Currency Contracts

The Company enters into forwards for the purposes of managing foreign currency exposure.

 

Credit Default Swap

The Company uses credit default swap agreements on corporate or sovereign issues to provide a measure of protection against defaults of the issuers (i.e., to reduce risk where a Company owns or has exposure to the referenced obligation) from time to time.

 

There was one credit default swap position (Brazilian Government) held as at 30 June 2024 (31 December 2023: one).

 

Total Return Swap

The Company entered into two fully funded total return swaps on 2 May 2011 and 18 April 2012. These swaps matured on 25 February 2020 and rolled over into a new swap agreement. New ISDA regulations enacted in 2019 require booking the total return swaps with cash collateral maintained against fully funded swaps.

 

The new swap rolls on an annual basis. The swap was booked on 02 March 2023 and matured on 01 February 2024. A realised event occurred on the value of the swap as at 01 February 2024 of $1,343,355. The next maturity will occur on 01 February 2025. The value of the swap, exclusive of related cash collateral, as at 30 June 2024 is $1,948,978 (31 December 2023: $3,648,201) representing a change in market value of $605,623 in the period since the 01 February 2023 maturity.

 

As at 30 June 2024 the net value of the swap and related cash collateral was $12,918,978 (31 December 2023: $14,618,201) (comprised of restricted cash collateral of $10,970,000 (31 December 2023: $10,970,000) and total return swap asset of $1,948,978 (31 December 2023: swap asset of $3,648,201), as reflected in the Unaudited Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The underlying asset of the swaps is denominated in Brazilian Real and the foreign exchange exposure is hedged to offset any change in value in underlying asset due to the FX movements.

 

Derivative activity

For the period ended 30 June 2024 and for the year ended 31 December 2023 the volume of the Company's derivative activities based on their notional amounts and number of contracts, categorised by primary underlying risk, are as follows:

 

 

30 JUNE 2024 (UNAUDITED)

LONG EXPOSURE

SHORT EXPOSURE

Primary underlying risk

NOTIONAL AMOUNTS

NUMBER OF CONTRACTS

NOTIONAL AMOUNTS

NUMBER OF CONTRACTS

Foreign exchange risk





Forward currency contracts

$67,892,660

39

$52,851,722

40

Credit risk





Credit default swap

$9,971,000

1

-

-

Total return swap

-

-

$10,960,348

2

 

 

31 DECEMBER 2023 (AUDITED)

LONG EXPOSURE

SHORT EXPOSURE

Primary underlying risk

NOTIONAL AMOUNTS

NUMBER OF CONTRACTS

NOTIONAL AMOUNTS

NUMBER OF CONTRACTS

Foreign exchange risk





Forward currency contracts

$127,841,170

61

$125,731,102

77

Credit risk





Credit default swap

$9,971,000

1

-

-

Total return swap

-

-

$10,960,348

2

 

The following tables show, as at 30 June 2024 and 31 December 2023, the fair value amounts of derivative contracts included in the Unaudited Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities, categorised by primary underlying risk. Balances are presented on a gross basis prior to application of the impact of counterparty and collateral netting. Total derivative assets and liabilities are adjusted on an aggregate basis to take into account the effects of master netting arrangements and, where applicable, have been adjusted by the application of cash collateral receivables and payables with its counterparties. The tables also identify, as at 30 June 2024 and 31 December 2023, the realised and unrealised gain and loss amounts included in the Unaudited Consolidated Statement of Operations, categorised by primary underlying risk:

 

 

30 JUNE 2024 (UNAUDITED)

Primary underlying risk

Derivative Assets

($)

Derivative Liabilities

($)

Realised gain

(loss)

($)

NET CHANGE IN Unrealised gain (loss)

($)

Foreign currency exchange rate





Forward currency contracts

1,005,944

(15,780)

(152,210)

2,517,498

Credit





Purchased protection





Credit default swap

-

(16,386)

(11,896)

25,300

Total return swap

1,948,978

-

1,343,355

(3,042,578)

 

 

31 DECEMBER 2023 (AUDITED)

Primary underlying risk

Derivative Assets

($)

Derivative Liabilities

($)

Realised gain

(loss)

($)

NET CHANGE IN Unrealised gain (loss)

($)

Foreign currency exchange rate





Forward currency contracts

18,235

(1,545,570)

(1,975,088)

(269,987)

Credit





Purchased protection





Credit default swap

-

(21,309)

(84,550)

3,223

Total return swap

3,648,201

-

-

2,078,684

 

Offsetting assets and liabilities

Amounts due from and to brokers are presented on a net basis, by counterparty, to the extent the Company has the legal right to offset the recognised amounts and intends to settle on a net basis.

 

The Company presents on a net basis the fair value amounts recognised for OTC derivatives executed with the same counterparty under the same master netting agreement.

 

The Company is required to disclose the impact of offsetting assets and liabilities presented in the Unaudited Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities to enable users of the Financial Statements to evaluate the effect or potential effect of netting arrangements on its financial position for recognised assets and liabilities.

 

These recognised assets and liabilities include financial instruments and derivative contracts that are either subject to an enforceable master netting arrangement or similar agreement or meet the following right of set off criteria:

 

·   each of the two parties owes the other determinable amounts;

·   the Company has the right to set off the amounts owed with the amounts owed by the other party;

·   the Company intends to set off; and

·   the Company's right of set off is enforceable at law.

 

The Company is subject to enforceable master netting agreements with its counterparties of credit default swap, the total return swaps and foreign currency exchange contracts. These agreements govern the terms of certain transactions and reduce the counterparty risk associated with relevant transactions by specifying offsetting mechanisms and collateral posting arrangements at prearranged exposure levels.

 

Derivative activity

The following tables, as at 30 June 2024 and 31 December 2023, show the gross and net derivatives assets and liabilities by contract type and amount for those derivatives contracts for which netting is permissible.

 

30 JUNE 2024 (UNAUDITED)

(EXPRESSED IN US DOLLARS)

 





AMOUNTS NOT OFFSET IN THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

 

DESCRIPTION

GROSS

AMOUNTS OF RECOGNISED ASSETS

GROSS AMOUNTS OFFSET IN THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

NET AMOUNTS OF RECOGNISED ASSETS PRESENTED IN THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (POLICY ELECTION)

FINANCIAL COLLATERAL RECEIVED1

NET

AMOUNT

Forward Currency Contracts

1,005,944

-

1,005,944

(15,780)

-

990,164

Total Return Swaps

1,948,978

-

1,948,978

-

-

1,948,978

Total

2,954,922

-

2,954,922

(15,780)

-

2,939,142

 





AMOUNTS NOT OFFSET IN THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

 

DESCRIPTION

GROSS AMOUNTS OF RECOGNISED LIABILITIES

GROSS AMOUNTS OFFSET IN THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

NET AMOUNTS OF RECOGNISED ASSETS PRESENTED IN THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (POLICY ELECTION)

FINANCIAL COLLATERAL RECEIVED1

NET AMOUNT

Forward Currency Contracts

(15,780)

-

(15,780)

15,780

-

-

Credit Default Swaps

(16,386)

-

(16,386)

-


(16,386)

Total

(32,166)

-

(32,166)

15,780

-

(16,386)

 

 

1 The amount netted off is a portion of the total collateral as per the Unaudited Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

 

The following table, as at 31 December 2023, show the gross and net derivatives assets and liabilities by contract type and amount for those derivatives contracts for which netting is permissible.

 

31 DECEMBER 2023 (AUDITED)

(EXPRESSED IN US DOLLARS)

 





AMOUNTS NOT OFFSET IN THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

 

DESCRIPTION

GROSS AMOUNTS OF RECOGNISED ASSETS

GROSS AMOUNTS OFFSET IN THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

NET AMOUNTS OF RECOGNISED ASSETS PRESENTED IN THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (POLICY ELECTION)

FINANCIAL COLLATERAL RECEIVED1

NET AMOUNT

Forward currency contracts

18,235

-

18,235

(18,235)

-

-

Total return swaps

3,648,201

-

3,648,201

-

-

3,648,201

Total

3,666,436

-

3,666,436

(18,235)

-

3,648,201

 





AMOUNTS NOT OFFSET IN THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

 

DESCRIPTION

GROSS AMOUNTS OF RECOGNISED LIABILITIES

GROSS AMOUNTS OFFSET IN THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

NET AMOUNTS OF RECOGNISED ASSETS PRESENTED IN THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (POLICY ELECTION)

FINANCIAL COLLATERAL RECEIVED1

NET AMOUNT

Forward currency contracts

(1,545,570)

-

(1,545,570)

18,235

790,000

(737,335)

Credit default swap

(21,309)

-

(21,309)

-

-

(21,309)

Total

(1,566,879)

-

(1,566,879)

18,235

790,000

(758,644)

 

1 The amount netted off is a portion of the total collateral as per the Unaudited Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

 

NOTE 4 - RISK FACTORS

 

The Company's investments are subject to various risk factors including market and credit risk, interest rate and foreign exchange risk, and the risks associated with investing in private securities. Investments in private securities and partnerships are illiquid, and there can be no assurances that the Company will be able to realise the value of such investments in a timely manner. Additionally, the Company's investments may be highly concentrated in certain industries. Non-US dollar denominated investments may result in foreign exchange losses caused by devaluations and exchange rate fluctuations. In addition, consequences of political, social, economic, diplomatic changes or public health condition may have disruptive effects on market prices or fair valuations of foreign investments.

 

Market Risk

Market risk is the potential for changes in the value of investments. Categories of market risk include, but are not limited to, interest rates. Interest rate risks primarily result from exposures to changes in the level, slope and curvature of the yield curve, the volatility of interest rates and credit spreads. Details of the Company's investment Portfolio as at 30 June 2024 and 31 December 2023 are disclosed in the Unaudited Consolidated Condensed Schedule of Investments. Each separate investment exceeding 5% of net assets is disclosed separately.

 

Credit Risk

The Company may invest in a range of corporate and other bonds and other credit sensitive securities. Until such investments are sold or are paid in full at maturity, the Company is exposed to credit risk relating to whether the issuer will meet its obligations when the securities fall due. Distressed debt securities by nature are securities in companies which are in default or are heading into default and will expose the Company to a higher than normal amount of credit risk.

 

The Company may invest a relatively large percentage of its assets in issuers located in a single country, a small number of countries, or a particular geographic region. As a result, the Company's performance may be closely aligned with the market, currency or economic, political or regulatory conditions and developments in those countries or that region, and could be more volatile than the performance of more geographically diversified investments. Refer to the Unaudited Consolidated Condensed Schedules of Investments above for concentration of credit risk.

 

The Company maintains positions in a variety of securities, derivative financial instruments and cash and cash equivalents in accordance with its investment strategy and guidelines. The Company's trading activities expose the Company to counterparty credit risk from brokers, dealers and other financial institutions (collectively, "counterparties") with which it transacts business. "Counterparty credit risk" is the risk that a counterparty to a trade will fail to meet an obligation that it has entered into with the Company, resulting in a financial loss to the Company. The Company's policy with respect to counterparty credit risk is to minimise its exposure to counterparties with perceived higher risk of default by dealing only with counterparties that meet the credit standards set out by the Investment Manager.

 

All the Company's cash and investment assets other than derivative financial instruments are held by the Custodian. The Custodian segregates the assets of the Company from the Custodian's assets and other Custodian clients. Management believes the risk is low with respect to any losses as a result of this concentration. The Company conducts its trading activities with respect to non-derivative positions with a number of counterparties. Counterparty credit risk borne by these transactions is mitigated by trading with multiple counterparties.

 

In addition, the Company may trade in OTC derivative instruments and in derivative instruments which trade on exchanges with generally a limited number of counterparties and as a consequence the Company is subject to counterparty credit risk related to the potential inability of counterparties to these derivative transactions to perform their obligations to the Company. The Company's exposure to counterparty credit risk associated with counterparty non-performance is generally limited to the fair value (derivative assets and liabilities) of OTC derivatives reported as net assets, net of collateral received or paid, pursuant to agreements with each counterparty. The Investment Manager attempts to reduce the counterparty credit risk of the Company by establishing certain credit terms in its International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA) Master Agreements (with netting terms) with counterparties, and through credit policies and monitoring procedures. Under ISDA Master Agreements in certain circumstances (e.g. when a credit event such as a default occurs) all outstanding transactions under the agreement are terminated, the termination value is assessed and only a single net amount is due or payable in settlement of all transactions. The Company receives and gives collateral in the form of cash and marketable securities and it is subject to the ISDA Master Agreement Credit Support Annex. This means that securities received/given as collateral can be pledged or sold during the term of the transaction. The terms also give each party the right to terminate the related transactions on the other party's failure to post collateral. Exchange-traded derivatives generally involve less counterparty exposure because of the margin requirements of the individual exchanges.

 

Generally, these contracts can be closed out at the discretion of the Investment Manager and are governed by the futures and options clearing agreements signed with the future commission merchants ("FCMs"). FCMs have capital requirements intended to assure that they have sufficient capital to protect their customers in the event of any inadequacy in customer funds arising from the default of one or more customers, adverse market conditions, or for any other reason. The credit risk relating to derivatives is detailed further in Note 3.

 

Liquidity Risk

Liquidity risk is the risk that the Company will not be able to meet its obligations as and when these fall due.

 

Liquidity risk is managed by the Investment Manager so as to ensure that the Company maintains sufficient working capital in cash or near cash form so as to be able to meet the Company's ongoing requirements as these are budgeted for.

 

Other Risks

Legal, tax and regulatory changes could occur during the term of the Company that may adversely affect the Company. The regulatory environment for alternative investment vehicles is evolving, and changes in the regulation of alternative investment vehicles may adversely affect the value of investments held by the Company or the ability of the Company to pursue its trading strategies.

 

The impact of these risks can have a substantial impact on the valuation and ultimately the realisation of assets.

 

Market disruptions associated with current geopolitical events have had a global impact, and uncertainty exists as to their implications. Such disruptions can potentially adversely affect the assets, and thus the performance, of the Company. The Board continues to monitor this situation.

 

NOTE 5 - SHARE CAPITAL

 

The Company's authorised share capital consists of:

 

10,000 Class A Shares authorised, of par value $1 each (which carry no voting rights); and, an unlimited number of shares of no par value which may, upon issue, be designated as Ordinary Shares, Extended Life Shares or New Global Shares and Subscription Shares (each of which carry voting rights) or Capital Distribution Shares.

 

The issued share capital of the Company consists of Ordinary Shares, Class A Shares and Extended Life Shares, all denominated in US dollars, and New Global Shares denominated in Pounds Sterling. Shareholders of Ordinary Shares, Extended Life Shares and New Global Shares have the right to attend and vote at any general meeting of the Company. Class A shareholders do not have the right to attend and vote at a general meeting of the Company save where there are no other shares of the Company in issue.

 

The Class A Shares are held by Suntera Trustees (Guernsey) Limited (formerly named Carey Trustees Limited) (the "Trustee"), pursuant to a Purpose Trust established under Guernsey law. Under the terms of the NBDDIF Purpose Trust Deed, the Trustee holds the Class A Shares for the purpose of exercising the right to receive notice of general meetings of the Company but the Trustee shall only have the right to attend and vote at general meetings of the Company when there are no other shares of the Company in issue.

 

The original investment period expired on 10 June 2013 and a proposal was made to Ordinary Shareholders to extend the investment period by 21 months to 31 March 2015. A vote was held at a class meeting of shareholders on 8 April 2013 where the majority of shareholders voted in favour of the proposed extension.

 

Following this meeting and with the Ordinary Shareholders approval of the extension, a new class, the Extended Life Shares, was created and the Extended Life Shares were issued to 72% of initial Investors who elected to convert their Ordinary Shares to Extended Life Shares. The rest of investors remain invested on the basis of the existing investment period.

 

The New Global Share Class was created in March 2014 and its investment period ended on 31 March 2017.

 

As at 30 June 2024, the Company had the following number of shares in issue:

 

Issued and fully paid up

30 June 2024 (UNAUDITED)

31 December 2023 (AUDITED)

Class A Shares

2

2

Ordinary Share Class of no par value (Nil in treasury; 2023: Nil)

15,382,770

15,382,770

Extended Life Share Class of no par value (Nil in treasury; 2023: Nil)

44,234,790

44,234,790

New Global Share Class of no par value (Nil in treasury; 2023: Nil)

27,821,698

27,821,698

 

Reconciliation of the number of shares in issue in each class (excluding Class A) as at 30 June 2024:

 


Ordinary

Shares

Extended Life Shares

New Global

Shares

Total

Balance as at 31 December 2023

15,382,770

44,234,790

27,821,698

87,439,258

Shares redeemed during the period

-

-

-

-

Buybacks (Shares repurchased)

-

-

-

-

Balance as at 30 June 20241

15,382,770

44,234,790

27,821,698

87,439,258

 

1 Balance of issued shares used to calculate NAV

 

Reconciliation of the number of shares in issue in each class (excluding Class A) as at 31 December 2023:

 


Ordinary

Shares

Extended Life Shares

New Global

Shares

Total

Balance as at 31 December 2022

15,382,770

60,116,016

31,023,609

106,522,395

Shares redeemed during the year

-

(15,881,226)

(3,201,911)

(19,083,137)

Buybacks (Shares repurchased)

-

-

-

-

Balance as at 31 December 20231

15,382,770

44,234,790

27,821,698

87,439,258

 

1 Balance of issued shares used to calculate NAV

 

Distributions

 

For the period ended 30 June 2024 there were no capital returns by way of compulsory partial redemptions.

 

Set out below are details of the capital returns by way of compulsory partial redemptions approved during the year ended 31 December 2023

 

31 DECEMBER 2023 (AUDITED) 

 Ordinary Share Class

 Extended Life Share Class

New Global Share Class


Distribution Amount

 

Number of Shares

Per Share Amount

Distribution Amount

 

Number of Shares

Per Share Amount

Distribution Amount

 

Number of Shares

Per Share

Amount

02 May 2023

-

-

-

$8,149,711

8,487,514

$0.9602

$2,697,863

3,201,911

$0.8426

29 June 2023

-

-

-

$3,352,980

3,753,056

$0.8934

-

-

-

11 September 2023

-

-

-

$3,754,972

3,640,656

$1.0314

-

-

-

 

-

-

 

$15,257,663

15,881,226

 

 

3,201,911

 

 

Buybacks

 

No shares were repurchased by the Company during either the period ended 30 June 2024 or the year ended 31 December 2023.

 

NOTE 6 - MATERIAL AGREEMENTS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

 

Investment Management Agreement ("IMA")

 

The Board is responsible for managing the business affairs of the Company but delegates certain functions to the Investment Manager under an IMA dated 9 June 2010 (as amended).

 

On 17 July 2014, the Company, the Manager and the AIFM made certain classificatory amendments to their contractual arrangements for the purposes of the AIFM Directive. The Sub-Investment Management Agreement was terminated on 17 July 2014 and Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC (formerly Neuberger Berman Fixed Income LLC), which was the Sub-Investment Manager, was appointed as the AIFM per the amended and restated IMA dated 17 July 2014. Under this agreement, the AIFM is responsible for risk management and day-to-day discretionary management of the Company's Portfolios (including uninvested cash). The risk management and discretionary portfolio management functions are performed independently of each other within the AIFM structure. The AIFM is not required to, and generally will not, submit individual investment decisions for approval by the Board. The Manager, Neuberger Berman Europe Limited, was appointed under the same IMA to provide, amongst other things, certain administrative services to the Company. On 31 December 2017 the Company entered into an Amendment Agreement amending the IMA. On the 30 January 2023 the Company entered into an Amendment Agreement amending the IMA for data protection purposes to note the obligation on the recipient UK investment manager to comply with the new SCCs in transferring personal data to the US AIFM.

 

Per the IMA and in relation to the Ordinary Shares and Extended Life Shares, the Manager was entitled to a management fee, which shall be accrued daily, and was payable monthly in arrears, at a rate of 0.125% per month of the respective NAVs of the Ordinary Share and Extended Life Share classes. Soft commissions were not used.

 

Per the IMA and in relation to the New Global Shares, the Manager was entitled to a management fee, which accrued daily, and was payable monthly in arrears, at a rate of 0.125% per month of the NAV of the New Global Share Class (excluding, until such time as the New Global Share Class had become 85% invested, any cash balances (or cash equivalents)). The 85% threshold was crossed on 16 June 2015 and from such date the Company was charged 0.125% per month on the NAV of the New Global Share Class.

 

Effective 18 March 2021, the Investment Manager had waived its entitlement to all fees from the Company. Accordingly, there was no management fees expensed in the period or the preceding financial year nor were any fees outstanding at either 30 June 2024 or 31 December 2023.

 

Administration, Company Secretarial and Custody Agreements

 

Effective 1 March 2015, the Company entered into an Administration and Sub-Administration Agreement with U.S. Bank Global Fund Services (Guernsey) Limited and U.S. Bank Global Fund Services (Ireland) Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of U.S. Bancorp (the "Administration Agreement"). Under the terms of the Administration Agreement, Sub-Administration services are delegated to U.S. Bank Global Fund Services (Ireland) Limited (the "Sub-Administrator"). The Sub-Administration Service Level Agreement was amended and approved on 21 February 2018.

 

The Sub-Administrator is responsible for the day-to-day administration of the Company (including but not limited to the calculation and publication of the estimated daily NAV).

 

Under the terms of the Administration Agreement, the Sub-Administrator is entitled to a fee of 0.09% for the first $500m of net asset value, 0.08% for the next $500m and 0.07% for any remaining balance, accrued daily and paid monthly in arrears and subject to an annual minimum of $100,000.

 

Effective 28 February 2015, the Company entered into a Custody Agreement with U.S. Bank National Association (the "Custodian") to provide loan administration and custody services to the Company. Under the terms of the Custody Agreement the Custodian is entitled to an annual fee of 0.025% of net asset value with a minimum annual fee of $25,000.

 

Effective 20 June 2017, Suntera (Guernsey) Limited (formerly named Carey Commercial Limited) was appointed the Company Secretary. The Company Secretary is entitled to an annual fee of £73,000 plus fees for ad-hoc board meetings and additional services.

 

For the period 30 June 2024, the administration fee expense was $42,918 (30 June 2023: $43,636), the secretarial fee was $58,671 of which $Nil was in relation to the administration of the ongoing buyback programme, (30 June 2023: $53,092) and the loan administration and custody fee expense was $14,910 (30 June 2023: $9,959). At 30 June 2024, the administration fee payable is $5,7551 (31 December 2023: $5,8521), the secretarial fee payable is $53,9521 (31 December 2023: $25,4501) and the loan administration and custody fee payable is $17,6091 (31 December 2023: $9,0881).

 

1 Amounts are included under Accrued expenses and other liabilities in the Unaudited Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities and Unaudited Consolidated Statement of Operations

Directors' Remuneration and Other Interests

The Directors are related parties and are remunerated for their services at a fee of $45,000 plus £10,000 each per annum ($60,000 plus £10,000 for the Chairman, $50,000 plus £10,000 for the Chairman of the Audit Committee). For the period ended 30 June 2024, the Directors' fees and travel expenses amounted to $97,550 (30 June 2023: $96,725). Michael J. Holmberg, the non-independent Director, has waived the fees for his services as a Director. There were no other related interests for the period ended 30 June 2024.

 

The Company has not set any requirements or guidelines for Directors to own shares in the Company. The beneficial interests of the Directors and their connected persons in the Company's shares as at 30 June 2024 are shown in the table below:

 

 

Director

No. of Ordinary Shares

No. of Extended Life Shares

No. of New Global Shares

Total No. of

Shares

John Hallam

-

40,507

33,462

73,969

Michael Holmberg

-

17,885

34,982

52,867

Christopher Legge

-

-

-

-

Stephen Vakil

-

-

18,253

18,253

 

NOTE 7 - FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS


Ordinary

Shares

Extended Life Shares

New Global

Shares

Ordinary

Shares

Extended Life Shares

New Global

Shares


($)

($)

(£)

($)

($)

(£)

Per share operating performance

Period ended 30 june 2024 (UNAUDITED)

Period ended

30 june 2024 (UNAUDITED)

Period ended

30 june 2024 (UNAUDITED)

Period ended

30 june 2023 (Unaudited)

Period ended

30 june 2023 (Unaudited)

Period ended

30 june 2023

(Unaudited)

Net asset value per share at

 beginning of the period

0.8071

1.0312

0.6239

0.7730

0.9728

0.6640

Impact of capital distribution

-

-

-

-

0.0065

0.0001

Impact of dividend distribution

-

-

-

-

-

-

Income from investment operations 1







Net investment income 

0.0004

0.0090

0.0122

0.0007

0.0033

0.0112

Net realised and unrealised (loss)/gain from investments and foreign exchange

(0.0332)

(0.0262)

(0.0313)

0.0222

0.0441

(0.0232)

(Loss)/gain from investment operations

(0.0328)

(0.0172)

(0.0191)

0.0229

0.0474

(0.0120)

Net asset value per share at

end of the period2

0.7743

1.0140

0.6048

0.7959

1.0267

0.6521


1Weighted average number of shares outstanding was used for calculation.

2Each share classes net assets includes the underlying assets and liabilities directly attributable to the respective share class.

 


Ordinary

Shares

Extended Life Shares

New Global

Shares

Ordinary

Shares

Extended Life Shares

New Global

Shares

 

($)

($)

(£)

($)

($)

(£)

NAV Total return 2, 3

Period ended

30 june 2024 (UNAUDITED)

Period ended

30 june 2024 (UNAUDITED)

Period ended

30 june 2024 (UNAUDITED)

Period ended

30 june 2023 (Unaudited)

Period ended 30 june 2023 (Unaudited)

Period ended

30 june 2023

(Unaudited)

NAV Total Return before

performance fee

(4.06%)

(1.67%)

(3.06%)

2.96%

5.54%

(1.79%)

NAV Total Return after performance fee including an income distribution by way of dividend

(4.06%)

(1.67%)

(3.06%)

2.96%

5.54%

(1.79%)


2 NAV Total Return is calculated for the Ordinary Shares, Extended Life Shares and New Global Shares only and is calculated based on movement in the NAV and does not reflect any movement in the market value of the shares. A shareholder's return may vary from these returns based on participation in new issues, the timing of capital transactions etc. It assumes that all income distributions of the Company, paid by way of dividend, were reinvested, without transaction costs. Class A shares are not presented as they are not profit participating shares.

3 An individual shareholder's return may vary from these returns based on the timing of the shareholder's subscriptions.

 


Ordinary

Shares

Extended Life Shares

New Global

Shares

Ordinary

Shares

Extended Life Shares

New Global

Shares


($)

(£)

($)

($)

(£)

 Ratio to average net assets

PERIOD ENDED

30 June 2024

(Unaudited)

PERIOD ENDED

30 June 2024

(Unaudited)

PERIOD ENDED

30 June 2024

(Unaudited)

Period ended

30 june 2023 (Unaudited)

Period ended 30 june 2023 (Unaudited)

Period ended

30 june 2023

(Unaudited)

Net investment income before and after performance fees

0.11%

1.76%

4.00%

0.19%

0.69%

3.51%

Total expenses and performance fee

(1.28%)

(1.39%)

(2.90%)

(1.08%)

(1.18%)

(1.53%)

 

NOTE 8 - RECONCILIATION OF NET ASSET VALUE TO PUBLISHED NAV

 

In preparing the Financial Statements, there were adjustments relating to investment valuations. The impact of these adjustments on the NAV per Ordinary Share, Extended Life Share and New Global Share is detailed below:

 


Ordinary

Share Class Net Assets

($)

Ordinary

Share Class

NAV per Share

($)

Extended Life

Share Class

Net Assets

($)

Extended Life

Share Class NAV per Share

($)

New Global

Share Class

Net Assets

(£)

New Global

Share Class NAV per Share

(£)

Published net assets as at 30 June 2024

12,127,488

0.7884

45,413,289

1.0266

16,825,621

0.6048

Valuation adjustments

(216,253)

(0.0141)

(558,177)

(0.0126)

-

-

Net assets per Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

11,911,235

0.7743

44,855,112

1.0140

16,825,621

0.6048

 


Ordinary

Share Class Net Assets

($)

Ordinary

Share Class

NAV per Share

($)

Extended Life

Share Class

Net Assets

($)

Extended Life

Share Class NAV per Share

($)

New Global

Share Class

Net Assets

(£)

New Global

Share Class NAV per Share

(£)

Published net assets as at 31 December 2023

12,323,608

0.8011

45,378,194

1.0258

17,358,035

0.6239

Valuation adjustments

91,623

0.0060

236,291

0.0054

-

-

Net assets per Consolidated Financial Statements

12,415,231

0.8071

45,614,485

1.0312

17,358,035

0.6239

 

NOTE 9 - SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

 

The Directors have evaluated subsequent events up to 28 August 2024, which is the date that the financial statements were available to be issued.

 

There are no further items that require disclosure or adjustment to Financial Statements.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION | Contact Details

Contact Details

 

Directors

John Hallam (Chairman)

Michael Holmberg

Christopher Legge

Stephen Vakil

 

All c/o the Company's registered office.

 

Registered Office

1st & 2nd Floors, Elizabeth House

Les Ruettes Brayes

St Peter Port

Guernsey

GY1 1EW

 

Company Secretary

Suntera (Guernsey) Limited (formerly named Carey Commercial Limited)

 

Alternative Investment Fund Manager

Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC

 

Manager

Neuberger Berman Europe Limited

 

Custodian and Principal Bankers

US Bank National Association

 

Designated Administrator

U.S. Bank Global Fund Services (Guernsey) Limited

 

Independent Auditor

KPMG Channel Islands Limited

 

Sub-Administrator

U.S. Bank Global Fund Services (Ireland) Limited

 

Financial Adviser and Corporate Broker

Jefferies International Limited

 

Solicitors to the Company (as to English law and U.S. securities law)

Herbert Smith Freehills LLP

 

Advocates to the Company (as to Guernsey law)

Carey Olsen

 

Registrar

Link Market Services (Guernsey) Limited

 

UK Transfer Agent

Link Group  

Central Square

29 Wellington Street

Leeds

LS1 4DL

United Kingdom

 

Shareholders holding shares directly and not through a broker, saving scheme or ISA and have queries in relation to their shareholdings should contact the Registrar on +44 (0)371 664 0445. (Calls are charged at the standard geographic rate and will vary by provider. Calls outside the United Kingdom will be charged at the applicable international rate. Lines are open between 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (excluding bank holidays)). Shareholders can also access their details via the Registrar's website:

www.signalshares.com.

 

Full contact details of the Company's advisers and Manager can be found on the Company's website.

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IR FLFFDTIITFIS