Investment Objectives
The Fund aims to maximise the total level of return through investment, in a diversified portfolio of Emerging Market (“EM”) Corporate and Government fixed income securities as well as up to 15% of the Net Assets of the Sub-Fund in EM equities. In pursuing this objective, the Investment Manager shall invest primarily in a diversified portfolio of EM bonds rated at the time of investment “BBB+” to “CCC+” by S&P, or in bonds determined to be of comparable quality. The Fund can also invest up to 10% of its assets in Non-Rated bond issues and up to 30% of its assets in Non-EM issuers.
The Fund is actively managed, not managed by reference to any index.
Investor Profile
A typical investor in the CC Emerging Market Bond Fund would be one who is seeking to gain exposure to the Emerging Bond Market via corporate and/or sovereign bonds whilst seeking to accumulate wealth and save over time in a product that re-invests coupons received on a gross basis. Furthermore, investors in the CC Emerging Market Bond Fund are those with a medium to high tolerance to risk and who are planning to hold on to their investment for the medium-to-long term so as to benefit from the compound interest effect whilst also participating in the interest rate cycle as well as the investment cycle commensurate with an investment in Emerging Markets.
Fund Rules
The Investment Manager shall invest primarily but not solely in a diversified portfolio of Emerging Market Corporate fixed income securities and Emerging Market Government fixed income securities with maturities of 10 years or less, rated at the time of investment “Baa1” to “Caa1” by Moody’s or “BBB+” to “CCC+” by S&P, or in bonds determined to be of comparable quality by the Investment Manager. The Investment Manager may also invest up to 10% of the Net Assets of the Sub-Fund in unrated fixed income securities.
- Minimum Credit Rating CCC+ (or equivalent)
- Up to 10% in Non-Rated Bonds
- Average Credit Quality of B- (or equivalent)
- Emerging Market Issuers as per MSCI Emerging and Frontier
- Up to 15% in Emerging Market Equities
- Use of FDIs for hedging purposes only
- No limit on exposure to CIS
- Up to 30% in Non Emerging Market Issuers
A Quick Introduction to Our Euro Equity Fund.
Key Facts & Performance
Fund Manager
Jordan Portelli
Jordan is CIO at CC Finance Group. He has extensive experience in research and portfolio management with various institutions. Today he is responsible of the group’s investment strategy and manages credit and multi-asset strategies.
PRICE (EUR)
€
ASSET CLASS
Bonds
MIN. INITIAL INVESTMENT
€2500
FUND TYPE
UCITS
BASE CURRENCY
EUR
RETURN (SINCE INCEPTION)*
-23.43%
*View Performance History below
Inception Date: 02 Nov 2017
ISIN: MT7000021259
Bloomberg Ticker: CCEMBFD MV
Entry Charge: Up to 2.5%
Total Expense Ratio: 1.78%
Exit Charge: None
Distribution Yield (%): 3.50
Underlying Yield (%): 5.15
Distribution: 31/03 and 30/09
Total Net Assets: $10.5 mn
Month end NAV in EUR: 62.92
Number of Holdings: 47
Auditors: Deloitte Malta
Legal Advisor: Ganado Advocates
Custodian: Sparkasse Bank Malta p.l.c.
% of Top 10 Holdings: 36.2
Performance To Date (EUR)
Top 10 Holdings
4.8%
3.8%
3.7%
3.7%
3.7%
3.7%
3.4%
3.4%
3.1%
2.9%
Major Sector Breakdown*
Communications
10.0%
Materials
8.6%
Materials
8.1%

Funds
5.8%
Real Estate
5.6%
Industrials
4.8%
Maturity Buckets*
Credit Ratings
Risk & Reward Profile
Lower Risk
Potentialy Lower Reward
Higher Risk
Potentialy Higher Reward
Top Holdings by Country*
21.4%
12.7%
11.9%
9.5%
7.1%
6.8%
5.7%
5.3%
3.8%
3.4%
Asset Allocation
Performance History (EUR)*
YTD
-15.61%
2021
-1.19%
2020
-3.75%
2019
6.55%
2018
-9.25%
Annualised Since Inception****
-5.04%
Currency Allocation
Interested in this product?
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Investment Objectives
The Fund aims to maximise the total level of return through investment, in a diversified portfolio of Emerging Market (“EM”) Corporate and Government fixed income securities as well as up to 15% of the Net Assets of the Sub-Fund in EM equities. In pursuing this objective, the Investment Manager shall invest primarily in a diversified portfolio of EM bonds rated at the time of investment “BBB+” to “CCC+” by S&P, or in bonds determined to be of comparable quality. The Fund can also invest up to 10% of its assets in Non-Rated bond issues and up to 30% of its assets in Non-EM issuers.
The Fund is actively managed, not managed by reference to any index.
-
Investor profile
A typical investor in the CC Emerging Market Bond Fund would be one who is seeking to gain exposure to the Emerging Bond Market via corporate and/or sovereign bonds whilst seeking to accumulate wealth and save over time in a product that re-invests coupons received on a gross basis. Furthermore, investors in the CC Emerging Market Bond Fund are those with a medium to high tolerance to risk and who are planning to hold on to their investment for the medium-to-long term so as to benefit from the compound interest effect whilst also participating in the interest rate cycle as well as the investment cycle commensurate with an investment in Emerging Markets.
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Fund Rules
The Investment Manager of the CC High Income Bond Funds – EUR and USD has the duty to ensure that the underlying investments of the funds are well diversified. According to the prospectus, the investment manager has to abide by a number of investment restrictions to safeguard the value of the assets
- Minimum Credit Rating CCC+ (or equivalent)
- Up to 10% in Non-Rated Bonds
- Average Credit Quality of B- (or equivalent)
- Emerging Market Issuers as per MSCI Emerging and Frontier
- Up to 15% in Emerging Market Equities
- Use of FDIs for hedging purposes only
- No limit on exposure to CIS
- Up to 30% in Non Emerging Market Issuers
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Commentary
December 2022
Introduction
2022, a year – possibly like no other in recent market history – was characterised by economic uncertainty and significant market volatility.
Geopolitical tensions in eastern Europe and central banks’ battle against inflationary pressures, took centre stage, proving to be the main sources of market struggles. Indeed, bond markets felt the pinch, ending the year substantially negative, notwithstanding some relief witnessed in the final quarter of the year as market participants clinched to the idea that inflation may have possibly peaked, paving the way for the pace of interest rate rises to slow. In China, relief towards the debt-ridden property market accelerated. Simultaneously, strict coronavirus restrictions – a major dampener on domestic demand – were eased, re-igniting hopes that the country is incrementally heading towards the end of its zero-Covid policy. Such news was positively digested, alleviating market sentiment, notably within the EM region.
In the fourth and final quarter of 2022, emerging market credit registered a strong rebound, outperforming developed market counterparts.
Market environment and performance
From the data front in the emerging market world, leading indicators, particularly PMI data continued to show signs of weakness. In China, the composite PMI reading, pointed to the fourth straight month of contraction in private sector activity, amid a spike in coronavirus infections after Beijing abruptly decided to exit strict pandemic curbs. Manufacturing fell to 49.0 in December, the lowest since September as a spike in Covid cases disrupted output, led to a decline in new orders, while export sales fell further. Services noted a softer decline (48.0 v November’s 46.7) in the sector, after removing its stringent zero-Covid policy.
In Brazil, private sector business activity fell to 49.1 in December from 49.8 in the previous month, Brazil’s private sector second successive contraction. Notably, services fell to 51.0 from 51.6 in November, pointing to the slowest pace of growth in more than a year, pressured by heightened political uncertainty. Meanwhile, manufacturing was down for the seventh consecutive month to 44.2 in December, largely unchanged from the previous month reading of 44.3. The latest reading pointed to a third contraction in factory activity as new orders dropped to one of the most significant degrees on record, mainly due to subdued demand from Europe, Latin America, and the US. Simultaneously, employment fell significantly and at the fastest pace in two-and-a-half years.
Price pressures in EM markets have generally continued to show signs of easing. In Brazil, annual inflation for a 5th successive time eased to 5.90% in November from 6.47% in the previous month, the lowest reading since February 2021 as prices of transport and housing eased. Also, in Mexico and India, inflation eased to 7.80% and 5.88%, respectively.
In December EM corporate credit rose c. 2.66%., recouping some of the losses observed on a year-to-date basis and outperforming both European and US corporate credit at both investment grade and high yield levels. For the full year 2022, the EM corporate credit closed substantially in the red, a total return of c. -14.82%.
Fund performance
In the month of December, the CC Emerging Market Bond Fund realized a noteworthy gain of 2.43%, in line with the continued spread tightening within the EM space. Throughout the month the Manager continued to seek pockets of value, looking at attractive opportunities which may well yield capital appreciation.
For the full year, the fund saw a return of -13.21%, outperforming its benchmark returning -15.28%.
Market and investment outlook
Consequent to political uncertainty in important EM regions, Russia-Ukraine geopolitical tensions, and uncertainty in China surrounding both the coronavirus pandemic and property crisis, EM corporate credit underperformed its developed market counterparts for the full year 2022. In the new year, the scenario may however differ. Recent optimism, a result of the moves taken by Xi Jinping’s regime to alleviate the economy through easing of strict coronavirus restrictions imposed and others targeted towards the debt-ridden real-estate sector, shall certainly prove benevolent. Monetary policy decisions – which typically follow the Fed’s course of action and now seemingly employing a less aggressive stance – may too prove accommodating.
In terms of bond picking, the Manager will continue to monitor the market environment and take opportunities in attractive credit stories which should continue to add value to the portfolio. The widening observed in corporate credit spreads over the calendar year have indeed posed opportunities, presenting attractive entry points to yield capital appreciation.
-
Key facts & performance
Fund Manager
Jordan Portelli
Jordan is CIO at CC Finance Group. He has extensive experience in research and portfolio management with various institutions. Today he is responsible of the group’s investment strategy and manages credit and multi-asset strategies.
PRICE (EUR)
€
ASSET CLASS
Bonds
MIN. INITIAL INVESTMENT
€2500
FUND TYPE
UCITS
BASE CURRENCY
EUR
RETURN (SINCE INCEPTION)*
-23.43%
*View Performance History below
Inception Date: 02 Nov 2017
ISIN: MT7000021259
Bloomberg Ticker: CCEMBFD MV
Entry Charge: Up to 2.5%
Total Expense Ratio: 1.78%
Exit Charge: None
Distribution Yield (%): 3.50
Underlying Yield (%): 5.15
Distribution: 31/03 and 30/09
Total Net Assets: $10.5 mn
Month end NAV in EUR: 62.92
Number of Holdings: 47
Auditors: Deloitte Malta
Legal Advisor: Ganado Advocates
Custodian: Sparkasse Bank Malta p.l.c.
% of Top 10 Holdings: 36.2
Performance To Date (EUR)
Risk & Reward Profile
1234567Lower Risk
Potentialy Lower Reward
Higher Risk
Potentialy Higher Reward
Top 10 Holdings
iShares JPM USD EM Bond4.8%
6.625% NBM US Holdings Inc 20293.8%
5.8% Oryx Funding ltd 20313.7%
5.45% Cemex 20293.7%
iShares JPM USD EM Corp Bond3.7%
4.375% Freeport-McMoran Inc 20283.7%
5.8% Turkcell 20283.4%
4% HSBC Holdings plc perp3.4%
4.75% Banco Santander SA perp3.1%
5.299% Petrobras Global Fin 20252.9%
Top Holdings by Country*
Malta (incl. Cash)21.4%
United States12.7%
Brazil11.9%
Mexico9.5%
China7.1%
India6.8%
Oman5.7%
Turkey5.3%
Indonesia3.8%
Great Britain3.4%
*including exposures to CISMajor Sector Breakdown*
Communications
10.0%
Materials
8.6%
Materials
8.1%
Funds
5.8%
Real Estate
5.6%
Industrials
4.8%
*excluding exposures to CISAsset Allocation
Cash 8.5%Bonds (incl. ETFs) 91.5%Maturity Buckets*
54.4%0-5 Years20.4%5-10 Years7.2%10 Years+*based on the Next Call DatePerformance History (EUR)*
YTD
-15.61%
2021
-1.19%
2020
-3.75%
2019
6.55%
2018
-9.25%
Annualised Since Inception****
-5.04%
* The EUR Distributor Share Class (Class D) was launched on 03 November 2017.** Performance figures are calculated using the Value Added Monthly Index "VAMI" principle. The VAMI calculates the total return gained by an investor from reinvestmentof any dividends and additional interest gained through compounding.*** Returns quoted net of TER. Entry and exit charges may reduce returns for investors.**** The Annualised rate is an indication of the average growth of the Fund over one year. The value of the investment and the income yield derived from the investment, if any, may go down as well as up and past performance is not necessarily indicative of future performance, nor a reliable guide to future performance. Hence returns may not be achieved and you may lose all or part of your investment in the Fund. Currency fluctuations may affect the value of investments and any derived income.Currency Allocation
USD 97.2%Euro 2.8% -
Downloads
Commentary
December 2022
Introduction
2022, a year – possibly like no other in recent market history – was characterised by economic uncertainty and significant market volatility.
Geopolitical tensions in eastern Europe and central banks’ battle against inflationary pressures, took centre stage, proving to be the main sources of market struggles. Indeed, bond markets felt the pinch, ending the year substantially negative, notwithstanding some relief witnessed in the final quarter of the year as market participants clinched to the idea that inflation may have possibly peaked, paving the way for the pace of interest rate rises to slow. In China, relief towards the debt-ridden property market accelerated. Simultaneously, strict coronavirus restrictions – a major dampener on domestic demand – were eased, re-igniting hopes that the country is incrementally heading towards the end of its zero-Covid policy. Such news was positively digested, alleviating market sentiment, notably within the EM region.
In the fourth and final quarter of 2022, emerging market credit registered a strong rebound, outperforming developed market counterparts.
Market environment and performance
From the data front in the emerging market world, leading indicators, particularly PMI data continued to show signs of weakness. In China, the composite PMI reading, pointed to the fourth straight month of contraction in private sector activity, amid a spike in coronavirus infections after Beijing abruptly decided to exit strict pandemic curbs. Manufacturing fell to 49.0 in December, the lowest since September as a spike in Covid cases disrupted output, led to a decline in new orders, while export sales fell further. Services noted a softer decline (48.0 v November’s 46.7) in the sector, after removing its stringent zero-Covid policy.
In Brazil, private sector business activity fell to 49.1 in December from 49.8 in the previous month, Brazil’s private sector second successive contraction. Notably, services fell to 51.0 from 51.6 in November, pointing to the slowest pace of growth in more than a year, pressured by heightened political uncertainty. Meanwhile, manufacturing was down for the seventh consecutive month to 44.2 in December, largely unchanged from the previous month reading of 44.3. The latest reading pointed to a third contraction in factory activity as new orders dropped to one of the most significant degrees on record, mainly due to subdued demand from Europe, Latin America, and the US. Simultaneously, employment fell significantly and at the fastest pace in two-and-a-half years.
Price pressures in EM markets have generally continued to show signs of easing. In Brazil, annual inflation for a 5th successive time eased to 5.90% in November from 6.47% in the previous month, the lowest reading since February 2021 as prices of transport and housing eased. Also, in Mexico and India, inflation eased to 7.80% and 5.88%, respectively.
In December EM corporate credit rose c. 2.66%., recouping some of the losses observed on a year-to-date basis and outperforming both European and US corporate credit at both investment grade and high yield levels. For the full year 2022, the EM corporate credit closed substantially in the red, a total return of c. -14.82%.
Fund performance
In the month of December, the CC Emerging Market Bond Fund realized a noteworthy gain of 2.43%, in line with the continued spread tightening within the EM space. Throughout the month the Manager continued to seek pockets of value, looking at attractive opportunities which may well yield capital appreciation.
For the full year, the fund saw a return of -13.21%, outperforming its benchmark returning -15.28%.
Market and investment outlook
Consequent to political uncertainty in important EM regions, Russia-Ukraine geopolitical tensions, and uncertainty in China surrounding both the coronavirus pandemic and property crisis, EM corporate credit underperformed its developed market counterparts for the full year 2022. In the new year, the scenario may however differ. Recent optimism, a result of the moves taken by Xi Jinping’s regime to alleviate the economy through easing of strict coronavirus restrictions imposed and others targeted towards the debt-ridden real-estate sector, shall certainly prove benevolent. Monetary policy decisions – which typically follow the Fed’s course of action and now seemingly employing a less aggressive stance – may too prove accommodating.
In terms of bond picking, the Manager will continue to monitor the market environment and take opportunities in attractive credit stories which should continue to add value to the portfolio. The widening observed in corporate credit spreads over the calendar year have indeed posed opportunities, presenting attractive entry points to yield capital appreciation.