A diversified portfolio of primarily investment grade short duration US dollar bonds, actively managed for enhanced returns, using ring-fenced leverage.
OVERVIEW
Investment Objective
To generate superior return that is more predictable and unhindered by the constraints of a traditional bond benchmark, while enhancing investor return by using leverage.
Key Advantages
- Quality assets: Investment grade bonds (minimum 75%)
- Short duration (circa 2 years) with no material impact of interest rate change
- Low volatility
- Excellent returns of 8% - 10% p.a.
- No forex risk (US dollars only)
- Enhanced returns, prudent use of non-recourse leverage
- Quarterly dividend distribution, pre-determined cash inflow for investors
- Well diversified portfolio of over 100 bonds
- Liquid open-ended fund with weekly subscription/redemption
- State-of-the-art risk management system, using proprietary cash flow modelling.
- As interest rates go up, performance is likely to improve due to short reinvestment period.
- 10-years stellar track record.
Asset Class
Emerging Market vs Developed Market
Government debt as percentage of GDP has been sliding down for Emerging Markets (EM) while it has been rising for Developed Markets (DM).
EMs hold almost twice the amount of forex reserves as compared to DM.
EMs corporate have less debt as compared to DM corporate
Yet: EM bonds offer higher yield pickup of ~80 bps over DM bonds for same credit rating!
Investment Grade vs High Yield
Investment Grade (IG) bonds provide superior risk-adjusted returns than High Yield (HY) bonds.
According to Standard & Poor’s, the default rate of 3 years investment grade credit 0.25% as compared to non-investment grade default rate of 10.63%.
(Source: S&P Global)
Leveraged IG gives returns similar to that of HY without adding credit risk.
Short Duration Funds
The increase in interest rates is good news for fixed income investors. Simple: higher the interest rates, higher the bond returns.
True, there would be short term adjustment pain, but that can be taken care of by portfolio laddering with short weighted average duration. In an increasing interest rate environment, the coupons and sale proceeds get re-invested at increasingly higher yields!
The decrease in interest rates is good news for fixed income investors as it implies capital gains for fixed income investors. While lower interest imply lower bond yields it can be mitigated by increasing portfolio duration and/or use leverage.
Our Edge
Fungible Cash Flow Modeling
The key risk of investing in fixed income securities is the redemption risk.
Silverdale’s core competency is its proprietary Cash Flow Modelling based on fungible cash (SCFM), which provides us insight into the bond issuer’s Ability to Pay and Willingness to Pay. SCFM is the core of our investment process:
Quant Filters: Proprietary algos to scan and sieve the investment universe
– EM $2 trillion; 150k+ bonds with duration 0.5 to 6 yrs; 5 000 tracked; 500 actively followed
Proprietary cash flow modelling
– Based on fungible cash and legal review of the terms of issuance, structure and waterfall
Team Review
– Consensus based approach with CIO negative veto
Risk-based Allocation
– Portfolio sizing based on implied risk (Duration Times Spread)
– Internal and external investment restrictions with strict stop-loss and pro-active re-sizing of investment positions
Trade Execution
– Best execution with no conflict of interest (no soft dollars)
Learnings
– Constant feedback loop from micro/macro news, trading desk, and strategic positioning
Beyond credit filters such as credit rating of bonds, duration, YTM, etc., we deploy SCFM based on Legal Review of bond covenants, and proprietary Silverdale Risk Management Protocol (SRMP) to select bonds with superior risk-adjusted returns.
Our Duration Management, Diversification & Optimization is built on a robust Risk Management System.
Portfolio Characteristics
Data as of 28/03/2024
| Net Assets (AUM) | Net Loan | Gross Investments1 | Investment Grade Bonds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Securities | Max Single Security Exposure | Number of Countries | Max Single Country Exposure |
|---|---|---|---|
Fund Information
| Share Classes | ISIN |
| Accumulation | SGXZ66077579 |
| Distribution | SGXZ84696368 |
| Institutional (Acc) | SGXZ79922928 |
| Institutional (Dist) | SGXZ76188929 |
| Accumulation III | SGXZ95348165 |
| Distribution III | SGXZ10242964 |
| Accumulation V | SGXZ65114738 |
| Distribution V | SGXZ56141039 |
| Distribution K | SGXZ52285178 |
| Fund Name | Silverdale Bond Fund |
| ACRA Regn. No | T20VC0123D-SF002 |
| MAS SRS No | 21CFOV10013 |
| Umbrella Fund | Silverdale Fund VCC |
| Country of Domicile | Singapore |
| Fund Currency | USD |
| Strategy Inception Date | 9 September 2010 |
| Management Fee | 0.50% p.a.^^ |
| Weekly NAV Launch Date | 4 Oct 2013 |
| Sub-fund Launch Date | 1 February 2021 |
| NAV Frequency | Weekly (Friday)* |
| Subscription / Redemption | Weekly (Monday)* |
| Last Quarterly Dividend | US$ 2.10 per share |
| Next Quarterly Dividend | US$ 2.10 per share# |
| Next Dividend Date | 28 June 2024# |
| Trailing 12-month Dividend | US$ 8.40 per share |
The NAV performance is computed taking: 1 month = 4 weeks, 3 months = 13 weeks, 6 months = 26 weeks, 9 months = 39 weeks, 12 months = 52 weeks, 3 years = 156 weeks and 5 years = 260 weeks; where attributable NAV is not available, the latest available NAV is taken for computation. NAV prior to 8 May 2015 is based on NAV of Sri Silverdale Opportunities Fund (Class-E); and NAV for the period 8 May 2015 to 23 April 2021 is that of Silverdale Fund SPC SP-1 managed by the same fund management team without change in strategy. Payment of Dividend results in equivalent amount of drop in the NAV of the Fund.
(*) Assuming to be a Business Day.
(#) Indicative
(^) Based on AUM; Credit Rating is based on best of the three ratings (S&P/Moodys/Fitch); Rating exposure of less than 3% has been clubbed as "Others"; unless otherwise specified. Sector exposure of less than 3% has been clubbed as 'Others'; unless otherwise specified. Country exposure of less than 3% has been clubbed as 'Others'; unless otherwise specified.
(^^) Based on net AUM.
(1) Gross Investments is aggregation of AUM and Net Loans and cash on hand.
Historical Communiques
To view the previous communiques, click here.