×

Watch on-demand now -

Event | Tax Advantaged Online Forum: Four distinct approaches to EIS investing

In, What RECI brings to investors, we reviewed the benefits that investors in RECI receive, noting i) a near-10% dividend yield, significantly covered by recurring interest income and which has been maintained through multiple macro crises, ii) diversification of investors’ portfolios, with an equity with low correlation to overall markets, iii) an experienced debt manager bringing competitive advantages in deal origination and risk management, iv) a diversified portfolio with proven downside resilience created by Cheyne’s actions, and v) liquid access to an attractive, illiquid asset class. There are risks (e.g. French macro conditions), but RECI has a proven track record of resilience.

  • Stable business model:  Our August 2019 57-page initiation on RECI detailed the investment-positive, -neutral and risk factors. Very little has changed over the past six years, with the key drivers exactly as they were in that report. In our view, this stability is a further core attraction of the RECI model.
  • August factsheet: RECI had a diversified portfolio of 23 investments (valuation £307.9m). Available cash was £14.9m and net effective leverage 34.7%. In August, RECI committed £17.1m to support an office building in Canary Wharf. The average yield was 10.5% and LTV 63.8% (both down on July).
  • Valuation: In the five-year, pre-pandemic era, on average, RECI traded at a premium to NAV. In periods of market uncertainty, it has traded at a discount; currently, it trades at a well-above-average 12.6% discount. RECI is paying an annualised 12p dividend, generating a yield of 9.5%, which we expect to be covered by recurring net interest income.
  • Risks: Any lender is exposed to credit risks. We believe RECI has appropriate policies to reduce the probability of default. Its average LTV is 63,8%, and most loans (inc. all of the top 10) are senior-secured, providing a downside cushion. Some assets are illiquid. In the short term, investor sentiment could be an issue.
  • Investment summary: RECI generates an above-average dividend yield from well-managed credit assets. Directors and management have demonstrated their confidence in its sustainability through share purchases. Market wide, credit risk is currently above average, although rating agencies expect defaults to reduce in 2025, and RECI’s strong liquidity and debt restructuring expertise should allow it time to manage problem accounts. Borrowers have injected further equity into deals. A rolling series of six-monthly buybacks, of up to £10m, has been seen.
Download the full report

Request a meeting

If you'd like to be introduced to the team at Real Estate Credit Investments (RECI), get in touch.

Request a meeting
Download the full report