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

In previous reports, we have highlighted RECI’s downside resilience. Its recent investor day (see our note Investor Day: opportunities aplenty) highlighted the scale of opportunities for the trust in 2026 and beyond. The key driver is its strong pipeline driven by the manager’s expertise and scale accessing the least competitive sectors of real estate lending. It can earn good returns (typically 8%-10% unleveraged) with only modest sensitivity to whole-market dynamics. Regular repayments, both contractual and customers refinancing, mean that there is flexibility to take opportunities as they emerge. We sense an increased appetite for development finance.

  • Access to least competitive subsectors: Real estate finance is not one market. Competition varies enormously; banks, for example, have little appetite for development finance due to regulatory capital penalties. Cheyne’s scale means it accesses deals that are too large for many other finance providers.
  • Retail webinars: RECI has hosted two webinars (see here). RECI’s Chairman and manager outlined the fund’s strategy and operational management to deliver superior returns. In the second, they answered investor questions, including why the fund secured overwhelming shareholder continuation vote backing.
  • 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 12.9% discount. RECI is paying an annualised 12p dividend, generating a yield of 9.7%, 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 65.2%, 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.
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