×

In our note, French and German exposures in perspective, published 27 February, we noted RECI’s approach to its French operations (25% of the portfolio) was unchanged from our note, “Vive la difference (15 February 2022). Following the December 2023 factsheet unrealised hit of 1.6p to the NAV from a prime Grade A Paris office exposure, we thought we would review them again. In addition, with the November factsheet 1.1p NAV hit from a legacy Berlin mezzanine position, we also looked at the de minimis German exposure. The unrealised losses were not expected, but our note showed RECI’s prudent accounting and portfolio resilience.

  • March factsheet: The underlying NAV rose 0.9p, with 1.6p interest income and -0.6p MTM losses. During the month, RECI was fully repaid, at par, its position in a UK deal, receiving ca.£12m net of leverage. The cash balance was £24m, with gross leverage just 18% of NAV. There are 31 positions, with average yield 10.3% and LTV 60.9%.
  • Director buying: In addition to the 1.1m shares bought back by RECI in March, we saw further Chair and Director buying in April. This followed the Chair’s purchase of shares in the market on 16 February and director buying in January. In our view, all these purchases show the confidence of both management and the board in the trust’s NAV and outlook.
  • 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 20% discount. RECI is paying an annualised 12p dividend, generating a yield of 10.3%, 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 60.9%, and most loans (including all 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. Management has demonstrated its confidence in its sustainability. Bond pricing includes a discount, reflecting uncertainty, which should unwind when conditions normalise. Market wide, credit risk is currently above average, but RECI’s strong liquidity and debt restructuring expertise should allow it time to manage problem accounts. Borrowers, to date, have injected further equity into deals. The initial £5m share buyback programme has now been completed. A new £10m one was announced on 28 March.
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