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Michael Murphy: What higher-for-longer rates mean for private credit

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In a higher interest rate environment, it’s important to regularly check in on your portfolio – here, Perpetual portfolio manager Michael Murphy explains why

A higher-for-longer interest rate environment has exposed hidden risks in private credit investments, making it important for investors to consider reallocating to higher-quality investments.

That’s according to Michael Murphy, a portfolio manager and senior high-yield analyst in Perpetual’s credit and fixed income team.

Private credit has become an important asset class for Australian investors in recent years.

It has more than tripled in size since 2020 as changing regulations and stricter capital requirements lead banks to pull back on lending activities.

Previously, low interest rates and high liquidity decreased the number of borrowers defaulting on their loans and encouraged investors to take on more risk in the search for returns, says Murphy.

“But with interest rates expected to stay higher for longer — and with a heightened risk of some kind of economic downturn — we could see a divergence between those who’ve been prudent in their risk management and those who haven’t,” says Murphy, who manages Perpetual Loan Fund.

Perpetual Loan Fund is a portfolio of private and syndicated loans that forms a crucial component of the ASX-listed Perpetual Credit Income Trust (ASX: PCI) and Perpetual’s Pure Credit Alpha Fund.

“There’s that old Buffett adage — when the tide goes out, you see who's swimming naked,” he says.

“Now that the tide’s out, we’re seeing more differentiation.”

Private credit: a wide spectrum of risk

“Private credit is a bit of a catch-all term covering everything from property developer loans to corporate leveraged finance and ASX-listed companies,” says Murphy.

That wide spectrum means a range of opportunities for investors, from high-quality companies with good financials and economic moats to the highly indebted with weak business operations and elevated risks.

“Our research shows the higher margin on offer from the riskier side of private credit generally doesn't provide compensation for the additional risk that you're taking on.”

Risk in the private credit market manifests in multiple ways, not only through default.

More commonly, investors are faced with a restructuring event when a company may still be making an operating profit but is failing to generate enough earnings to service its debt.

This leads to negotiations to restructure the debt into a more sustainable capital structure, says Murphy. Typically, debt is reduced, and borrowers may receive equity in the company.

“You'll often hear managers say, ‘we've had no defaults’ — but it is reasonably rare for a company to get to that stage.”

Marking to market

In Australia, private credit is generally not traded on a secondary market, unlike the US where there is a secondary market for syndicated loans.Murphy says this can present a challenge to investors seeking to understand valuations.

“Some managers just mark for par unless it’s impaired. Others will mark to market,” says Murphy.

A ‘mark to market’ valuation aims to provide an appraisal of an asset based on current market conditions. ‘Mark to par’ refers to the practice of valuing an asset at its face value.

“This is important, especially if you've got an open-ended fund,” says Murphy. “You’re funding redemptions at the market value, so you don't want to get to the stage where investors are redeeming their units based on a value for those loans that isn’t the true market value.”

Sector example: healthcare

One popular sector that could cause headaches for investors is healthcare.
Despite seemingly strong fundamentals like an aging population and increasing demand, the health sector faces numerous challenges that many have overlooked, says Murphy.

This includes increasingly competitive markets, rising wages costs, a tightening of payments from the insurers who fund the sector and competition for specialist doctors.

“Healthcare represents a large portion of the market for private credit — and there is strong demand from lenders who are willing to provide high levels of debt relatively cheaply,” says Murphy.

“But our research shows there are headwinds that are under-appreciated.
“If you do start to face those headwinds, it can turn quite quickly in terms of them then struggling to repay those debts.”

Seek out quality

Murphy says investors should adjust their portfolios to the new circumstances by seeking out higher-quality assets.

“Funds focusing on the lower-quality end of the spectrum — and offering mid-teen returns — almost always struggle to meet that objective. There are not many situations in Australia that meet that return hurdle.

“But as rates rise and spreads widen, even high-quality businesses are now delivering high single digit to low teen returns.

“At that end of the spectrum you can earn attractive returns even against equities without taking on too much risk.

“You have security over the business — so you're contracted to be paid before everyone else.”

Murphy also says investors should seek out managers focused on the quality end of the market, with a mark-to-market policy for their funds and the agility to move in and out of the market as risk reward profiles change.

“Having that flexibility and discipline to stay out of the market when the risk-reward isn’t there is a real advantage.

“If you were a fund that was really expanding aggressively in 2021, that means you're going to have a significant part of your book that, on average, offers less quality in terms of being high risk and generally low return.”

 
About Michael Murphy and Perpetual’s Credit and Fixed Income team

Michael is a portfolio manager and senior high-yield analyst with Perpetual’s credit and fixed income team.

Michael manages Perpetual Loan Fund – a portfolio of private and syndicated loans that forms a crucial component of the ASX-listed Perpetual Credit Income Trust (ASX: PCI) and Perpetual’s Pure Credit Alpha Fund.

Perpetual offers a range of cash, credit and fixed-income solutions.

Our credit and fixed income team are specialists in investing in quality debt.

They take a highly active approach to buying and selling credit and fixed income securities and invest extensively across industries, maturities and the capital structure.

Learn more about Perpetual’s Credit and Fixed Income capabilities

Questions? Contact a Perpetual account manager

 

Michael%20Murphy%20-4.jpg
Michael Murphy
Senior High Yield Analyst, Portfolio Manager, Perpetual Loan Fund
BEng, BEc, MPhil (Econ)
Michael Murphy
Michael%20Murphy%20-4.jpg

Michael Murphy

Senior High Yield Analyst, Portfolio Manager, Perpetual Loan Fund BEng, BEc, MPhil (Econ)
Bio

Years of experience: 11
Years at Perpetual: 5

Michael Murphy is Portfolio Manager for the Perpetual Loan Fund, a portfolio of private and syndicated loans that forms a crucial component of the Perpetual Credit Income Trust (ASX: PCI).

Michael joined Perpetual Asset Management Australia in October 2018 as a High Yield Analyst, focusing on the high yield and private debt markets. He also previously worked as an Investment Associate at Metrics Credit Partners, responsible for covering leveraged finance and corporate private debt.

Prior to this, he was an Associate Credit Analyst at Morningstar and before that, a Credit Risk Analyst at Commonwealth Bank.

Michael has a Bachelor of Engineering (1st class honours) and Bachelor of Economics from the University of Adelaide, along with a Master of Philosophy (Economics) from the University of Oxford.

This article has been prepared by Perpetual Investment Management Limited (PIML) ABN 18 000 866 535, AFSL 234426. PIML is the investment manager, responsible entity (RE) and issuer of the Perpetual Pure Credit Alpha Fund ARSN 121 609 747 (Fund). Perpetual Trust Services Limited ABN 48 000 142 049, AFSL 236648 (PTSL) is the RE and issuer of the Perpetual Credit Income Trust ARSN 626 053 496 (PCI). PTSL has appointed PIML to act as the manager of PCI.

This article is general information only and is not intended to provide you with financial advice or take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. You should consider, with a financial adviser, whether the information is suitable for your circumstances. To the extent permitted by law, no liability is accepted for any loss or damage as a result of any reliance on this information. The information is believed to be accurate at the time of compilation and is provided in good faith. Any views expressed in this article are opinions of the author at the time of writing and do not constitute a recommendation to act.

The product disclosure statement (PDS) for the Fund, issued by PIML, should be considered before deciding whether to acquire or hold units in the Fund. The PDS and Target Market Determination for the Fund can be obtained by calling 1800 022 033 or visiting our website www.perpetual.com.au. Before making any investment decisions you should consider the PDS for PCI (dated 8 March 20) issued by PTSL and the Trust’s other periodic and continuous disclosure announcements lodged with the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), which are available at www.perpetualincome.com.au or can be obtained by calling 1300 778 468.

No company in the Perpetual Group (Perpetual Limited ABN 86 000 431 827 and its subsidiaries) guarantees the performance of the Fund or PCI or the return of an investor's capital. This information does not constitute an offer, invitation, solicitation or recommendation with respect to the purchase or sale of PCI’s units.