Last week we provided investors in the ASX-listed Forager Australian Shares Fund (FOR) an estimate of the coming distribution for the year ended 30 June 2018. The size – 22 cents per unit – caused some surprise and more than a few questions. Here are some answers to the common ones:
Why is the distribution so large?
We don’t have any choice in the matter. FOR is a unit trust and, as such, must distribute all of its taxable income to unitholders every year. That includes dividends and interest received and capital gains realised. This past year we realised a lot of gains on stocks we have held for a number of years – Service Stream and Jumbo Interactive for example – so the distribution is larger than usual.
What are the components of the distribution?
That won’t be known until 30 June. Indeed, the actual amount of the distribution won’t be known until 30 June. It could change significantly if we realise any meaningful gains or losses before the end of the financial year.
Like previous years, however, the vast majority of the taxable distribution is likely to be discounted capital gains. The franked dividend component of the 22 cent estimate was roughly 1 cent per unit or approximately 5% of the total distribution.
Why is the distribution different from the return?
While the return in any given year is based on realised and unrealised gains, we only distribute realised profits. In some years there may be lots of unrealised gains, which would mean returns higher than what is distributed. In other years we might realise gains by selling stocks that have been held for many years. In this case the distribution could actually be higher than the return in a given year. This could be the case this financial year, as some of the stocks sold were held for many years and were representing significant unrealised gains prior to sale.
What happens after the distribution is paid?
The units will trade without an entitlement to the distribution on 28 June 2018 (the ex-date). Investors who purchase on or after that date will not be entitled to receive it. The underlying net asset value will fall by the amount of the distribution on the ex-date. For example, the current net asset value is $1.84 per unit. Were it to trade ex a 22-cent distribution tomorrow, the underlying net asset value would theoretically fall to $1.62 per unit.
The market price can be and usually is different from the underlying asset backing. FOR units have traded at a premium to the underlying value since listing. In an efficient rational market, however, you should expect the traded unit price to fall by roughly the amount of the distribution.
Should I reinvest my distributions?
FOR has a distribution reinvestment plan (DRP) in place. If you choose to participate in the plan, you will be issued new units in FOR at the ex-distribution underlying net asset value (the underlying net asset backing after the distribution has been paid).
Those investors who want to grow their investment by reinvesting can do so, while those who would like to receive cash don’t need to do anything. If you elected to participate in the plan last year, your election will remain in place unless you notify Link Market Services otherwise.
Historically some investors who want cash have still chosen the reinvestment option and then sold an equivalent number of shares on market. This strategy made sense last year because the new units were issued at net asset backing but could be sold on market at a premium to net asset backing.
If the units still trade at a premium close to 30 June you could also consider this option. However you should consider taxation implications, transaction costs and risks around insufficient liquidity or the units not trading at a premium when you try to sell on market.
What should I expect in future years?
The investment strategy of the Fund is based on generating capital gains from investing in unloved and underappreciated stocks. While some of the underlying investments pay regular dividends, the yield on the portfolio is typically low. Most of the returns have historically come from capital gains and we expect that to be the case in future.
So the distributions are likely to be uneven and unpredictable and you should not rely on them as a regular source of income. It is conceivable that a year of significant market falls could mean no distribution.
FOR should be a component of the growth part of your portfolio and any distributions should be seen as a component of that growth.
General advice only
Forager Funds Management provides general information to help you understand our investment approach. Any financial advice we provide has not considered your personal circumstances and may not be suitable for you.
Hi Steve. Will your consider a SPP to restore your market cap if a large number of holders do not participate in DRP? I will happily participate if it means getting more units at NTA 🙂
Hi Steve, we have actually been contemplating it. From a completely self interested perspective, the economics of the vehicle aren’t great for us at lower FUM. But we are also very conscious of the large amount of cash we are holding, so I worry about the optics of raising more money when we haven’t invested what we have. I’d be interested to hear other people’s thoughts, but I would say it is unlikely at this stage.
FOR (and many of the LIC/LITs) are yet to go through a major downturn. Based on the way you invest this is where you’ll want the most dry powder. My concern is that during this event there is a high likelihood that the Price to NTA will move to a discount, at which point raising capital will be difficult unless you offer it at a discount (impacting existing unitholders). I’d prefer SPP while Price is at a premium to NTA, even if it means more funds are in cash.
Hi Steve
I think its reasonable to top up FUM at regular (maybe every 1-2 years) intervals. Understand the optics but also important to have dry powder when its most valuable.
As an investor I want the economics to be reasonable for Fund manager too.
I am more than happy that you are considering these options and, like Steve(1), I would consider participating if it means getting more units at NTA.
Personally, I don’t think you need a timed plan/policy on this – like you say, it is possibly not the right time when you are holding lots of cash. On the other hand, if you were suddenly to identify a bunch of good buys (maybe overly pessimistic market conditions) and found yourself needing more cash without wanting to exit existing holdings – then that might be a good time for a SPP.
That scenario would also tend to offer those with the appetite to invest in pessimistic conditions a good buying price (reduced NTA) – though, of course, you might have less happy buyers ;o)
Honestly feels a bit like you’re still finding your feet on the business of managing other people’s money. First it’s a fund, then it’s a LIT. Then we’re surprised our LIT structure for controlling outflows still isn’t working in our favour. I’m half expecting an announcement to convert from a LIT to a LIC in the coming months to avoid future outflows like this.
That said, I’ll subscribe to a SPP at NTA, so what do I know!
Thanks Steve and Forager Team.
The difficulties of success! What proportion of unit holders reinvest?
We are currently re-investing all dividends but will take cash / or sell some shares when we retire.
With a group of welded-on investors the best solution if FUM drops is likely to be a capital raising – and this may be best for Forager and your investors in a market downturn.
Hi Steve, Nice explanation. Was searching for an informative FOR DRP article (like this one). For investors, I think it’s really handy if FUM drops are likely to be a capital raising. Also, FOR seems to be a great option for both new and experienced investors, because of it’s DRP. Thanks for the info, keep it up 🙂
Thanks Steve et al,
I’m inclined to choose a fund manager that I trust, and offer them carte blanche. As a result, (so long as I continue to trust Forager’s investment expertise, and I currently do explicitly) then I’ll not object to any SPP you suggest/recommend! Additionally, in current circumstances, I’d be a subscriber whilst NTA is at or below market.
Follow your heart/head – it’s what we’re relying on! I’m not particularly concerned with how it LOOKS if it achieves (long term)!
Thank you Tony G; – my sentiments exactly!
I would participate in a SPP @ NAV whilst there is a premium and I’d like to think you would be putting cash to work buying back units if there were a discount to NAV. Need to be responsive to market movements, I have an element of trust in your team and approach so also happy to be flexible to allow outsized performance. Also understand not easy to find investing opportunities at the moment but when there are opportunities you may not be trading 20% above NAV. SPP may also eliminate that premium pretty quickly.
Utilise your strengths, smaller size and flexibility to generate out-performance that larger funds do not have.