Changing Target Asset Allocation Again

 I still think it is useful to have one...

Reducing the bond allocation and moving it to the equity allocation including hedge funds.

Headhunter

I was contacted by a head hunter today for a senior government position on the borderlines of research and policy. Normally headhunters approach me about academic positions, so this was a bit different. I wouldn't have to move for the job and I could plausibly apply for it. It would pay about double what I get now. I had a look at the "selection criteria", the current holders of the same level positions, and some reports they put out. I was already thinking that I would have a lot less freedom in such a position. The upside is I am a bit bored again with my career and it would be a new challenge. I felt positive when I saw the backgrounds of some of the people in those positions. But when I looked at the reports I felt mind-numbingly bored. Typical government reports with heaps of recommendations. I just don't think I could do it. So, I told the headhunter no, but recommended someone else.

October 2021 Report

The run of winning months in Australian Dollar terms continued. We haven't had a losing month since March 2020. This is a 19 months run so far. As this was only a slightly positive return, it could become negative when all the unlisted investments report.

The MSCI World Index rose 5.36%, the S&P 500 by 7.01%, and the ASX 200 fell by 0.09%. All these are total returns including dividends. The Australian Dollar rose from USD 0.7227 to USD 0.7518. We gained 0.07% in Australian Dollar terms or 4.10% in US Dollar terms. The target portfolio is gained 0.68% in Australian Dollar terms and the HFRI hedge fund index is expected to rise 2.54% in US Dollar terms. So, we underperformed the target portfolio benchmark and the two international indices but beat the HFRI and Australian indices. Here is a report on the performance of investments by asset class (currency neutral returns):

Private equity had the best performance but hedge funds contributed the most to performance followed by private equity. Several asset classes lost money. Gold performed worst.

Things that worked well this month:

• Pershing Square (PSH.L) gained AUD 26k and Tribeca Global Resources (TGF.AX) gained AUD 25k. Both, and especially PSH, are still well below their net asset values.
  

What really didn't work:

• Regal Funds (RF1.AX) lost AUD 27k following the rights issue and placement. Issuing more shares at NAV is sure to depress the stock price. Cadence Capital (CDM.AX) lost AUD 11k. The fall in the price of The Metals Company post-IPO is probably weighing down the share price.
  

The investment performance statistics for the last five years are: 

The first two rows are our unadjusted performance numbers in US and Australian Dollar terms. The following four lines compare performance against each of the three indices. We show the desired asymmetric capture and positive alpha against the ASX200 index. We are doing a bit worse than the median hedge fund levered 1.6 times. 

We increased our distance from our desired long-run asset allocation a little mostly due to the RF1 placement increasing our allocation to hedge funds. Private equity and bonds are both underweight and hedge funds and real assets overweight. I think having an allocation does make me think harder about overweighting in a particular direction but right now I am thinking of changing the allocation again by reducing the bond allocation to 5% from 10%. Our actual allocation currently looks like this:

Roughly two thirds of our portfolio is in what some consider to be alternative assets: real estate, art, hedge funds, private equity, gold, and futures. We receive employer contributions to superannuation every two weeks. In addition we made the following investment moves this month:

• We participated in the Regal Funds (RF1.AX) rights issue and placement, buying 17k shares.
• To help fund this, I sold 4k shares of Ruffer Investment Company (RICA.L). This was a bad move, as it immediately finally started increasing. 
• I sold 25k MOT.AX shares (Australian corporate debt fund). The idea was to fund buying shares in the Cadence Opportunities IPO. But then I changed my mind about that.
• I made a concessional contribution to the SMSF of AUD 20k for Moominmama for this tax year. This replaces her previous salary sacrifice contributions to PSS(AP).
  

Moominpapa's 2020-21 Taxes

I am finally able to submit my taxes for this year. Last year's taxes are here. Here is a summary of my taxes. To make things clearer, I reclassify a few items compared to the actual tax form. Of course, everything is in Australian Dollars.

On the income side, Australian dividends and franked distributions from managed funds are  up strongly. My salary still dominates my income sources but is not growing. Interest is Australian interest only and is zero due to no longer holding Australian bonds.

Unfranked distributions from trusts is down strongly because the distribution from APSEC was exceptionally large last year. I have now moved the APSEC fund to our SMSF. Foreign source income is from foreign bond interest and distributions and dividends both from directly held foreign investments and from Australian managed funds. Other income is gains on selling bonds. These aren't counted as capital gains. As we have few bonds any more the amount is small. I used most of my carry forward capital losses this year reducing the net capital gain to zero. I am still carrying forward $28k to next year.

In total, gross income fell 2%.

Increased deductions are mostly due to writing down the loss on my Virgin Australia bonds. This isn't counted as a capital loss and can be deducted immediately. Dividend, foreign source income, and trust deductions are all mostly interest on loans.

Total deductions rose strongly, and as a result, net income fell 9%.

Gross tax is computed by applying the rates in the tax table to the net income. In Australia, you don't enter the tax due in your tax return, but I like to compute it so that I know how big or small my refund will be.

Franking credits (from Australian dividends), foreign tax paid, and the Early Stage Venture Capital (ESVCLP) offset are all deducted from gross tax to arrive at the tax assessment. This time because of the Virgin Australia loss and the ESVCLP offset I should get a large refund.

I estimate that I will pay 24% of net income in tax. Tax was withheld on my salary at an average rate of 31%.

Cadence Opportunities IPO

Another "corporate action" to consider. Cadence Opportunities Fund attempted an IPO about three years ago, which failed. I invested in the fund at a second fund-raising. Now it is again attempting an IPO and attempting to triple funds under management in the process. I was thinking to buy more shares in the IPO and even moved money from one account to another to do so, but then had second thoughts. Don't get me wrong, this is so far a great investment. I have a 50% internal rate of return on my investment. But after reading the independent report I became concerned that the price might trade below the IPO price and so it would be better to wait to buy shares on market. On the other hand, if the fund keeps performing so strongly, the increase in the NAV might outweigh an illiquidity discount... But given we have 3% or so of net worth in the fund already, I think I will give it a pass.

Corporate Actions

Two current "corporate actions". Regal Funds (RF1.AX) announced a 1 for 3 rights issue at the net asset value of AUD 3.79 per share. Price prior to the announcement was AUD 4.47 per share. I plan to fully take up the entitlement. The question is what do I sell in our SMSF to take up the offer as I only have AUD 27k in cash and will also need to pay taxes etc some time... The rights issue will cost AUD 55k.

Australian Unity Diversified Property Fund announced that they plan to merge with the ASX listed Australian Unity Office Fund (AOF.AX). The joint fund will continue to be listed on the ASX. There are four reasons I will vote against this merger:

1. The reason I invested in an unlisted property fund is to not be exposed to stock market fluctuations in the value of the fund.

2. We will receive shares in AOF according to the current NAV of that fund. Its price on the ASX is much below that. That means that the market value of our shares will instantly fall.

3. I invested in a diversified fund because I didn't want to just be exposed to office property. The new fund will be dominated by offices.

4. The reason for the merger is supposedly to allow easier capital raising for the development pipeline while not increasing the gearing of the fund. The gearing will actually fall. I wanted to be in a geared fund.

P.S. 28Oct21

I just read the AOF annual report. It is much less profitable than Australian Unity Diversified Property Fund despite not charging performance fees. Or maybe because of that? It's surprising that they are looking to give up those fees! That is a fifth reason to vote no. I will withdraw our investment prior to listing if the merger is approved. According to the fund we get six days to withdraw after the meeting. Two of them are a weekend. But usually they only allow a maximum of 2.5% of the fund to be withdrawn per quarter. So, now I am seeking clarification on that. The merger document is a bit vague on how much withdrawals will be allowed.