HOUSTON, June 7, 2022
/PRNewswire/ -- Salient Midstream & MLP Fund (the "Fund")
(NYSE: SMM) provided today a summary of unaudited statement of
assets and liabilities and announced Net Asset Value (NAV) as of
May 31, 2022.
On May 31, 2022, the Fund's total
assets were $233.8 million and the
NAV per share was $9.72. On
May 31, 2022 the closing share price
of the Fund was $8.50, which was
trading at a 12.6% discount to the NAV.1 The Fund's NAV
and market price total returns for the month of May were 6.6% and
8.1%, respectively, compared to 6.6% for the Alerian Midstream
Energy Select Total Return Index (AMEIX).2 The Fund's
NAV and market price total returns year-to-date (YTD) were 32.9%
and 28.9%, respectively, compared to 26.7% for the
AMEIX.2
While we continue to consider various alternatives to enhance
shareholder value, we believe the most effective strategy to
improve the discount is to generate top quartile total returns
relative to our peer group of leveraged regulated investment
company (RIC) and C-Corp closed-end funds and to pay an attractive
and growing cash distribution to investors.3 Over the
last 12 months, SMM has increased its distribution by 46% and
management plans to review the distribution rate every six months
with expectations to continue passing through distribution
increases as the Fund's portfolio has distribution increases.
Since the Fund's inception, the portfolio management team has
focused on generating top-tier total returns rather than focusing
on the distribution rate and the Fund's performance over multiple
time period's versus its peers is provided in the table below along
with a ranking of SMM vs. peers.
|
|
|
Market
Price
|
|
NAV
|
Name
|
Yield
|
Premium/Discount
|
YTD
|
1
Year
|
3 Year
Annualized
|
5 Year
Annualized
|
7 Year
Annualized
|
Since Inception
Annualized
|
Rank
|
YTD
|
1
Year
|
3 Year
Annualized
|
5 Year
Annualized
|
7 Year
Annualized
|
Since Inception
Annualized
|
Rank
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Salient Midstream &
MLP Fund
|
4.1%
|
-12.6%
|
28.9%
|
56.6%
|
6.1%
|
-0.3%
|
-5.8%
|
-1.2%
|
2
|
32.9%
|
35.1%
|
5.4%
|
1.5%
|
-6.7%
|
0.1%
|
3
|
Manager A
|
7.9%
|
-16.6%
|
36.1%
|
41.3%
|
-13.7%
|
-11.3%
|
-10.1%
|
-3.9%
|
8
|
29.2%
|
31.0%
|
-12.6%
|
-9.8%
|
-10.6%
|
-3.1%
|
9
|
Manager B
|
7.4%
|
-18.1%
|
24.5%
|
29.6%
|
-1.2%
|
-2.9%
|
-9.1%
|
-2.6%
|
5
|
21.2%
|
28.5%
|
-0.7%
|
-1.0%
|
-8.9%
|
-2.0%
|
8
|
Average RIC
Excluding SMM
|
7.7%
|
-17.3%
|
30.3%
|
35.5%
|
-7.5%
|
-7.1%
|
-9.6%
|
-3.2%
|
|
25.2%
|
29.8%
|
-6.7%
|
-5.4%
|
-9.8%
|
-2.6%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Manager C
|
6.7%
|
-16.9%
|
37.6%
|
37.8%
|
-7.6%
|
-6.0%
|
-8.3%
|
-2.5%
|
4
|
37.5%
|
43.7%
|
-5.8%
|
-3.9%
|
-7.7%
|
-1.0%
|
4
|
Manager D
|
6.7%
|
-18.5%
|
41.6%
|
44.8%
|
-4.7%
|
-5.2%
|
-7.9%
|
-2.6%
|
6
|
36.6%
|
45.9%
|
-3.5%
|
-3.3%
|
-7.8%
|
-1.4%
|
6
|
Manager E
|
6.6%
|
-19.2%
|
36.6%
|
39.7%
|
-3.4%
|
-4.7%
|
-6.9%
|
-3.1%
|
7
|
35.8%
|
41.9%
|
-2.1%
|
-2.9%
|
-6.7%
|
-1.3%
|
5
|
Manager F
|
3.6%
|
-20.2%
|
33.7%
|
49.3%
|
4.1%
|
0.5%
|
-5.6%
|
--
|
-
|
34.7%
|
49.8%
|
6.6%
|
2.3%
|
-4.3%
|
--
|
-
|
Manager G
|
8.1%
|
-17.8%
|
30.2%
|
42.7%
|
-28.6%
|
-20.0%
|
-15.5%
|
-9.6%
|
11
|
27.9%
|
34.5%
|
-26.1%
|
-17.2%
|
-14.9%
|
-7.8%
|
11
|
Manager H
|
5.3%
|
-18.6%
|
31.0%
|
20.8%
|
-28.4%
|
-20.7%
|
-20.8%
|
--
|
-
|
27.0%
|
28.0%
|
-26.5%
|
-17.8%
|
-18.3%
|
--
|
-
|
Manager
I
|
8.5%
|
-14.4%
|
26.3%
|
24.6%
|
-5.3%
|
-4.1%
|
-7.9%
|
-2.1%
|
3
|
26.2%
|
30.0%
|
-4.9%
|
-1.3%
|
-5.4%
|
0.3%
|
2
|
Manager J
|
7.0%
|
-14.6%
|
21.7%
|
17.8%
|
-1.1%
|
-3.9%
|
-3.8%
|
--
|
-
|
23.8%
|
25.0%
|
-0.5%
|
-1.2%
|
-3.8%
|
--
|
-
|
Manger K
|
5.1%
|
-16.9%
|
32.2%
|
43.9%
|
-30.7%
|
-21.4%
|
-17.1%
|
--
|
-
|
22.4%
|
31.4%
|
-26.9%
|
-18.5%
|
-16.7%
|
--
|
-
|
Manager L
|
5.3%
|
-22.4%
|
13.7%
|
25.0%
|
3.8%
|
0.5%
|
-3.6%
|
-6.5%
|
9
|
20.4%
|
22.1%
|
6.4%
|
2.8%
|
-3.7%
|
-2.0%
|
7
|
Manger M
|
8.4%
|
-18.0%
|
26.9%
|
33.8%
|
-21.4%
|
-16.4%
|
-13.4%
|
-7.0%
|
10
|
20.3%
|
27.8%
|
-18.0%
|
-11.6%
|
-12.1%
|
-4.0%
|
10
|
Manager N
|
7.3%
|
-0.1%
|
23.1%
|
23.6%
|
1.5%
|
1.1%
|
-0.9%
|
3.1%
|
1
|
19.7%
|
21.4%
|
1.1%
|
1.9%
|
-1.5%
|
3.7%
|
1
|
Average
C-Corp
|
6.6%
|
-16.5%
|
29.5%
|
33.6%
|
-10.2%
|
-8.4%
|
-9.3%
|
-3.8%
|
|
27.7%
|
33.5%
|
-8.3%
|
-5.9%
|
-8.6%
|
-1.7%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CEF Universe
Average
|
6.5%
|
-16.3%
|
29.6%
|
35.4%
|
-8.7%
|
-7.7%
|
-9.1%
|
-3.4%
|
|
27.7%
|
33.0%
|
-7.3%
|
-5.4%
|
-8.6%
|
-1.7%
|
|
|
Source: Salient Capital
Advisors, LLC, May 31, 2022. For illustrative purposes only. Past
performance is not indicative of future results. No
investment strategy can guarantee performance results. All
investments are subject to investment risk, including loss of
principal invested.
|
Since inception in 2012 SMM is the second best performing
closed-end fund on market price and the third best on NAV in the
peer group of eleven funds.
SMM's inception to date (ITD) annualized total return (based on
market price) of -1.2% has outperformed the RIC Average of -3.2%
and C-Corp average of -3.8%. Likewise, on a NAV basis, SMM's ITD
return of 0.1% compares favorably to the -2.6% return for the peer
group of RIC Funds and -1.7% for C-Corp Funds.
May Market Commentary
May was a strong month for energy infrastructure equities which
were up 6.6% as measured by the Alerian Midstream Energy Select
Index (AMEIX).2 A meaningful portion of the industry
reported earnings in early May that were largely better than
expected across multiple metrics such as cash flows, throughput
volume and margins. Healthy earnings increases compared to last
year were met with a generally positive reaction from investors.
For the remainder of 2022, we remain positive on the industry as 1)
free cash flow after dividends is growing at a healthy pace, 2)
hydrocarbon volumes are growing as drilling activity improves and
3) capital allocation remains mostly focused on returning excess
cash to investors through buybacks and potential dividend
increases.4
Crude oil as measured by the West Texas Intermediate (WTI)
benchmark was up 9.5% for the month of May and is now up 52.5% for
the year.5 Crude oil prices have moved sharply higher
due to the war in Ukraine.
Russia produces ~10 million
barrels per day (mmbbls/d) of crude oil, or about 10% of global
supply and is the second largest crude oil exporter after
Saudi Arabia.6 Markets
are worried that crude oil supplies may be disrupted which could
lead to a spike in crude oil prices well above current levels.
Europe's move towards sanctioning
Russia's energy exports could lead
to a further spike in global crude oil and natural gas prices.
Longer term, we view crude oil prices in the $70-$80 range as
being positive for investment in the American energy industry.
While the Ukrainian war will have an as yet unknown effect on crude
oil supply, fundamentals remain robust as energy consumption
continues to rise post COVID. Commodity analysts continue to see a
tight supply environment for both crude oil and natural gas in 2022
and potentially into 2023 as energy demand appears to be on trend
to exceed peak pre-COVID levels.7 We believe that
current prices are sufficient to lead to U.S. volume growth in
2022, with increases in production already showing up in recent
Energy Information Administration (EIA) data. The promise of these
incremental volumes should be supportive of midstream companies
going forward.
The Fund's Top 10 holdings as of May 31,
2022 are shown below:8
No.
|
Symbol
|
Name
|
Country
|
Asset
Type
|
% of Gross
Assets
|
1
|
ET
|
Energy Transfer
L.P.
|
United
States
|
MLP
|
9.4%
|
2
|
TRGP
|
Targa Resources
Corp.
|
United
States
|
C-Corp
|
6.9%
|
3
|
LNG
|
Cheniere Energy,
Inc.
|
United
States
|
C-Corp
|
5.8%
|
4
|
PPL CN
|
Pembina Pipeline
Corp.
|
Canada
|
C-Corp
|
5.7%
|
5
|
ENB
|
Enbridge,
Inc.
|
United
States
|
C-Corp
|
5.6%
|
6
|
-
|
EMG Utica | Offshore
Co-Investment LP
|
United
States
|
C-Corp
|
5.5%
|
7
|
WMB
|
The Williams Companies,
Inc.
|
United
States
|
MLP
|
4.8%
|
8
|
MPLX
|
MPLX L.P.
|
United
States
|
MLP
|
4.6%
|
9
|
PAGP
|
Plains GP Holdings
L.P.
|
United
States
|
C-Corp
|
4.5%
|
10
|
OKE
|
ONEOK, Inc.
|
United
States
|
C-Corp
|
4.4%
|
|
|
|
|
|
57.1%
|
For illustrative
purposes only. Current and future holdings are subject to change
and risk. Figures are based on the Fund's gross assets ex-cash.
Source: Salient Capital Advisors, LLC, May 31, 2022.
|
The Fund's unaudited balance sheet as of May 31, 2022 is shown below:
Salient Midstream
& MLP Fund
|
Balance
Sheet
|
May 31,
2022
|
(Unaudited)
|
|
|
Assets
|
(in
millions)
|
Investments
|
$233.1
|
Other Assets
|
0.4
|
Cash and Cash
Equivalents
|
0.3
|
Total Assets
|
$233.8
|
|
|
Liabilities
|
|
Line of Credit
Payable
|
$60.7
|
Other
Liabilities
|
0.8
|
Total
Liabilities
|
$61.5
|
Net
Assets
|
$172.3
|
|
|
The Fund had 17.7
million common shares outstanding as of May 31, 2022.
|
Past performance is not indicative of future
results.
Salient Midstream & MLP Fund is a Delaware statutory trust registered as a
non-diversified, closed-end management investment company under the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. The Fund's investment
objective is to provide a high level of total return with an
emphasis on making quarterly cash distributions to its common
shareholders. The Fund seeks to achieve that objective by investing
at least 80% of its total assets in securities of MLPs and
midstream companies. There can be no assurance that the Fund will
achieve its investment objective.
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as
defined under the U.S. federal securities laws. Generally, the
words "believe," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "anticipate,"
"project," "will," and similar expressions identify forward-looking
statements, which generally are not historical in nature.
Forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual future results to differ
significantly from the Fund's present expectations or projections
indicated in any forward-looking statements. These risks include,
but are not limited to, changes in economic and political
conditions; regulatory and legal changes; leverage risk; valuation
risk; interest rate risk; tax risk; the volume of sales and
purchase of shares; the continuation of investment advisory,
administration and other service arrangements; and other risks
discussed in the Fund's filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking
statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. The Fund
undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any
forward-looking statements made herein. There is no assurance that
the Fund's investment objective will be attained.
About Salient
Salient Partners, L.P. ("Salient") is a real asset and
alternative investment firm that offers a suite of strategies
focused on energy and infrastructure, real estate and tactical
alternative investments. Institutions and investment advisors turn
to Salient to build smarter, more efficient portfolios. Strategies
are offered in the form of open- and closed-end funds and
separately managed accounts. Salient was founded in 2002 and has
offices in Houston and
San Francisco. Learn more about
Salient at www.salientpartners.com.
_____________________________
|
1
|
Past performance is not
indicative of future results. Current performance may be higher or
lower than the data shown. The data shown are unaudited. Returns do
not reflect the deduction of taxes that shareholders may have to
pay on Fund distributions or upon the sale of Fund
shares.
|
2
|
Source: Salient Capital
Advisors, LLC and Alerian, May 31, 2022. "Alerian Midstream Energy
Select Index," "Alerian Midstream Energy Select Total Return
Index," "AMEI" and "AMEIX" are trademarks of Alerian and their use
is granted under a license from Alerian. Past performance is not
indicative of how the index will perform in the future. The index
reflects the reinvestment of dividends and income and does not
reflect deductions for fees, expenses or taxes. The index is
unmanaged and is not available for direct investment. Alerian
Midstream Energy Select Total Return Index (AMEIX) is a total
return composite of North American midstream energy infrastructure
companies that are engaged in activities involving energy
commodities. The capped, float-adjusted, capitalization-weighted
index is disseminated in real time on a price-return basis.
Inception date of the AMEIX is April 1, 2013.
|
3
|
A regulated
investment company (RIC) is an entity deemed eligible by the
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to pass through taxes for capital
gains, dividends, or interest earned to the individual investors. A
C corporation (or C-Corp) is a legal structure for a
corporation in which the owners, or shareholders, are taxed
separately from the entity.
|
4
|
Free cash flow after
distributions represents the cash a company generates after
accounting for cash outflows to support operations and maintain its
capital assets Hydrocarbon a compound of hydrogen and carbon, such
as any of those which are the chief components of petroleum and
natural gas. Share buybacks are when a company buys its own
outstanding shares to reduce the number of shares available on the
open market.
|
5
|
Source: Bloomberg, May
31, 2022.
|
6
|
Source: Energy
Information Administration (EIA), May 31, 2022.
|
7
|
Source: Goldman Sachs,
May 31, 2022.
|
8
|
Fund shares do not
represent a deposit or obligation of, and are not guaranteed or
endorsed by, any bank or other insured depository institution, and
are not federally insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board or any other government
agency. Data are based on total market value of Fund investments
unless otherwise indicated. The data provided are for informational
purposes only and are not intended for trading purposes.
|
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SOURCE Salient Partners, L.P.