TD Emerald Canadian Short Term Investment Fund

Transcription

1 TD Asset Management TD Emerald Canadian Short Term Investment Fund (08/18) TD Emerald Funds for the period ended This Interim Management Report of Fund Performance contains financial highlights, but does not contain either the complete interim financial report or annual financial statements of the investment fund. You can get a copy of the interim financial report or annual financial statements at your request, at no cost, by calling , by writing to us at TD Asset Management Inc., TD Canada Trust Tower, 34th Floor, 161 Bay Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5J 2T2, by to inst.info@tdam.com, or by visiting our website at or the SEDAR website at Securityholders may also contact us or visit our website to get a copy of the investment fund s proxy voting policies and procedures, proxy voting disclosure record, or quarterly portfolio disclosure at no cost. This Interim Management Report of Fund Performance represents management s view of the significant factors and developments affecting the investment fund s performance and outlook since December 31, 2017, the investment fund s fiscal year-end, until. This report should be read in conjunction with the 2017 Annual Management Report of Fund Performance.

2 ntd Emerald Canadian Short Term Investment Fund Management Discussion of Fund Performance Results of Operations The Class B units of the TD Emerald Canadian Short Term Investment Fund (the Fund ) returned 0.8 percent for the six-month period ended ( Reporting Period ), versus 0.6 percent for the Fund s product benchmark, FTSE TMX Canada 91 Day T-Bill Index. Unlike the benchmark, the Fund s return is quoted after the deduction of fees and expenses. Market Update The Canadian economy, along with the wider global economy, showed continued signs of momentum over the Reporting Period, benefiting from improved capital spending and higher commodity prices. Still, Canada s economic growth slowed compared to 2017, which was driven by lower consumer spending and a decline in housing investment. Despite this slowdown, the Canadian economy appeared to be operating near full capacity, as evidenced by improved employment and wages, as well as rising inflation. The Bank of Canada ( BoC ) raised its benchmark overnight interest rate early in the Reporting Period from 1.00 percent to 1.25 percent. However, a slowing economy and a declining real estate market, as well as cross-border trade uncertainty that included tariffs being introduced by the U.S. on aluminum and steel, forced the BoC to hold its interest rate steady during the remainder of the Reporting Period. Canadian bond yields moved higher at the start of the Reporting Period in response to the strengthening global economy, expectations of stronger inflation and the continued removal of monetary accommodation by global central banks. Trade tensions with the U.S., however, diminished the widespread optimism of market participants in the latter half of the Reporting Period, which drove yields lower while bonds recovered. Investment-grade corporate bonds outperformed government bonds and investment-grade credit spreads (the difference in yield between bonds of similar maturity but different credit quality) widened modestly over the Reporting Period. Finally, Government of Canada bond yields rose modestly across all maturities over the Reporting Period. The FTSE TMX Canada 91 Day T-Bill Index returned 0.6 percent over the Reporting Period. The Government of Canada 91-day Treasury bill yield was 1.26 percent at the end of the Reporting Period, up from 1.06 percent at the start of it. Key Contributors/Detractors The Fund continued to be managed with an emphasis on short-term credit investments, with a focus on earning interest income. The Fund performed within expectations. Capital preservation and maintaining liquidity are key priorities for the Fund. Recent Developments Looking ahead, the Portfolio Adviser continues to be mindful of a variety of macroeconomic factors that may influence the performance of financial markets. Global economic indicators have continued to show general strength, albeit with greater dispersion among major regions. Nonetheless, trade, industrial production, job creation and construction activity are all positive. While the Portfolio Adviser believes this may support continued economic growth, any optimism should be balanced against potential risks, including geopolitical developments, trade protectionism, a closed output gap and central banks actions. Given the above, the Portfolio Adviser expects central banks around the world to continue reducing their stimulus measures, albeit gradually, which should keep interest rates at low levels. Inflation has increased in response to improving economic growth and pro - duction, and this trend may continue over the remainder of 2018, which may cause central banks to raise interest rates further. While solid fundamentals and an improving global economy tend to support equity prices, the Portfolio Adviser believes rising inflation, central bank interest rate increases, geopolitical risks and trade tensions could lead to greater volatility in financial markets over the remainder of the year. Under such circumstances, the Portfolio Adviser expects an environ - ment of muted returns in the second half of With market valuations for higher-risk assets at or near elevated levels, caution is necessary, in the Portfolio Adviser s view. Given this outlook, the Portfolio Adviser anticipates that although interest rates may move moderately higher, the low interest rate environment may continue for a prolonged period of time. The Portfolio Adviser continues to monitor these and other factors that could influence the Fund s investment portfolio. Finally, the Portfolio Adviser anticipates opportunities in higherquality corporate bonds, which should continue to provide the Fund with a somewhat higher yield than government bonds. The Portfolio Adviser has positioned the Fund defensively and anticipates that active management with a focus on quality and liquidity should contribute to its performance. 1

3 TD Emerald Canadian Short Term Investment Fund Related Party Transactions Affiliates of TD Asset Management Inc. ( TDAM ) may earn fees and spreads in connection with various services provided to, or transactions with, the Fund, such as in connection with banking, custody, brokerage and derivatives transactions. Manager, Trustee and Portfolio Adviser: TDAM, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Toronto-Dominion Bank ( TD ), is the manager, trustee and portfolio adviser of the Fund. TDAM is paid directly by the unitholders an annual management fee for providing management services. Distributor: Units of the Fund are generally intended for sale to institutional investors subject to certain restrictions and can be obtained directly from a TDAM representative in any province or territory where TDAM is or may become qualified to receive orders for units of the Fund. Registrar and Transfer Agent: TD is the registrar and transfer agent of the Fund, and as such maintains all unitholder records, processes purchase, switch, conversion and redemption orders, issues investor statements and prepares annual tax reporting information on behalf of the Fund. Administration and Securityholder Services: TDAM and TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. ( TDW ) also provide admin istration or securityholder services to the Fund for which their costs are reimbursed by the Fund. These services include securityholder account maintenance and reporting. The Fund also maintains bank accounts and overdraft provisions with TD for which TD earns a fee. Buying and Selling Securities: TDAM has established an independent review committee ( IRC ) which acts as an impartial and independent committee to review and provide recommendations or, if appropriate, approvals respecting any conflict of interest matters referred to it by TDAM. The IRC prepares, at least annually, a report of its activities for securityholders of the Fund. The report is available on the TDAM website at or at the securityholder s request at no cost by contacting TDAM (see front cover). The Fund relied on standing instructions from the IRC in respect of one or more of the following transactions: (a) trades in securities of TD or any affiliate or associate thereof; (b) investments in the securities of an issuer where TD Securities Inc., TDW, or any other affiliate of TDAM (a Related Dealer ) acted as an underwriter during the distri bution of such securities and the 60-day period following the completion of the distribution of the underwritten securities; (c) purchases or sales of securities of an issuer from or to another investment fund or discretionary managed account managed by TDAM; and (d) purchases of securities from or sales of securities to a Related Dealer, where it acted as principal. The IRC of the Fund has approved standing instructions to permit the Fund to engage in in specie transactions with related mutual funds and discretionary managed accounts managed by TDAM. The relevant standing instructions require that securities transactions with related parties conducted by TDAM (i) are free from any influ - ence by an entity related to TDAM and without taking into account any consideration relevant to an entity related to TDAM; (ii) represent the business judgment of TDAM uninfluenced by considerations other than the best interests of the Fund; (iii) comply with the applicable policies and procedures of TDAM; and (iv) achieve a fair and reasonable result for the Fund. 2

4 TD Emerald Canadian Short Term Investment Fund Financial Highlights The following tables show selected key financial information about the Fund and are intended to help you understand the Fund s financial performance for the six-month period ended and the past five fiscal years, as applicable. Net Assets per Unit ($) 1 CLASS B Net Assets, Beginning of Period Increase (Decrease) from Operations: Total Revenue Total Expenses (excluding distributions) Realized Gains (Losses) for the Period (0.02) (0.05) (0.05) (0.03) (0.03) (0.02) Unrealized Gains (Losses) for the Period (0.01) (0.01) (0.01) 0.01 Total Increase (Decrease) from Operations Distributions: From Net Investment Income (excluding dividends) (0.15) (0.14) (0.14) (0.15) (0.13) From Dividends From Capital Gains Return of Capital Total Annual Distributions 3 (0.10) (0.15) (0.14) (0.14) (0.15) (0.13) Net Assets, End of Period This information is derived from the Fund s interim and audited annual financial statements. The Fund adopted International Financial Reporting Standards ( IFRS ) on January 1, 2014 and accordingly adjusted the immediately preceding financial year ended December 31, 2013 to reflect the amounts in accordance with IFRS. Previously, financial statements were prepared as per Canadian generally accepted accounting principles ( GAAP ) under which the Fund measured fair values of its investments based on bid prices for long positions and ask prices for short positions. As such, the net assets per unit presented in the financial statements may have differed from the net asset value ( NAV ) per unit calculated for fund pricing purposes. Under IFRS, the Fund measures fair values of its investments based on close market prices, where the close market price falls within the bid-ask spread or based on quotations from recognized dealers. As such, the Fund s accounting policies for measuring the fair value of investments in the financial statements are substantively consistent with those used in measuring the NAV for transactions with unitholders. 2 Net assets and distributions are based on the actual number of units outstanding at the relevant time. The increase (decrease) from operations is based on the weighted average number of units outstanding over the financial periods. This table is not intended to be a reconciliation of the net assets per unit. 3 Distributions were paid in cash or reinvested in additional units of the Fund, or both. Ratios and Supplemental Data CLASS B Total Net Asset Value ($000s) 1 2,304,761 2,367,653 2,443,443 1,481,413 1,752,394 1,195,155 Number of Units Outstanding (000s) 1 236, , , , , ,488 Management Expense Ratio (%) Management Expense Ratio Before Waivers or Absorptions (%) Trading Expense Ratio (%) Portfolio Turnover Rate (%) Net Asset Value per Unit ($) This information is provided as at and December 31 of the past five fiscal years, as applicable. 2 Management expense ratio ( MER ) is based on total expenses (excluding distributions, commissions and other portfolio transaction costs) net of any waivers or absorptions for the stated period and is expressed as an annualized percentage of daily average NAV during the period. Any waivers or absorptions may be discontinued at any time by TDAM at its discretion without notice. 3 The trading expense ratio represents total commissions and other portfolio transaction costs expressed as an annualized percentage of daily average NAV during the stated period. 4 The Fund s portfolio turnover rate ( PTR ) indicates how actively the Fund s portfolio adviser manages its investments. A PTR of 100% is equivalent to the Fund buying and selling all of the securities in its portfolio once in the course of the stated period. The higher a fund s PTR, the greater the trading costs payable by the fund in the period, and the greater the chance of an investor receiving taxable capital gains in the fiscal year. There is not necessarily a relationship between a high turnover rate and the performance of a fund. Management Fees The Fund s Class B units do not pay a management fee to TDAM. Instead, such fees are negotiated separately and paid directly by unitholders. 3

5 TD Emerald Canadian Short Term Investment Fund Past Performance The following chart shows how the Fund has performed in the past, and can help you understand the risks of investing in the Fund. These returns include the reinvestment of all distributions and would be lower if an investor did not reinvest distributions. They do not include deduction of sales, switch, redemption, or other optional charges (which dealers may charge) or income taxes payable, and these returns would be lower if they did. The Fund s past performance does not necessarily indicate how it will perform in the future. Year-by-year returns The bar chart shows how the Fund s performance has varied from year to year for each of the years shown. It shows in percentage terms how an investment made on January 1 would have increased or decreased by December 31 for each year and for the six-month period ended. Summary of Investment Portfolio as at % of Net Asset Value ASSET ALLOCATION Corporate Debt Obligations 73.0 Bankers Acceptances 20.7 Provincial & Guarantees 4.9 Cash 1.3 Other Net Assets (Liabilities) 0.1 TOTAL NET ASSET VALUE (000s) $ 2,304,761 as at % of Net Asset Value TOP 25 INVESTMENTS 1. Federation des caisses Desjardins du Quebec 2.795% due November 19, Bank of Montreal 3.21% due September 13, The Toronto-Dominion Bank 2.447% due April 02, bcimc Realty Corporation 2.96% due March 07, Bank of Montreal 2.43% due March 04, Toyota Credit Canada Inc. 2.80% due November 21, The Bank of Nova Scotia 2.462% due March 14, Toyota Credit Canada Inc. 2.25% due May 23, bcimc Realty Corporation 2.79% due August 02, Toyota Credit Canada Inc. 2.75% due July 18, OMERS Finance Trust 1.56% due July 06, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce 2.35% due June 24, Royal Bank of Canada 2.98% due May 07, Cash Ontario Teachers Finance Trust 1.61% due October 26, Plaza Trust 1.64% due August 21, Federation des caisses Desjardins du Quebec 1.51% due July 13, Sure Trust 1.70% due October 01, National Bank of Canada 1.61% due September 12, Royal Bank of Canada 2.89% due October 11, Royal Bank of Canada Floating Rate due August 01, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Floating Rate due May 08, Ridge Trust 1.95% due February 21, Bay Street Funding Trust 1.73% due October 03, Ridge Trust 1.96% due February 25, Total % of Net Asset Value represented by these holdings 34.2 Related party to the Fund as an affiliated entity of TD Asset Management Inc. Note: Totals may not add due to rounding to one decimal place of individual figures. The Summary of Investment Portfolio may change due to ongoing portfolio transactions of the Fund. Updates are available quarterly. You may obtain the most current quarterly information by contacting TD Asset Management Inc. at , by writing to us at TD Asset Management Inc., TD Canada Trust Tower, 34th Floor, 161 Bay Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5J 2T2, or by to inst.info@tdam.com 4

6 Caution regarding forward-looking statements Certain portions of this report, including, but not limited to, Results of Operations and Recent Developments, may contain forward-looking state ments including, but not limited to, statements about the Fund, its strategy, risks, expected performance and condition. Forward-looking statements include statements that are predictive in nature, that depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, or that include words such as expects, anticipates, intends, plans, believes, estimates and similar forward-looking expressions or negative versions thereof. In addition, any statement that may be made concerning future performance, strategies or prospects, and possible future Fund action, is also a forward-looking statement. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and projections about future general economic, political and relevant market factors, such as interest rates, foreign exchange rates, equity and capital markets, and the general business environment, in each case assuming no changes to applicable tax or other laws or government regulation. Expectations and projections about future events are inherently subject to, among other things, risks and uncertainties, some of which may be unforeseeable. Accordingly, assumptions concerning future economic and other factors may prove to be incorrect at a future date. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual events could differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements made by the Fund. Any number of important factors could con tribute to these digressions, including, but not limited to, general economic, political and relevant market factors in North America and internationally, interest and foreign exchange rates, equity and capital markets, business competition, tech nological change, changes in government relations, unexpected judicial or regulatory proceedings and catastrophic events. The above mentioned list of important factors is not exhaustive. You are encouraged to consider these and other factors carefully before making any investment decisions and you are urged to avoid placing any undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Further, there is no specific intention of updating any forward-looking statements contained herein whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. For Funds with references to FTSE TMX Canada indices: FTSE TMX Global Debt Capital Markets Inc FTSE is a trade mark of FTSE International Ltd and is used under licence. TMX is a trade mark of TSX Inc. and is used under licence. All rights in the FTSE TMX Global Debt Capital Markets Inc. s indices and/or FTSE TMX Global Debt Capital Markets Inc. s ratings vest in FTSE TMX Global Debt Capital Markets Inc. and/or its licensors. Neither FTSE TMX Global Debt Capital Markets Inc. nor its licensors accept any liability for any errors or omissions in such indices and/or ratings or underlying data. No further distribution of FTSE TMX Global Debt Capital Markets Inc. s data is permitted without FTSE TMX Global Debt Capital Markets Inc. s express written consent. TD Emerald Funds are managed by TD Asset Management Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Toronto-Dominion Bank. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. The TD logo and other trade-marks are the property of The Toronto-Dominion Bank. 5