December 2025
Fund: Coolabah Active Sovereign Bond Fund - Long Duration Class
Strategy: Government Bond
Return (since Dec. 2023): 5.23% pa gross (4.17% pa net)
Net return volatility (since Dec. 2023): 4.25% pa

Objective: The Active Sovereign Bond Fund - Long Duration Class targets returns in excess of its Benchmark, the Bloomberg AusBond Treasury 0+ Yr Index (BATY0) after management costs, by 3.0% to 5.0% per annum over rolling 3 year periods.

Strategy: The Fund aims to generate diversifying excess returns above the Benchmark for each Class through exploiting relative value mis-pricings in high quality government bonds and related Derivatives that have a low correlation to equity and credit markets and the level of interest rates. The Long Duration Class aims to deliver the Fund’s investment strategy over its Benchmark, the Bloomberg AusBond Treasury 0+ Yr Index (BATY0). It offers fixed-rate bond exposure by matching its interest rate duration to that of the Index, which may be a source of interest-rate risk.

Period Ending 2025-12-31Gross ReturnNet ReturnBloomberg AusBond Treasury 0+Yr IndexGross Excess Return†Net Excess Return†
1 month-0.33%-0.39%-0.76%0.43%0.37%
3 months-2.13%-2.29%-1.35%-0.78%-0.94%
6 months-0.35%-1.02%-1.26%0.91%0.24%
1 year4.77%3.52%2.51%2.26%1.01%
Inception pa Dec. 20235.23%4.17%3.31%1.92%0.86%

† The Excess Return column represents the gross and net return above the Bloomberg AusBond Treasury 0+ Yr Index

Disclaimer: Past performance does not assure future returns. Returns are shown net of management fees and costs unless otherwise stated. All investments carry risks, including that the value of investments may vary, future returns may differ from past returns, and that your capital is not guaranteed. To understand Fund’s risks better, please refer to the Product Disclosure Statement available at Coolabah Capital Investments' website.
Note: all portfolio statistics other than yields and duration are reported on gross asset value
Av. Portfolio Credit Rating AAA Modified Interest Rate Duration 4.0 years
Portfolio MSCI ESG Rating AA Gearing Permitted? Yes
Gross Portfolio Weight to Govt. Bonds 90.6% Net Annual Volatility (since incep.) 4.25%
Ratings: Recommended (Zenith)
Fund: Coolabah Active Sovereign Bond Fund - Long Duration Class
Return/Risk: 5.23% pa gross/4.17% pa net (4.25% pa volatility)

Disclaimer: Past performance does not assure future returns. Returns are shown net of management fees and costs unless otherwise stated. All investments carry risks, including that the value of investments may vary, future returns may differ from past returns, and that your capital is not guaranteed. To understand Fund’s risks better, please refer to the Product Disclosure Statement available at Coolabah Capital Investments' website.
The since inception gross (net) return of 5.23% pa gross (4.17% pa net) is the total annual return earned by the fund since Dec. 2023, including interest income and movements in the price of the bond portfolio after all fund fees (assuming net returns are calculated from the historic gross returns using the current fee structure as displayed in the Product Disclosure Statement). The net return quoted applies to the Coolabah Active Sovereign Bond Fund - Long Duration Class, with quarterly distributions reinvested. Investment return will vary depending upon investment date and any additional investments and withdrawals made. The annualised volatility estimate of 4.25% pa is based on the standard deviation of net daily returns since inception, which are then annualised, attributable to the Coolabah Active Sovereign Bond Fund - Long Duration Class.
Portfolio Managers Christopher Joye, Ashley Kabel, Roger Douglas, Matt Johnson (Coolabah Capital Investments)
APIR Code ETL5578AU Fund Inception 13-Dec-23
ISIN AU60ETL55786 Distributions Quarterly
Benchmark Bloomberg AusBond Treasury 0+Yr Index Unit Pricing Daily (earnings accrue daily)
Asset-Class Government Bond Mgt. & Admin Fee 0.65% pa
Target Return 3-5% pa above Benchmark after mgt. fee and costs Perf. Fee 20% of excess outperformance above the benchmark after mgt. fees
Investment Manager Coolabah Capital Investments (Retail) Custodian Citigroup
Fund: Coolabah Active Sovereign Bond Fund - Long Duration Class
Return/Risk: 5.23% pa gross/4.17% pa net (4.25% pa volatility)

Portfolio commentary: In December, Coolabah’s Active Sovereign Bond Strategy returned -0.33% gross (-0.39% net), in a month characterised by settling markets, as the both the RBA and FOMC delivered what was expected.

Over the last 12 months, the Strategy returned 4.77% gross (3.52% net), outperforming the Bloomberg AusBond Treasury Index (2.51%).

The level of yields rose across the December, as the market priced in better growth and rate hikes from the RBA. This saw 3x10 curve flatten down to ~60bps and the spread between ACGBs and peer markets widen. In particular, the spread between 10-year ACGBs and the US widened to a little over 60bps, which is the largest the spread has been since 2022. In part this was due to a divergence between the dovish December FOMC meeting, and hawkishness from the RBA.

The futures roll allowed Coolabah to replace expensive bond basis with somewhat cheaper economics. Bonds richened to futures in late December as the AOFM took their traditional issuance holiday, and the budget update cut ACGB supply by ~25bn for 25/26. The supply reduction initially widened swap spreads, though they tightened in the second half of December.

In general, it was a good month to own bonds versus futures – most things worked. Coolabah’s best performing positions were at in the 10-year+ sector, where ultra flattening on account of the high and rising level of yields caused compression of longer bonds down towards the 10-year sector. There was also solid performance in the ~7-year sector. As bond basis richened we added shorts, which drew down modestly. Coolabah also drew down a little on a paid 10-year EFP position.

Bond-futures basis was generally a tailwind in December. Expensive basis was replaced with fair basis in the futures roll, which then benefited as basis richened by about 0.3bps to the end of December. This contributed to the generally good returns in the month.

Strategy commentary: In the month of December, there was a secular shift in interest rate expectations marked by a bull steepening in many global yield curves, whereby short-term interest rates declined while long-term rates climbed. This reflected several cross-currents, including the US Federal Reserve continuing to ease its policy rate lower, combined with investor anxiety about deteriorating budget deficits, ever-growing government bond issuance, and the specter of inflation rates not mean-reverting sustainably to central bank targets, amongst other things.

Coolabah’s main macro ideas for 2026 are best summarized as follows:

Fund: Coolabah Active Sovereign Bond Fund - Long Duration Class
Return/Risk: 5.23% pa gross/4.17% pa net (4.25% pa volatility)

Strategy commentary cont'd:

In 2025, Coolabah traded AUD$129bn of bonds and CDS (USD$82bn). This was split by approximately A$71bn of credit trades combined with A$57bn of government and sub-sovereign trades.

In December, 10-year government bond yields rose around the world, led by Japan (+26bps), Australia (+23bps), Germany (+17bps), New Zealand (+15bps), France (+16bps), Italy (+15bps), and the US (+15bps). There were more modest moves in the UK, where 10-year gilt yields appreciated only 4bps.

A seasonal dip in new financial and corporate bond issuance, coupled with higher risk-free rates, helped physical and synthetic credit spreads perform in December. In derivative markets, the benchmark US and European investment-grade credit default swap indices, known as CDX IG and Main, compressed by 1.1bps and 2.1bps, respectively. This was echoed by the US and European high-yield indices, denoted by CDX HY and Xover, which also moved 6bps and 11bps tighter in the month.

In physical (or cash) bonds, investment-grade credit spreads across the US, UK, and European markets similarly drifted 3bps tighter in December. French and Italian government bond spreads to Bunds, which are another risk proxy, also contracted by about 1bp over the month.

In the Antipodes, spread moves were mixed: whereas benchmark 5-year Aussie major bank senior bond spreads climbed 2bps in December, subordinated major bank bond spreads declined 2bps. In the retail-centric ASX-listed hybrid market, 5-year major bank hybrid spreads plunged from 207bps to 171bps over the quarterly bank bill swap rate, albeit on diminishing turnover. This was a seasonally predictable dynamic amplified by scarcity into year-end as bank-issued hybrids are phased out by the regulator.

December USD IG issuance slowed sharply from November to US$38bn (YTD US$1.69trn), with muted supply across both financials and corporates. Coolabah selectively participated in attractively priced transactions, notably ANZ’s 3-year FRN, multiple tranches of Merck’s US$7.25bn multi-tranche deal, and S&P Global’s 5-year tranche. These transactions saw strong demand (approximately 5-7x covered) and post-pricing spread tightening.

In EUR investment-grade credit, supply rebounded to €17.5bn (approximately €9.5bn financials), compared with no issuance in December 2024. Despite seasonally light conditions, demand remained healthy, with deals averaging a 2.6x subscription rate. The standout transaction was Goldman Sachs’ dual-tranche HoldCo deal, which was well received following a long absence from the EUR market, complemented by solid demand for issues from BFCM and Deutsche Bank.

Fund: Coolabah Active Sovereign Bond Fund - Long Duration Class
Return/Risk: 5.23% pa gross/4.17% pa net (4.25% pa volatility)

Strategy commentary cont'd: The rates sell-off hurt the performance of long-duration, or fixed-rate, bond indices. In USD, the Bloomberg Global Aggregate Corporate Index lost 0.10% in December as higher yields taxed fixed-rate bond prices. In contrast, the interest rate-hedged version of this index performed robustly, gaining 0.64%.

Given the relatively aggressive rise in Aussie government bond yields, the AusBond Composite Bond Index underperformed its Global Aggregate equivalent, losing 0.63% in December. The duration-hedged AusBond Floating-Rate Note Index performed better, offering a 0.37% return in the month.

Other risk markets were mixed. In the US, equities struggled to generate positive total returns: the S&P 500 was unchanged (0.06%) while the Nasdaq lost 0.67%. Japanese equities also lost ground, with the Nikkei 225 falling 0.37%. Other equity markets fared better, led by the UK (FTSE 100 up 2.26%), Europe (Euro Stoxx 50 up 2.25%), Australia (ASX 200 up 1.30%), and New Zealand (NZX 50 up 0.44%).

Brent Crude oil prices declined 3.72% in December, which is one disinflationary force in the global economy that could be accentuated by Trumpian interventions in Venezuela. That ultimate inflation hedge, gold, continued its record ascent, rising 1.89% over the month. Bitcoin’s slump persisted, dropping 3.59% to USD 87,648.

In 2025, there were several big market thematics, including the advent of the trade war, the AI revolution and related hyperscaler capex boom, the emergence of further Fed cuts, and then burgeoning investor insouciance with President Donald Trump’s otherwise radical economic and geopolitical ideas.

The trade-weighted US dollar depreciated by 7-8% as a result of de-dollarization diversification and the impact of the Fed’s cuts, although the damage was done in the first half of the year (in the second half, the trade-weighted USD index tracked sideways).

In bond markets, one of the best-performing assets in 2025 was global duration. The 5.9-year duration Bloomberg Global Aggregate Corporate Index returned between 6.62% (AUD) and 7.08% (USD). This exceeded the cash rate in AUD (3.88%) and USD (4.24%), and the duration-hedged version of the Global Aggregate Corporate benchmark, which returned between 5.47% (AUD) and 5.89% (USD).

In the Aussie market, both long-duration and floating-rate indices delivered inferior outcomes to their global counterparts: the 4.8-year duration AusBond Composite Bond Index returned only 3.17%, while the AusBond FRN Index rose 4.97%.

Coolabah’s best-performing strategies in 2025 were our long-duration funds benchmarked against the Bloomberg Global Aggregate Corporate Index. After fees, the Pacific Coolabah Global Active Credit Fund returned 7.82% in USD compared to the index’s 7.08%. The AUD version of this strategy, called the Coolabah Active Global Bond Fund, returned 7.28% net compared to the AUD index’s 6.62%.

Not far behind was Coolabah’s A+ rated, daily liquidity, and floating-rate Long Short Opportunities Fund, which returned 7.08% after fees. Similar strategies, like the Long Short Credit Fund and the Floating-Rate High Yield Fund, offered comparable outcomes. Please note that past performance is no guide to future returns and investors should read the fund's PDS to better understand its risks.

Fund: Coolabah Active Sovereign Bond Fund - Long Duration Class
Return/Risk: 5.23% pa gross/4.17% pa net (4.25% pa volatility)

Strategy commentary cont'd:

Fund: Coolabah Active Sovereign Bond Fund - Long Duration Class
Return/Risk: 5.23% pa gross/4.17% pa net (4.25% pa volatility)
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Performance Disclaimer:
Past performance does not assure future returns. All investments carry risks, including that the value of investments may vary, future returns may differ from past returns, and that your capital is not guaranteed. This information has been prepared by Coolabah Capital Investments (Retail) Pty Limited ACN 153 555 867. It is general information only and is not intended to provide you with financial advice. You should not rely on any information herein in making any investment decisions. 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 Fund is considered hedge funds under ASIC Regulatory Guide 240 and may have complex features. It can borrow and use derivatives, meaning it is geared (or leveraged). Leverage can amplify gains and also amplify losses. It’s recommended that retail investors seek personal advice in relation to their investment in this fund. The Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and Target Market Determination (TMD) for the funds should be considered before deciding whether to acquire or hold units in it. A PDS and TMD for these products can be obtained by visiting www.coolabahcapital.com. Neither Coolabah Capital Investments (Retail) Pty Limited, Equity Trustees Limited nor their respective shareholders, directors and associated businesses assume any liability to investors in connection with any investment in the funds, or guarantees the performance of any obligations to investors, the performance of the funds or any particular rate of return. The repayment of capital is not guaranteed. Investments in the funds are not deposits or liabilities of any of the above-mentioned parties, nor of any Authorised Deposit-taking Institution. The funds are subject to investment risks, which could include delays in repayment and/or loss of income and capital invested. Past performance is not an indicator of nor assures any future returns or risks. Coolabah Capital Investments (Retail) Pty Limited (ACN 153 555 867) is an authorised representative (#000414337) of Coolabah Capital Institutional Investments Pty Ltd (AFSL 482238). Equity Trustees Ltd (AFSL 240975) is the Responsible Entity for these funds. Equity Trustees Ltd is a subsidiary of EQT Holdings Limited (ACN 607 797 615), a publicly listed company on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX: EQT). A Target Market Determination (TMD) is a document which is required to be made available from 5 October 2021. It describes who this financial product is likely to be appropriate for (i.e. the target market), and any conditions around how the product can be distributed to investors. It also describes the events or circumstances where the Target Market Determination for this financial product may need to be reviewed. The Fund’s Target Market Determination is available here' website.
Ratings Disclaimer:
The Zenith Investment Partners (ABN 27 103 132 672, AFS Licence 226872) ('Zenith') rating (assigned ETL6313AU, ETL8504AU, SLT3458AU, ETL5010AU, ETL9561AU, ETL5578AU, ETL2716AU & FIXD June 2024) referred to in this piece is limited to 'General Advice' (s766B Corporations Act 2001) for Wholesale clients only. This advice has been prepared without taking into account the objectives, financial situation or needs of any individual, including target markets of financial products, where applicable, and is subject to change at any time without prior notice. It is not a specific recommendation to purchase, sell or hold the relevant product(s). Investors should seek independent financial advice before making an investment decision and should consider the appropriateness of this advice in light of their own objectives, financial situation and needs. Investors should obtain a copy of, and consider the PDS or offer document before making any decision and refer to the full Zenith Product Assessment available on the Zenith website. Past performance is not an indication of future performance. Zenith usually charges the product issuer, fund manager or related party to conduct Product Assessments. Full details regarding Zenith’s methodology, ratings definitions and regulatory compliance are available on our Product Assessments and at Fund Research Regulatory Guidelines.
MSCI Disclaimer: Neither MSCI nor any other party involved in or related to compiling, computing or creating the MSCI data makes any express or implied warranties or representations with respect to such data (or the results to be obtained by the use thereof), and all such parties hereby expressly disclaim all warranties of originality, accuracy, completeness, merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose with respect to any of such data. Without limiting any of the foregoing, in no event shall MSCI, any of its affiliates or any third party involved in or related to compiling, computing or creating the data have any liability for any direct, indirect, special, punitive, consequential or any other damages (including lost profits) even if notified of the possibility of such damages. No further distribution or dissemination of the MSCI data is permitted without MSCI’s express written consent.