Our approach to investment grade credit
Investment grade bonds offer the potential benefits of attractive yields and enhanced diversification. Our unique approach to portfolio construction helps capture these benefits and deliver consistent returns relative to the benchmark. We seek to achieve this with lower correlation to credit markets and peers, while still aiming to provide downside protection.
Robust portfolio construction
Our proprietary risk allocation process uses custom sectors and targets volatility to match the benchmark. This allows a more flexible risk allocation approach when incorporating our best idiosyncratic ideas, while also generating returns from multiple sources.
Bottom-up value seeking
We complement our portfolio construction process with high-conviction stock selection. We manage concentrated portfolios of fewer issuers than competitors, drawing on our expertise in fundamental credit analysis. This can lead to excess returns uncorrelated to market beta and low correlation with peers.
Connected across capabilities
Our team and processes draw on the expertise of our full fixed income team, allowing us to allocate to the most attractive opportunities, regardless of currency, from issuers around the world. Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)* considerations and engagement play a critical role in our stock selection, holding equal importance alongside other risk factors.
The investment manager always applies the Firm’s Baseline Exclusions Policy and any specific constraints within a prospectus or IMA, but any other ESG factors or risk considerations are adopted at the manager’s discretion.
Key risks
Investment and currency risk
The value of an investment and any income from it can go down as well as up and can fluctuate in response to changes in currency and exchange rates. Investors may not get back the original amount invested.
Credit and interest rate risk
Bond values are affected by changes in interest rates and the bond issuer's creditworthiness. Bonds that offer the potential for a higher income typically have a greater risk of default.
Illiquid securities risk
Some investments could be hard to value or to sell at a desired time, or at a price considered to be fair (especially in large quantities). As a result their prices can be volatile.
Sustainability risk
The level of sustainability risk may fluctuate depending on which investment opportunities the Investment Manager identifies. This means that the fund is exposed to Sustainability Risk which may impact the value of investments over the long term.
Global Investment Grade Credit team
James Vokins
Head of Investment Grade Credit and Core Income
Justine Vroman
Senior Portfolio Manager
Chris Higham
Senior Portfolio Manager
Fixed income views
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Rethinking risk in EMD: The great inversion on emerging markets
28 Nov. 2025
Market and economic trends are challenging the idea that emerging market (EM) bonds should trade at a discount to developed economy debt.
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Bond Voyage: A journey into fixed income
10 Nov. 2025
This month’s Bond Voyage looks at the Bulk Purchase Annuity (BPA) market in the UK – the quiet market making loud moves.
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Bond Voyage: A journey into fixed income
9 Oct. 2025
In this month’s Bond Voyage, we introduce SHIELD – the downside protection framework used by our fixed income division. SHIELD is designed to ensure our portfolios remain resilient in challenging market conditions while maintaining capital efficiency.
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From niche to core: Asset-based finance emerges as a driving force as private debt markets continue to evolve
7 Oct. 2025
Asset-based finance is capturing the attention of institutional investors – from pension schemes to insurers – thanks to its diverse risk-return drivers and its growing role as a strategic building block in investors’ portfolios.
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Bucking the trend: Emerging market debt shows its mettle amid wider market turbulence
19 May 2025
Emerging-market debt has proved a rare bright spot so far this year as investors struggle to assess the impact of US political upheaval. In this article, Carmen Altenkirch and Nafez Zouk advance reasons why the market is well placed to weather ongoing market turbulence.
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Sovereign engagement: Driving positive change while delivering long-term value
14 May 2025
Investor engagement with governments on their climate commitments can be a powerful complement to other forms of stewardship. It can also help investors identify opportunities and mitigate risks, says Thomas Dillon.
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Bond Voyage: A journey into fixed income
6 May 2025
In May, our EMD team discusses the most effective way to manage fixed income through episodes of heightened uncertainty.
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Future proofing fixed income
16 Apr. 2025
Advances in data analytics and AI-driven insights are changing the landscape in fixed income investing, and the pace of change in innovation and technological adoption is remarkable.
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Bond Voyage: A journey into fixed income
10 Mar. 2025
This month, our fixed income teams discuss the boom in hybrid issuance and weigh up the risks and opportunities of potential tariffs, interest rate moves and fiscal dynamics.
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Bond Voyage: A journey into fixed income
10 Feb. 2025
As we negotiate an uncertain landscape, our fixed income teams reflect on potential sources of resilience.
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Bond Voyage: A journey into fixed income
13 Jan. 2025
With a new US president poised to take office, central banks diverging and ongoing political uncertainty, how are the key fixed income asset classes positioned for the year ahead?
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Sovereigns’ state: Analysing the new challenges facing global sovereign bonds
13 Dec. 2024
The expected policies of a Republican administration in the US bring added uncertainty to the global growth cycle. Steve Ryder and Daniel Bright examine the probable impacts of a world with more tariffs and political strains.
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Bond Voyage: A journey into fixed income
9 Dec. 2024
This month, we explore how US Treasuries are taking a breath, why 2025 could be the year of carry for high yield, what increasing dispersion means for emerging markets, and how surging M&A activity could affect investment-grade bonds.
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Bond Voyage: A journey into fixed income
4 Nov. 2024
This month, our fixed-income investment teams discuss US elections, IMF meetings, US versus European high yield, managing declining rates for cash, and what the future might hold in store for gilts.
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Bond Voyage: A journey into fixed income
10 Jun. 2024
This month, we discuss fiscal discipline in emerging markets, investment-grade credit portfolio construction, potential opportunities for sovereign investors in Canada and the merits of a developed-market focus in global high yield.