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Boxing clever: Portfolio construction in investment-grade credit
Mark Miller and James Vokins explain how our portfolio construction process for investment-grade credit could benefit investors in the new market regime.
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Higher for longer: A new era for fixed income
James Vokins and Chris Higham from our credit team believe the path of inflation will remain the central question for investors in 2023. Fixed-income investors should remain cautious until that path is more certain, but fundamental analysis can still uncover attractive opportunities.
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All change: Positioning for a new market regime and climate action in IG credit
Justine Vroman and Tom Chinery discuss the opportunities in investment-grade credit to drive climate action.
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 providing downside protection.
Focussed portfolio
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 thinking
Our team and processes are global, allowing us to allocate to the most attractive opportunities, regardless of currency, from issuers around the world. ESG considerations and engagement play a critical role in our stock selection, holding equal importance alongside other risk factors.
Strategies in focus
Our longstanding team of portfolio managers follow a consistent approach across our range of investment-grade capabilities, including our flagship Global Investment Grade and Climate Transition Global Credit strategies.
While we run focussed portfolios with robust integration of ESG risk factors across the range, the Climate Transition Global Credit strategy offers the additional objective to achieve positive climate outcomes to support the transition to a low-carbon world.
Aviva Investors Global Investment Grade Corporate Bond Fund
This strategy aims to deliver positive and consistent excess returns through all market cycles, irrespective of, and uncorrelated to, the behaviour of credit spreads by investing mainly in global investment grade corporate bonds.
Aviva Investors Climate Transition Global Credit Fund
This strategy lends to investment grade companies globally that are either providing solutions to climate change or orientating their business models to a low-carbon economy, while avoiding the most carbon intense fossil fuel based companies.

Aviva Investors Global Investment Grade Corporate Bond: Strategy in brief
The strategy aims to deliver positive and consistent excess returns through all market cycles.
Key risks
For further information on the risks and risk profiles of our funds, please refer to the relevant KIID and Prospectus.
Investment grade credit team

James Vokins
Global Head of Investment Grade Credit

Justine Vroman
Senior Portfolio Manager

Chris Higham
Senior Portfolio Manager

Thomas Chinery
Senior Portfolio Manager, Credit
Fixed income views
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The time to lead: Reforming multilateral development banks through a climate lens
28 Nov 2023
To have a chance of limiting global warming to less than two degrees, the world must unlock huge investments in emerging markets. This is prompting calls for the reform of multilateral development banks, but will this be enough?
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From cash rich to cash strapped? Why the US consumer boom could run out of road
24 Nov 2023
Our investment teams explain why buoyant US consumer spending will have to weaken eventually. That could pose problems for debt-laden consumer-facing companies.
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Bond Voyage: A journey into fixed income
10 Nov 2023
In the latest instalment of our new monthly series, our investment-grade, high-yield, emerging-market and global sovereign bond teams share their thoughts on key topics from across the fixed-income universe.
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Storm before the calm? Emerging-market debt investors eye peak in US rates
8 Nov 2023
Carmen Altenkirch and Nafez Zouk report back from the recent International Monetary Fund/ World Bank meetings in Marrakech on the implications for EMD investors.
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Softly does it? A Q&A with Peter Fitzgerald and Ian Pizer
24 Oct 2023
The managers of the AIMS Target Return strategy explain why the prospects for a range of asset classes suddenly look much brighter.
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From here to maturity: Is the high-yield market ready for lift off?
19 Oct 2023
Sunita Kara and Brent Finck argue it is more important than ever for investors to be selective when navigating the global high-yield landscape.
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Bond Voyage: A journey into fixed income
11 Oct 2023
In the first of a new monthly series, our investment-grade, high-yield, emerging-market and global sovereign bond teams share their thoughts on key topics from across the fixed-income universe.
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How much is too much? Inflation uncertainty weighs on sovereign bond markets
4 Oct 2023
With inflation down from multi-decade highs, monetary policymakers have delicate trade-offs to make as they plot their next steps. Steve Ryder and Daniel Bright assess the possible outcomes and implications for sovereign debt investors.
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Integrating net zero in sovereign bond portfolios: Understanding the impacts, risks and opportunities
2 Oct 2023
Investing in climate transition and adaptation plans today adds to governments’ funding needs, but over time should make for stronger, more resilient economies. How should investors approach this to embed net-zero considerations into their sovereign bond portfolios?
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Multi-asset allocation views: Cutting through the noise
27 Sep 2023
Financial markets have hit the headlines several times in recent weeks. Sunil Krishnan explains how taking a long-term view can help multi-asset investors cut through the noise.
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Multi-asset allocation views: Cutting through the noise
26 Sep 2023
Issues around US tech, China, US Treasuries and Japanese monetary policy have hit the headlines in recent weeks. Sunil Krishnan explains how taking a long-term view can help multi-asset investors cut through the noise.
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Navigating uncertainty and avoiding underperformers: Plotting a course for the long term in buy-and-maintain credit
13 Sep 2023
As the current economic cycle draws to a close, our buy-and-maintain team discuss opportunities and risks in credit markets.
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Mad about the boy: Understanding the economic and investment impacts of El Niño
25 Aug 2023
How much do ocean circulation patterns impact economic outcomes and sovereign risk? Rick Stathers and Carmen Altenkirch assess El Niño, the climate phenomenon driving atmospheric circulation in the tropics, affecting everything from GDP to inflation and social stability.
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Staying the course: The ongoing appeal of investment-grade credit
24 Aug 2023
James Vokins and Chris Higham explain why investment-grade bonds still offer value despite persistent market uncertainty.
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The heat is on: Opportunities and risks for climate-focused bond investors
8 Aug 2023
Thomas Chinery and Justine Vroman discuss current conditions in the investment-grade market, the ECB’s “green QT” programme, and why oil and gas firms must go further and faster to decarbonise.
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Cash is king (again): Higher rates spurring interest in money market funds
19 Jul 2023
Members of Aviva Investors’ liquidity team explain why rising global interest rates and problems in the US banking sector are fuelling demand for money market funds.
Explore our fixed income range
Need more information?
For further information, please contact our investment sales team.