Our approach to short-dated bonds
Aviva Investors’ ReturnPlus Fund draws on a range of credit spread premia to optimise returns from strategic cash while mitigating risk and maintaining liquidity. The fund invests in liquid, short-maturity, highly rated fixed-income securities while hedging interest rate and currency risks. Our approach benefits from our extensive experience managing assets to meet clients’ liabilities and risk-based capital requirements to optimise return and capital efficiency.
Potential benefits of capital efficient short-dated bond funds
The strategy is structured to deliver better risk-adjusted returns than cash and a highly liquid exposure in a capital-efficient format.
Enhancing returns
Attractive investment for strategic cash assets.
Targeting Sonia1 +75bps, ESTR2 +50bps and SOFR3 +75bps p.a.*
Capital efficiency
Investments with low solvency capital charges.
Investing in high-quality, short-dated debt; keeping risk low using a variety of tools.
Liquidity
Allocating investments to highly liquid instruments.
Daily redemptions, settled T+3.
ESG integrated
The fund is SFDR Article 8, meaning it promotes environmental or social objectives.
Beyond any binding ESG constraints in the strategy and baseline exclusions policy, the investment manager retains discretion over final investment decisions, taking into account wider risk factors.
ReturnPlus strategies
Aviva Investors ReturnPlus Fund
The strategy targets a stable return over cash by investing in short-maturity, highly rated fixed income securities while mitigating risk and maintaining liquidity.
The case for ReturnPlus: An approach to optimise strategic cash returns
Todd Cutting and Rakesh Girdharlal explain how our ReturnPlus strategy could be an option for investors looking to optimise their strategic cash allocation.
Aviva Investors ReturnPlus: Strategy in brief
A holistic liquidity solution providing access to stable returns above cash in a liquid, diversified format.
Key risks of ReturnPlus fund
Investment risk & 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.
Illiquidity 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), and as a result their prices can be volatile.
ReturnPlus team
Todd Cutting
Senior Portfolio Manager, Liability Driven Investment
Rakesh Girdharlal
Head of Liability Driven Investment and Liquidity
Need more information?
For further information, please contact our investment sales team.
Explore our fixed income range
Fixed income views
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An ABS renaissance? Why it may be time for insurers to reconsider asset-backed securities
2 Sep 2024
Securitisation performs a vital role in capital markets and asset-backed securities have historically been a core holding for insurance companies. This article revisits the investment thesis for ABS and explores why the stage may be set for something of a renaissance.
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Bond Voyage: A journey into fixed income
9 Aug 2024
In this summer edition of Bond Voyage, we discuss topical themes in liquidity, emerging-market debt, investment-grade credit and global sovereign bonds.
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Time to get active: Finding opportunities in emerging-market debt
30 Jul 2024
Emerging markets have remained robust amid the economic and political uncertainties of 2024, but active management will be important if debt investors are to identify standout performers over the coming months.
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Riding the technical tailwinds: The outlook for investment-grade credit
25 Jul 2024
Credit markets have had a comparatively easy ride so far in 2024, and investment-grade corporate spreads are now at some of their tightest levels for a long time. But investors must guard against complacency.
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Liquidity optimisation for insurers: Building a bespoke portfolio solution
9 Jul 2024
In the third part of our liquidity optimisation series, we look at how bespoke liquidity portfolios that take into account the interplay between different assets can suit the needs of insurers.
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Finding the right blend: Optimising asset allocation in liquidity pools
5 Jul 2024
In the second part of our new article series on liquidity optimisation, Alastair Sewell investigates how investors can find the right mix of assets for their liquidity pools.
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The difficult last mile: Inflation, Treasury supply and the outlook for global sovereign bonds
4 Jul 2024
With the focus shifting from interest rate cuts to the likelihood of rates staying higher for longer, Steve Ryder and Daniel Bright assess the possible outcomes and implications of higher rates and monetary policy divergence in debt markets.
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Bond Voyage: A journey into fixed income
2 Jul 2024
In a special European Championships edition of Bond Voyage, we discuss topical themes in liquidity, emerging-market debt, investment-grade credit and global sovereign bonds (with a little help from Cristiano Ronaldo and Kylian Mbappé).
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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.
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Emerging-market debt turns the corner: The EM investment universe grows amid improved resilience
21 May 2024
Emerging-market debt analyst Carmen Altenkirch reports back from the recent International Monetary Fund (IMF)/World Bank meetings in Washington.
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See the wood, not just the trees: How climate-focused credit investors can help drive real-world change
14 May 2024
Green bond funds and Paris-aligned benchmarks are aimed at climate-focused credit investors who also want the simplicity of passive investing. But while they decarbonise portfolios, they exclude the companies in the real economy that need to transition if the world is to meet the Paris Agreement goals. This is why an active approach can be beneficial.
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Bond Voyage: A journey into fixed income
13 May 2024
This month, we discuss Spring meetings, the path for rates and sustainability-linked bonds.
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Bond Voyage: A journey into fixed income
9 Apr 2024
In the April edition of our monthly series, we explore the latest developments in fixed-income markets.
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Bond Voyage: A journey into fixed income
11 Mar 2024
In the latest instalment of our monthly series, our investment-grade, high-yield, emerging-market and global sovereign bond teams explore the key talking points in fixed income.
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Too hot, too cold, or just right? The outlook for investment-grade credit
21 Feb 2024
Investment-grade credit has had an encouraging start to 2024 – but are these really “Goldilocks” conditions for the asset class? In their latest Q&A, James Vokins and Chris Higham from our credit team discuss opportunities and risks in this market.
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Credit spreads and climate solutions: The outlook for climate-focused bond investors
8 Feb 2024
For the first time in three years, interest rates should no longer be a headwind for credit markets in 2024, but other forms of uncertainty may affect climate-aware bond investors. Our credit experts discuss the key themes they expect to play out over the coming months.
* Over a three-year rolling period, regardless of market conditions.
1 GBP Strategy Targetting Sterling Overnight Index Average, a widely used interest rate benchmark and reference rate for sterling overnight Indexed Swaps (OIS).
2 EUR Strategy Targetting Euro Short Term Rate, the alternative euro risk free rate and replacement for EONIA. ESTER will be published from October 2019.
3 USD Strategy Targetting Secured Overnight Financing Rate, the alternative USD risk-free rate and replacement for LIBOR.