A strategic approach to investment grade credit for enhanced yield and downside protection
Aviva Investors has a long history of credit investing. We manage $16.5 billion of global investment grade assets (as of 30 June 2025) across a range of pooled and bespoke solutions in global and regional credit. Our investment style is underpinned by a fundamentally driven approach and powered by advanced data analytics, aiming to deliver consistent outperformance throughout the market cycle.
Credit markets are inherently inefficient and prone to volatility, making beta-dependent strategies vulnerable during periods of macro stress. Our beta-neutral framework is designed to enhance yield and provide downside protection across market cycles, balancing stable income with selective capital appreciation opportunities.
Why invest?
Investment grade bonds offer the potential benefits of attractive yields and enhanced diversification. Our unique approach leverages diversified sources of alpha and robust portfolio construction with the aim to capture these benefits and deliver consistent returns relative to the benchmark.
Connected across capabilities
Our global, integrated platform enables active cross-team collaboration, unlocking synergies to access diverse return sources across the fixed income investment grade universe.
Robust portfolio construction
We leverage proprietary technology and disciplined portfolio construction to build robust, high-conviction credit portfolios. Our approach seeks to deliver consistent excess returns across both risk-on and risk-off credit environments.
Bottom-up value seeking
We look to build portfolios around resilient, high-conviction credits identified through rigorous bottom-up fundamental analysis. This approach allows us to prioritise quality and durable income, while tactically seeking to capture capital appreciation and relative value opportunities.
Funds 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 Global Credit strategies.
Our Global Investment Grade strategy serves as a long-term core allocation to high-quality global credit, offering differentiated return potential through enhanced yield and downside protection across market and economic cycles.
While we run focussed portfolios with consideration of non-binding ESG risk factors across the range, the Climate Global Credit fund has a specific objective to invest in bonds of companies which are deemed to be responding to climate change effectively and aligning with a net zero emissions pathway by 2050, whilst earning income and increasing the value of the shareholder’s investment vs benchmark (over the long term).
Aviva Investors Global Investment Grade Corporate Bond Fund (SICAV)
This fund aims to deliver positive and consistent excess returns through all market cycles over the long term, irrespective of, and uncorrelated to, the behaviour of credit spreads by investing mainly in global investment grade corporate bonds.
Aviva Investors Global Climate Credit Fund (SICAV)
An actively managed strategy focused on global investment-grade bonds. The fund aims to generate income and increase the value of the Shareholder’s investment by outperforming the Benchmark over the long term. It invests in companies that are effectively addressing climate change and aligning with a net zero emissions pathway by 2050.
Investment insights
Investment thinking that brings together the collective insight of Aviva Investors’ teams from across the globe on the key themes influencing markets.
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Beyond buyout: Why DB schemes are reconsidering their endgame
10 Dec 2025
Significant shifts in the defined benefit (DB) pension schemes landscape mean that as schemes mature, trustees and sponsors now face a broader spectrum of strategic choices. We explain why the choice between buyout and run-on is no longer binary.
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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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Benchmarking cash: A survey of cash trends
14 Oct 2025
In this article, the first of a two‑part series, members of our liquidity team explore cash trends in a rapidly evolving financial landscape for corporate treasurers.
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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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Energy-intensive industries: Unlocking low-carbon investment
16 Sep 2025
Vital industries for UK growth like steel or cement are also energy intensive, and their decarbonisation is essential. We convened a roundtable of experts to discuss barriers and solutions to unlocking low-carbon investment opportunities.
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Bond Voyage: A journey into fixed income
9 Sep 2025
In this month’s Bond Voyage, our Solutions team investigates the reasons behind the widening gilt-swap spread and its implications for government bond investors, in particular for insurance companies.
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Bond Voyage: A journey into fixed income
5 Aug 2025
In this month’s Bond Voyage, our solutions team explores the implications of a “higher for longer” US interest rate environment and what it could mean for investment grade (IG) investors.
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Bond Voyage: A journey into fixed income
10 Jul 2025
In this month’s Bond Voyage, our emerging market (EM) debt team explains why, after a few false dawns, the stars seem to have aligned for EM local currency debt to outperform other global fixed income assets.
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Complementing cash: Optimising cash in a rate-cutting cycle
11 Jun 2025
As many central banks begin cutting interest rates, short-term bond strategies can offer a complement to cash holdings. Alastair Sewell explains.
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Bond Voyage: A journey into fixed income
9 Jun 2025
In June, our credit teams look under the bonnet of the European industry’s growth engine.
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Money-market funds: An overview for corporate treasurers and investors
3 Jun 2025
Nana Antwi provides an overview of money-market funds (MMFs) and their importance in cash management for corporate treasurers and many other investor types.
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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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From tactical to strategic: Investing in emerging-market hard currency debt in your fixed-income portfolio
13 May 2025
Investors should consider EMD hard currency for a long-term strategic allocation within fixed-income portfolios to boost portfolio returns, rather than just a short-term tactical play.
Bond Voyage: A journey into fixed income
Each month, our freewheeling fixed-income newsletter gathers insights from our high-yield, investment-grade, emerging-market and global sovereign bond teams.
House View
No one can predict the future. But our quarterly House View sets out the collective wisdom of our investment teams on the current state of global markets – and where they might be heading.
Key risks
These represent some of the key risks; however, they are not exhaustive. For comprehensive details, please refer to the KIID and the prospectus.
Investment risk
The value of an investment and any income from it can go down as well as up. 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.
Derivatives risk
Investments can be made in derivatives, which can be complex and highly volatile. Derivatives may not perform as expected, meaning significant losses may be incurred.
Investor in funds
Investments can be made in other funds; this could mean the overall charges are higher.
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
Explore
Fixed income
Fixed income is an indispensable building block for meeting a variety of investment goals, including income, inflation protection, liability management and capital appreciation.
Important Information
THIS IS A MARKETING COMMUNICATION
Unless stated otherwise any opinions expressed are those of Aviva Investors. They should not be viewed as indicating any guarantee of return from an investment managed by Aviva Investors nor as personalised advice of any nature. This document should not be taken as a recommendation or offer by anyone in any jurisdiction in which such an offer is not authorised or to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such an offer or solicitation. The legal documentation and the subscription documents should be read before an investment is made. Portfolio holdings are subject to change at any time without notice and information about specific securities should not be construed as a recommendation to buy or sell any securities.
For Investors located in EU/EEA countries, the Prospectus and Key Information Document (‘KID’), as well as the latest annual and semi-annual reports of Aviva Investors SICAV are available, free of charge from the registered office of the fund located at 2 rue du Fort Bourbon .L-1249 Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, or from www.eifs.lu/aviva-investors. The Prospectus is available in English. Where a sub-fund of Aviva Investors SICAV is registered for public distribution in a jurisdiction, a KID in the official language of that jurisdiction will be available.
For investors located in France the Fund documentation is also available at the registered office of the local centralised agent: BNP Paribas Securities Services, 3 rue d’Antin, 75002 Paris, France.
For investors located in Italy, the Fund documentation is available at the following local paying agents’ offices:
- Allfunds Bank S.A.U, Milan Branch, via Bocchetto, 6, 20123 Milan, Italy
- Société Générale Secrities Services S.p.A, Via Benigno Crespi 19/A, 20159 Milano, Italy
- Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena S.p.A., Piazza Salimbeni 3, 53100 Siena SI
For investors located in Spain, the Fund documentation is available at the office of Allfunds Bank S.A.U., Calle de los Padres Dominicos 7, 28050 Madrid, Spain.
For investors located in Switzerland, the Fund documentation is available at the Swiss representative’s office BNP PARIBAS, Paris, Zurich branch, Selnaustrasse 16, 8002 Zurich, Switzerland.
For Investors located in United-Kingdom, the Fund documentation is also available at the UK facilities agent registered office: Aviva Investors Global Services Limited, 80 Fenchurch Street, London, EC3M 4AE, United Kingdom.
Where relevant, information on our approach to the sustainability aspects of the fund and the Sustainable Finance disclosure regulation (SFDR) including policies and procedures can be found on the following link: https://www.avivainvestors.com/en-gb/capabilities/sustainable-finance-disclosure-regulation/
In Europe this document is issued by Aviva Investors Luxembourg, acting as the Management Company of the fund, with its registered office located 2 rue du Fort Bourbon, L-1249 Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Aviva Investors Luxembourg is supervised by the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier, R.C.S Luxembourg B25708. In the UK this document is issued by Aviva Investors Global Services Limited, registered in England and Wales No. 1151805, with its registered office located at 80 Fenchurch Street, London, EC3M 4AE. Aviva Investors Global Services Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Firm Reference No. 119178.
In Switzerland, this document is issued by Aviva Investors Schweiz GmbH.
Note for UK Investors: This Fund is domiciled in Luxembourg and is authorised by the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF). The Fund is recognised in the UK under the Overseas Funds Regime but is not a UK-authorised Fund and therefore is not subject to UK sustainable investment labelling disclosure requirements. UK investors should be aware that they can make a complaint about the fund, its management company, or its depositary. However, complaints may not be eligible for resolution by the UK’s Financial Ombudsman Service and any claims for losses related to the management company or depositary will not be covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). UK investors should consider seeking their own financial advice before making any decisions to invest and refer to the scheme prospectus for further information.