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A long-biased, unconstrained global high yield bond fund that is managed with a “go anywhere” mindset. The approach is based upon rigorous credit research to identify mispriced opportunities in any high yield market, regardless of the benchmark. Within its sector, the fund features in our ‘Global High Yield, Flexible’ category.
The fund’s KIID Synthetic Risk and Reward Indicator (SRRI) is 4. This is a regulatory measurement that is, where possible, calculated from the volatility of its weekly performance over a five-year period. A score of 4 means the fund’s historic volatility is between 5% and 10%.
An SRRI score of 4 is not out of step with that of global high yield bond indices. Over time, we would expect the fund’s risk profile to be in keeping with that of the asset class, although over shorter time periods, risk outcomes may look quite different because of the manager’s dynamic approach. Different share classes could have differing SRRI scores.
Mike Scott, Head of High Yield and Credit Opportunities, joined Man Group in 2018 to launch this fund. Previously, he worked at Schroders, where he was a high yield bond portfolio manager. Mr Scott has built a small, but experienced team of high yield fixed income specialists that includes dedicated analysts and fellow fund manager, Yves Blechner, who works closely with Mr Scott on this fund. The team also has access to Man Group’s proprietary research database
The team believes that credit markets are inefficient, and that rigorous credit analysis is the key to uncovering value and delivering attractive risk-adjusted returns. Rather than attempting to predict the future macro-economic picture, they concentrate their efforts on assessing an issuer’s credit fundamentals, using broad themes to hone their search for ideas from across global high yield bond markets.
At least two-thirds of the fund is invested in sub-investment grade bonds. The fund’s global mandate means it can invest across the high yield spectrum in performing debt, special situations and distressed credits. The portfolio typically features 60-80 holdings, with position sizes ranging from 1-4% (maximum weight 5% at purchase). In keeping with the IA sector guidelines, the fund is at least 80% hedged back to sterling. The team has the flexibility to include index and single name short positions via credit default swaps and total return swaps, which can account for up to 40% of the fund. The fund is subjected to the firm’s risk oversight, which is conducted independently of the portfolio managers.
The investment process begins with an evaluation of the global universe of eligible fixed income instruments. This is then filtered, using a series of quantitative screens that serve to highlight issuers with attractive credit fundamentals. Credit scorecards are used to build views on regions and sectors. The team conducts deeper analysis on investment candidates to create a watchlist of 100-150 issuers. The main aim of this work is to analyse an issuer’s solvency and ability to meet its debt obligations. They cover quantitative, legal and qualitative factors, including key areas such as business models, supply chains, financing, revenue streams, customer bases, governance and management styles. While their main focus is upon credit fundamentals, the team also considers the impact that broader themes, such as consumer trends, technological developments and demographics might have on an issuer. The use of such themes also helps to instil natural diversification into the portfolio.
The size of each position depends upon their conviction in the idea in the context of the sector or country in which it resides, its liquidity, the seniority of the debt and how it complements the existing portfolio. The team tends to favour smaller and medium-sized issuers, rather than the larger issuers that dominate the benchmarks. Using derivatives, they also use their research to express negative views on the market or on individual issuers.
Formal documentation, including the fund prospectus and the KIID, should be sought directly from the asset manager. For ease of reference, a link to the ASSET MANAGER WEBSITE can be found above, as well as a link to the ASSET MANAGER FACTSHEET.
At The Adviser Centre, our primary aim is to support financial professionals in their fund selection and suitability work through independently-minded research, borne of decades of industry experience. Our process is framed by the fundamental concepts of “quality”, “value” and “utility”, through which we answer the key questions of why to invest in a fund, how it is likely to behave and how it can be deployed.
The Adviser Centre team members are some of the most experienced in the fund research industry. We can always look forward to robust and constructive discussions and we have great respect for their views and perspectives, which, given the breadth of their fund and market knowledge, come from an extremely well-informed position.
We have known and worked with the team for several years and we value their experience and the insights they provide to our own investment process. The service differentiates itself by its more focused nature and the information on their factsheets is useful in emphasising a fund’s key mandate, exposure and style biases, helping to explain the risk/return journey that our customers can expect.
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