-
Investment in the Portfolio entails certain risks. Investment returns and principal value of the Portfolio will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Some of the principal risks of investing in the Portfolio include:
-
Use a systematic (i.e. rule based) investment process and quantitative research to build a diversified portfolio of US dollar denominated, investment grade, corporate bonds using a dynamic, multi factor systematic approach to identify securities with the best future risk-adjusted returns.
-
The approach considers a number of factors in seeking to generate returns through a “bottom-up” security selection process.
-
These factors include: value, momentum, size, quality, carry, volatility, and may change over time.
Portfolio Management Team
Investment Risks to Consider
These and other risks are described in the Portfolio's prospectus
-
Convertible securities risk: As convertible securities are structured as bonds that typically can, or must, be repaid with a predetermined quantity of equity shares, rather than cash, they carry both equity risk and the credit and default risks typical of bonds.
-
Currency risk: Investments may be denominated in one or more currencies which are different from the Portfolio’s base currency. Currency movements in the investments may significantly affect the net asset value of the Portfolio.
-
Debt securities risk: The value of most bonds and other debt securities will rise when interest rates fall and will fall when interest rates rise. A bond or money market instrument could fall in price and become more volatile and less liquid if the security’s credit rating or the issuer’s financial health deteriorates, or the market believes it might. Debt securities carry interest rate risk, credit risk and default risk.
-
Derivatives risk: The Portfolio may include financial derivative instruments. These may be used to obtain, increase or reduce exposure to underlying assets and may create gearing; their use may result in greater fluctuations of the net asset value.
-
Emerging-markets risk: Where the Portfolio invests in emerging markets, these assets are generally smaller and more sensitive to economic and political factors, and may be less easily traded, which could cause a loss to the Portfolio.
-
Hedging risk: Hedging may be used when managing the Fund, as well as for currency hedge share classes to eliminate the potential for gains along with the risk for loss. Measures designed to offset specific risks may work imperfectly, may not be feasible at times or may fail completely. As there is no segregation of liabilities between the share classes, there is a remote risk that, under certain circumstances, currency hedging transactions could result in liabilities with might affect the NAV of the other share classes and their assets may be used to cover those liabilities incurred.
-
Leverage risk: The Fund implements a high use of leverage which may reach 400% of the total NAV of the Fund. Leverage presents opportunities for increasing both returns and losses because any event which affects the value of an investment is magnified to the extent leverage is employed.
-
Market risk: Prices and yields of many securities can change frequently, sometimes with significant volatility, and can fall, based on a wide variety of factors, for example government policy or change in technology. he effects of market risk can be immediate or gradual, short-term or long-term, or narrow or broad.
-
Prepayment risk: The risk that in periods of falling interest rates, issuers may pay principal sooner than expected, exposing the Portfolio to a lower rate of return upon reinvestment of principal.
-
Sustainability risk: Sustainability risk means an environmental, social, or governance event or condition that, if it occurs, could potentially or actually cause a material negative impact on the value of a Portfolio’s investment. Sustainability risks may have an impact on long-term risk adjusted returns for investors. Assessment of sustainability risks is complex and may be based on environmental, social, or governance data which is difficult to obtain and incomplete, estimated, out of date or otherwise materially inaccurate. Even when identified, there can be no guarantee that these data will be correctly assessed.
-
Systematic/Quantitative Model Risk: Proprietary quantitative models may be used for the purposes of selection, weighting and allocation of assets. The research and modelling process is complex and may contain design flaws or erroneous assumptions. The model may not work as intended and might not enable a Portfolio to achieve its investment objective. Certain models may be constructed using data from external data providers, potentially limiting the effectiveness of the models. In extremely volatile or illiquid market conditions it may be difficult to implement recommendations generated by the model.