Michael Count
Senior Fund Manager, Fixed Income
The LF Canlife Short Duration Corporate Bond Fund is a diversified fixed income portfolio consisting primarily of short duration investment grade corporate debt. The Fund has two main priorities – capital preservation and sustainable income.
The Fund will primarily invest in sterling denominated corporate fixed interest securities with an emphasis on investment grade short dated maturities
The Fund may also invest in other debt securities including non-investment grade, non-sterling corporate bonds, government and public securities and money market instruments, and also in other transferable securities, cash, near cash and collective investment schemes
For further details on the objective and investment policy, visit the Literature section to view fund KIIDs and Prospectus.
The Fund is then constructed via a bottom-up approach, with the managers ensuring that the Fund’s sector exposure is sufficiently diversified, as well as reflective of the teams’ macro views. Looking at each sector, they seek the best-value companies and review valuations on three levels: price relative to peer issues, price relative to past performance, price relative to outlook and ratings
Senior Fund Manager, Fixed Income
Fund Manager, Liquidity
To find out more, please get in touch with our distribution team.
With corporate bond yields at historically low levels, any potential move higher in rates – or a widening of spreads – can have a meaningful impact on investor returns. Investing in short duration corporate bonds can minimise sensitivity to rising yields, while dampening down the impact of credit market volatility.
Our philosophy is founded on the strong belief that the avoidance of bad credits is critical to success and concentrates on investing in bonds from companies the managers and the Canada Life credit team believe are financially strong. This is particularly important in the short duration space, where one default has the potential to eliminate a year’s worth of income. Therefore, the managers have a conservative, low-risk style, focusing on capital preservation and sustainable income.
Our credit analysis team has in-depth knowledge of individual corporates and sectors, drawing on the firm’s long experience in annuity management. Fund Managers Mike Count became manager in 2007 and Steve Matthews took on responsibility for cash funds in 2002, whilst Roger Dawes, Head of Fixed Income – Portfolio Management joined Canada Life Asset Management in 1998.
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