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High Yield

Our Amundi US Bank Loans Strategy1 seeks a high level of current income and capital preservation. We also seek to outperform the Morningstar LSTA Performing Loans Index and a peer group of competing managers without significantly higher risk. We seek to achieve this objective by constructing a well-diversified2 portfolio with attractive risk / return characteristics. Given our preference for higher quality loans, we would expect to outperform during down credit cycle periods.

1Effective September 30, 2022, the Amundi Pioneer Bank Loans Strategy was renamed to Amundi US Bank Loans Strategy.

2Diversification does not guarantee a profit or protect against a loss.

                       

                        

                       

   

Our Amundi US Bank Loans Strategy is a higher quality, value-oriented fixed income approach. It seeks to reduce the volatility of returns over time. We believe that our ability to be more selective and expedient allows us to change our position.

Jonathan Sharkey

Senior Vice President
Portfolio Manager 

Biography

Overview

The portfolio manager constructs each portfolio in accordance with its investment objectives, guidelines and risk tolerances.

  • Primary focus: Strives to deliver absolute risk and return, rather than benchmark-relative risk
  • Volatility: Seeks overall volatility that is less than the benchmark and competitors
  • Customized portfolios: Creates portfolios and services to match each client's needs, including socially responsible investing and liquidity requirements

PLEASE NOTE: The Internal Guidelines referenced do not necessarily represent prospectus/statutory limitations. These internal guidelines are used as guidance in the daily management of the Portfolio's investments. These guidelines are subject to change and should not be relied upon as a long term view of the Portfolio's exposures, limitations, and/or risks.

Why Amundi US?

The Strategy is managed within a strong fixed income investment culture focused on sound, fundamental research. Key features of the Amundi US Bank Loans Strategy include:

  • Value approach: Assesses relative value across a broad range of fixed income sectors, seeking strong total returns by investing in mispriced sectors and securities
  • Higher quality and lower volatility: Employs higher credit quality of underlying assets as a key differentiator and achieves volatility, as measured by standard deviation, historically at approximately 1% lower over three years
  • History of outperformance in down markets3 : Outperformed both the market and its peer group median in every down market since its inception
  • Nimble and efficient: Provides the flexibility to make selective credit bets and ability to reject benchmark deals that may not correspond with investment objectives
  • Downside risk focus: Seeks to invest in asset-rich companies, to limit downside risk, while ideal size enhances the ability to efficiently exit troubled credits
  • Experienced and accessible portfolio manager: Boasts over 20 years of investment experience and has overseen the Strategy since inception

3A down market is defined as when the stock market is falling or at its lowest level.