Robeco launches Robeco Global Credits - Short Maturity strategy

Nick Shaw, responsible for Robeco's wholesale business in the UK said: “We are delighted to launch our latest global credit strategy into the UK as Robeco continues to grow its presence and client base here. Our market leading capabilities in credits are increasingly recognised by clients in the UK and the launch of this fund represents an exciting new addition to our fund offering here”.

The fund is managed by Robeco’s well established, stable and experienced Credit team, with Victor Verberk and Reinout Schapers as lead portfolio managers. The core of the portfolio will be invested in developed investment grade corporate bonds with a maximum maturity of six years, using the Bloomberg Barclays Global Aggregate Corporate 1-5 years as the reference index. The portfolio managers have the flexibility to invest in emerging credits, high yield (mainly BB-rated paper) and securitized credits to enhance returns while controlling the overall risk profile.

Victor Verberk, portfolio manager of Global Credits – Short Maturity, said: “Short duration credits have historically delivered higher risk-adjusted returns than longer dated credits due to a low risk anomaly in credit markets. Turnover and transaction costs of a short duration credit fund are also lower, as short dated credits are typically held until maturity, this makes strategic allocation to short duration credit bonds in a fixed income portfolio a sensible thing to do.”

Robeco has a long history in global credit investing and currently manages GBP 35 billion in fixed income strategies, of which GBP 23 billion in credits (September 2017). A dedicated global team of over 30 investment professionals located in Rotterdam, London, New York, Singapore & Hong Kong manages European and global investment grade credit portfolios.