High Yield Debt: Three Expert Viewpoints

Our Speakers: ROMAN RJANIKOV, PORTFOLIO MANAGER, POLEN CAPITAL Polen Capital believes that non-investment grade, middle market companies exist in an inefficient area of the market sector often overlooked by market participants, thereby offering a fertile source of investment opportunities. In our view, uncovering these opportunities requires financial and credit expertise, extensive portfolio management experience, and keen legal skills. Our team calls on all these strengths in employing a bottom-up, fundamental-oriented investment approach. LLOYD HARRIS, HEAD OF FIXED INCOME, PREMIER MITON INVESTORS We believe the rising rate environment makes for an opportune time to consider an allocation to Contingent Convertible Bonds (Cocos). The asset class compares very favourably to pure high yield, and offers diversification versus traditional fixed income strategies. The banking system is changing swiftly in this post pandemic world – with interest rates rising rapidly, so are margins. Combine rising margins, with a lean cost base which is relatively fixed by comparison, then banks are unequivocally a beneficiary of the rising rate environment. Whilst we acknowledge we are about to enter a default cycle because of inflation, banks are well placed to deal with this due to the response of regulators to the financial crisis, which was to incentivise restrictive lending practices and build capital. In fixed income, the major beneficiaries of this backdrop for banks will be contingent capital, particularly those bonds where the expected remaining lifetime is short. Yields on offer are now comfortably above 8%. DAVID ENNETT, FUND MANAGER, ARTEMIS Following a torrid year in bond markets, Global High Yield finally lives up to its name again. In this presentation we will discuss the opportunity in the asset class in the post-QE era. We will also discuss the changing backdrop for high-conviction active management and our distinctive approach to managing ESG risks.