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Buy and Maintain Credit

Buy & Maintain credit is our core flagship fixed income strategy with fully-integrated ESG factor analysis, helping our clients access the investment grade credit markets.

A sustainable and resilient core holding for long-term investors and savers

Our Buy and Maintain Credit strategies actively seek to enhance the returns from the investment grade credit market over the longer term via intelligently constructed and highly diversified portfolios. We aim to maximise value by monitoring and mitigating against costs from turnover and transactions. 

25+ years

Our longest running, flagship fixed income strategy with fully-integrated Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) factor analysis.1

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£255 billion

Assets under management. Our size and scale affords us excellent access to the credit markets and the ability to engage effectively with issuers on behalf of our clients.2

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11 bps

Saved on every fixed income trade executed. Our centralised dealing desk, with traders specialised by market, instrument and region, adds vital value by minimising transaction cost ‘leakage'.3

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Why invest in AXA IM's Buy and Maintain Credit strategy?

As market leaders in bond investing, we have partnered with insurance and pension fund clients for three decades to develop innovative, outcome-oriented investment solutions to meet their evolving financial, regulatory and stakeholder needs.

The full breadth of our credit investing and trading expertise, along with our leading sustainable investing capabilities and state of the art tools, are used to design and construct portfolios that help you achieve your targeted investment outcomes sustainably.    

1.
Diversified, flexible portfolios focused on long-term outcomes

With smart portfolio construction helping to mitigate downside risk over the long term.
Strong multi-level diversification - with issuer, sector and regional diversification. 

2.
An answer to bond market illiquidity

Our low-turnover approach is designed to maximise returns over the long term while mitigating volatility and capital loss.
Deep credit investing capabilities and innovative trading techniques help drive the minimisation of transaction costs.

3.
A smart alternative to passive investing for core portfolios

Designed to avoid the pitfalls of market-weighted index tracking.
We look to capture the returns from the credit market - with a similar credit rating and duration profile - but less downside risk.

4.
Fundamentally driven to build quality in

Strong focus on long-term financial, business and ESG risks, both at investment and on an ongoing basis.
Bottom-up credit selection driven by recommendations of a global team of 2 fundamental credit analysts.

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5.
Transparent

Clear portfolio parameters.
Reporting that provides a clear, holistic view on all relevant measures of success.

6.
Long-term credit portfolios designed to meet your needs

Portfolios can be custom built around your specific requirements such as investment principles, risk budgets or regulatory frameworks
Pooled options can offer flexible, cost effective access to fully ESG-integrated credit strategy: Sterling , Euro and Global.

Award-winning cashflow strategies for UK pension schemes

Our Buy and Maintain credit approach is at the core of our cashflow driven investing (CDI) solutions.4
It aims to maximise the security of clients’ future cashflows through:

  • Capital preservation
  • Predictability of cashflow delivery
  • Maximising the premium over gilts
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How integrating ESG can help build resilient credit portfolios

Responsible investment has always been about the long term. Equity investors want to know a company isn’t vulnerable to global shifts around environmental or social issues and fixed income investors, looking to more distant horizons, might need to ensure a business can be part of a resilient strategy for the next 20 years.

We believe that integrating Environmental, Social and Governance analysis into our credit strategies leads to more effective investment solutions that help address global challenges and create sustainable value for our clients.

ESG is at the heart of our Buy and Maintain credit strategies

ESG Analysis

  • Proprietary ESG scoring methodology
  • ESG analysis embedded into our deep fundamental credit research
  • Qualitative analysis framework for Sustainable Bonds

Investment process

  • ESG performance indicators integrated into investment portfolio decision-making tools
  • Strong governance and ESG risk monitoring
  • Transparency through ESG dashboards and reporting, as well as engagement status updates

 

Risks considerations for this strategy:

  • Market risk and risk of loss of invested capital
  • Risks associated with fixed income securities, including, but not limited to, interest rate risk, credit risk and liquidity risks
  • Risks linked to global investments

Investment involves risk. The value of investments, and the income from them, can go down as well as up and an investor may get back less than the amount invested.

    Disclaimer

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    This promotional communication does not constitute investment research or financial analysis relating to transactions in financial instruments as per MIF Directive (2014/65/EU), nor does it constitute on the part of AXA Investment Managers or its affiliated companies an offer to buy or sell any investments, products or services, and should not be considered as solicitation or investment, legal or tax advice, a recommendation for an investment strategy or a personalized recommendation to buy or sell securities.

    Due to its simplification, this document is partial and opinions, estimates and forecasts herein are subjective and subject to change without notice. There is no guarantee that forecasts made will come to pass. Data, figures, declarations, analysis, predictions and other information in this document is provided based on our state of knowledge at the time of creation of this document. Whilst every care is taken, no representation or warranty (including liability towards third parties), express or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability or completeness of the information contained herein. Reliance upon information in this material is at the sole discretion of the recipient. This material does not contain sufficient information to support an investment decision.

    Before making an investment, investors should read the relevant Prospectus and the Key Investor Information Document / scheme documents, which provide full product details including investment charges and risks. The information contained herein is not a substitute for those documents or for professional external advice.

    The products or strategies discussed in this document may not be registered nor available in your jurisdiction. Please check the countries of registration with the asset manager, or on the web site https://www.axa-im.com/en/registration-map, where a fund registration map is available. In particular units of the funds may not be offered, sold or delivered to U.S. Persons within the meaning of Regulation S of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933. The tax treatment relating to the holding, acquisition or disposal of shares or units in the fund depends on each investor’s tax status or treatment and may be subject to change. Any potential investor is strongly encouraged to seek advice from its own tax advisors.

    Past performance is not a guide to current or future performance, and any performance or return data displayed does not take into account commissions and costs incurred when issuing or redeeming units. The value of investments, and the income from them, can fall as well as rise and investors may not get back the amount originally invested. Exchange-rate fluctuations may also affect the value of their investment. Due to this and the initial charge that is usually made, an investment is not usually suitable as a short term holding.

    Risk Warning

    The value of investments, and the income from them, can fall as well as rise and investors may not get back the amount originally invested.