European Credit Strategy

European Credit Strategy

European Credit Strategy

 
 
Summary

The European Credit Strategy is a value-oriented fixed income strategy that seeks attractive total returns from income and price appreciation by investing in a globally diversified portfolio of primarily euro-denominated debt issued by corporations and nongovernment related issuers. To help achieve this objective, the strategy combines a top-down macroeconomic assessment, to determine optimal beta positioning for the portfolio, with rigorous bottom-up fundamental analysis.

 
 
Investment Approach
Philosophy

The investment team believes that market participants may often mis-value a company’s default risk, resulting in bond prices that fail to reflect the true credit profile of a company. However, the team believes that the market will re-value the bond prices of high-quality issuers based over time, thereby offering investors the opportunity to potentially exploit these pricing inefficiencies and earn superior returns over the long term.

The team believes that successful credit management depends on four factors:

• A value-driven process;

• Forward-looking credit analysis;

• Broad diversification to help reduce portfolio risk;

• A global approach.

 
Differentiators
Combined Quantitative and Qualitative Approach:

The team’s investment approach integrates strong qualitative analysis with robust quantitative valuation tools at every stage of the investment process, providing a robust credit management process.

Extensive Experience:

The Global Fixed Income Team at Morgan Stanley Investment Management has invested in fixed income assets since 1975, and in European fixed income assets since 1990.

Global Research:

An emphasis on a team-based approach to research and investment allows investors to benefit from the combined expertise of the Global Fixed Income Team at Morgan Stanley Investment Management. Approximately 80% of the team’s research is generated in-house, and this is supplemented by Morgan Stanley sell-side and 3rd party research.

 
 
 
Investment Process
1
Macro analysis:

The process begins with a top-down value assessment of the corporate bond universe, including a consideration of macroeconomic conditions, the corporate earnings environment and relative valuations.

2
Screening:

The team applies what they believe to be a unique combination of quantitative and qualitative filters to identify approximately 250 to 300 bond issuers that meet its investment criteria in terms of competitive position, franchise value and management quality. 

3
Credit Analysis:

The team conducts rigorous focuses on financial risk, business risk and management ability/intentions.

4
Valuation Analysis:

The team’s credit analysis narrows the universe to approximately 200 investment candidates on which a relative valuation assessment is conducted.

5
Portfolio Construction:

A portfolio of 100 to 120 issuers is constructed, with sector allocation driven primarily from bottom-up security selection (subject to the risk management guidelines).

Global-Fixed-Income-European-Credit_FINAL
 
 
Portfolio Managers  
Leon Grenyer
Head of European Multi-Sector
28 years industry experience
Joseph Mehlman
Head of Global Investment Grade Credit
22 years industry experience
 

Effective 30 August 2024, Richard Ford is no longer serving as Portfolio Manager, and Joe Mehlman was added as Portfolio Manager on the Portfolio.

 
 
 
 
 

RISK CONSIDERATIONS  

Diversification does not protect you against a loss in a particular market; however it allows you to spread that risk across various asset classes.

There is no assurance that a mutual fund will achieve its investment objective. Funds are subject to market risk, which is the possibility that the market values of securities owned by the fund will decline and that the value of fund shares may therefore be less than what you paid for them. Market values can change daily due to economic and other events (e.g. natural disasters, health crises, terrorism, conflicts and social unrest) that affect markets, countries, companies or governments. It is difficult to predict the timing, duration, and potential adverse effects (e.g. portfolio liquidity) of events. Accordingly, you can lose money investing in this fund. Please be aware that this fund may be subject to certain additional risks. Fixed-income securities are subject to the ability of an issuer to make timely principal and interest payments (credit risk), changes in interest rates (interest-rate risk), the creditworthiness of the issuer and general market liquidity (market risk). In the current rising interest-rate environment, bond prices may fall and may result in periods of volatility and increased portfolio redemptions. Longer-term securities may be more sensitive to interest rate changes. In a declining interest-rate environment, the portfolio may generate less income. Investments in foreign marketsentail special risks such as currency, political, economic, and market risks. The risks of investing in emerging market countries are greater than the risks generally associated with investments in foreign developed countries. In addition to the risks associated with common stocks, investments in convertible securitiesare subject to the risks associated with fixed-income securities, namely credit, price and interest-rate risks. Currency fluctuations could erase investment gains or add to investment losses. When investing in value securities, the market may not have the same value assessment as the manager, and, therefore, the performance of the securities may decline.

This communication is only intended for and will be only distributed to persons resident in jurisdictions where such distribution or availability would not be contrary to local laws or regulations.

There is no guarantee that any investment strategy will work under all market conditions, and each investor should evaluate their ability to invest for the long-term, especially during periods of downturn in the market. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

A separately managed account may not be appropriate for all investors. Separate accounts managed according to the Strategy include a number of securities and will not necessarily track the performance of any index. Please consider the investment objectives, risks and fees of the Strategy carefully before investing. A minimum asset level is required. For important information about the investment manager, please refer to Form ADV Part 2.

Any views and opinions provided are those of the portfolio management team and are subject to change at any time due to market or economic conditions and may not necessarily come to pass. Furthermore, the views will not be updated or otherwise revised to reflect information that subsequently becomes available or circumstances existing, or changes occurring. The views expressed do not reflect the opinions of all portfolio managers at Morgan Stanley Investment Management (MSIM) or the views of the firm as a whole, and may not be reflected in all the strategies and products that the Firm offers.

All information provided has been prepared solely for information purposes and does not constitute an offer or a recommendation to buy or sell any particular security or to adopt any specific investment strategy. The information herein has not been based on a consideration of any individual investor circumstances and is not investment advice, nor should it be construed in any way as tax, accounting, legal or regulatory advice. To that end, investors should seek independent legal and financial advice, including advice as to tax consequences, before making any investment decision.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

The indexes are unmanaged and do not include any expenses, fees or sales charges. It is not possible to invest directly in an index. Any index referred to herein is the intellectual property (including registered trademarks) of the applicable licensor. Any product based on an index is in no way sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by the applicable licensor and it shall not have any liability with respect thereto.

The Bloomberg Euro-Aggregate: Corporate Index  is a rules based benchmark measuring investment grade, EUR denominated, fixed rate, and corporate only. Only bonds with a maturity of 1 year and above are eligible.

“Bloomberg®” and the Bloomberg Index/Indices used are service marks of Bloomberg Finance L.P. and its affiliates, and have been licensed for use for certain purposes by Morgan Stanley Investment Management (MSIM). Bloomberg is not affiliated with MSIM, does not approve, endorse, review, or recommend any product, and. does not guarantee the timeliness, accurateness, or completeness of any data or information relating to any product.

The information presented represents how the portfolio management team generally implements its investment process under normal market conditions.

Morgan Stanley Investment Management is the asset management division of Morgan Stanley.

 

This is a Marketing Communication.

Please be aware that liquidity instruments may be subject to certain additional risks. Fixed-income securities are subject to the ability of an issuer to make timely principal and interest payments (credit risk), changes in interest rates (interest-rate risk), the creditworthiness of the issuer and general market liquidity (market risk). In a rising interest-rate environment, bond prices may fall. In a declining interest-rate environment, the portfolio may generate less income.

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