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The Fund invests in domestic and foreign high yield bonds. High yield issuers are
generally those which have below investment-grade ratings because they are
relatively small in size, relatively young in years, relatively leveraged
financially (perhaps borrowing heavily to finance expansion or due to a leverage
buyout), or formerly “blue chip” companies that have encountered some financial
difficulties. These types of securities are commonly referred to as “junk
bonds”.
The Fund’s weighted average maturity of debt securities is
generally expected to be from six to eight years. By emphasizing
below investment-grade debt securities, the Fund seeks to offer
shareholders a regular stream of high income, while providing
capital appreciation over time.
In selecting investments, the sub-advisors rely heavily on internal research and
credit analysis. The investment advisors will adjust the Fund’s overall credit
rating and average maturity based on their judgment of the economic climate,
industry dynamics, and values in the high yield market. |