Strategic Bond Fund

Single Price119.760pas of 01/08/2025
Fund launch date
Fund size£18,823,893.16
Number of holdings63

The Fund

The Strategic Bond Fund has been managed by Phil Milburn and Donald Phillips since launch and aims to maximise its total return over the long term (5 years or more) through a combination of income and capital growth by investing in government bond and credit securities globally. The Fund may invest up to 40% of its net assets in emerging markets. The fund managers seek to take advantage of market inefficiencies.

You are able to redeem your investment from the Fund at any time and there is no exit fee for doing so.

Read latest fund update
Past performance does not predict future returns. You may get back less than you originally invested. Reference to specific securities is not intended as a recommendation to purchase or sell any investment. 
Key Information
Manager Inception Date of Fund
-
Managed by Current Team for
-
Class Launch Date
-
ISIN code
GB00BFX14R94
Comparator Benchmark 1
IA Sterling Strategic Bond
Click to reveal
Additional Information
Minimum initial investment
-
Minimum additional investment
-
Ex-dividend date
-
Distribution date
-
Sedol code
BFX14R9
Click to reveal
Charges
Initial charge
-
Charges
0.62%
Included within the OCF is the Annual Management Charge
0.55%
Click to reveal

Awards and Ratings

Citywire fund manager rating

Citywire Manager Rating: +

Meet the team

Before joining Liontrust in early 2018, Phil Milburn worked at Kames Capital for 14 years, where he was Head of Investment Strategy. Donald Phillips also joined Liontrust in 2018 and was previously an investment manager in the Credit team at Baillie Gifford and worked with Phil at Kames Capital for three years.
Global Fixed Income team

Our Investment Process

While the Fund has neutral target levels of duration risk and asset allocation, the investment team takes a high conviction approach which can lead positioning to diverge significantly from neutral levels and benchmark profiles. This results in periods when investment performance diverges from benchmark indices.
The process is designed to take advantage of inefficiencies in fixed income markets through a thorough understanding of the economic environment and detailed bottom up stock analysis.
The process uses the same framework to garner a thorough understanding of the economic environment and for bottom up stock analysis: fundamentals, valuations and technicals (FVT). 
These three factors are examined regardless of whether the managers are considering a duration position or an investment in a speculative grade rated company. In judging whether a company is attractive long-term investment, the managers analyse the following factors, which they call PRISM.
  • Protections: operational and contractual, such as structure and covenants
  • Risks: credit, business and market
  • Interest cover: leverage and other key ratios
  • Sustainability: of cash flows and environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors
  • Motivations: of management and shareholders
Past performance does not predict future returns. You may get back less than you originally invested. Reference to specific securities is not intended as a recommendation to purchase or sell any investment. 

Performance

As the share class has been in existence for less than one discrete year as at the previous quarter end, there is insufficient data to provide an indication of past performance.

Discrete performance (%)

As at previous quarter 12 months ending:Jun 2025Jun 2024Jun 2023Jun 2022Jun 2021
Liontrust Strategic Bond7.89.61.2-12.55.1
IA Sterling Strategic Bond6.68.8-0.2-10.26.1
Quartile Ranking22233

Source: FE fundinfo as at 31/07/2025. Performance figures are shown in GBX. Total return performance figures are calculated net of costs and charges, on a bid price to bid price basis (mid to mid for OEICs) with net income (dividends) reinvested. Where applicable the quartile rank is for the primary share class within the sector. If your investment is made in a currency other than that used in the past performance calculation the return may increase or decrease as a result of currency fluctuations.

Cumulative performance (%)

As at previous day end1 month3 months6 monthsYTD1 year3 years5 years10 yearsSince Inception
Liontrust Strategic Bond0.52.04.54.95.914.58.0-19.9
IA Sterling Strategic Bond0.72.23.04.15.813.69.4-20.8
Quartile Ranking3312233-

Source: FE fundinfo as at 31/07/2025. Performance figures are shown in GBX. Total return performance figures are calculated net of costs and charges, on a bid price to bid price basis (mid to mid for OEICs) with net income (dividends) reinvested. Where applicable the quartile rank is for the primary share class within the sector. If your investment is made in a currency other than that used in the past performance calculation the return may increase or decrease as a result of currency fluctuations.

Current positioning

Top 10 Holdings (%)

GLOBAL SWITCH FINANCE 1.375% MTN 07/10/30 EUR100000
3.59
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY 4.25% TNT 17/10/25 USD100 AT-2025 (WI)
3.27
UNITED KINGDO TSY 4.375% 31Jul54
3.19
STANDARD CHARTERED BANK 8% SUB NOTES 30/5/2031 USD1000`144A`
2.76
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY 0% UNDATED NTS USD100
2.49
AROUNDTOWN FINANCE SARL VAR 07/08/72
2.11
FAIRFAX FINL HLDGS LTD SR UNSECURED 144A 05/35 5.75
2.06
NATWEST GROUP PLC FXD TO FLTG RT NTS 16/02/29 EUR100000
2.04
BRAMBLES FINANCE PLC MTN RegS
2.03
3I GROUP 4.875% Jun29
2.02

Sector Breakdown (%)

Insurance
15.48
Banks
12.79
Real Estate
10.90
Government Bonds
10.89
Telecommunications
8.64
Financial Services
6.89
Automotive
4.39
Electronics
4.26
Health Care
3.91
Capital Goods
3.85

Geographic Breakdown (%)

UK
28.63
USA
25.21
Netherlands
8.77
Luxembourg
8.06
France
6.21
Australia
5.38
Germany
4.64
Ireland
2.95
Switzerland
1.68
Bermuda
1.62

Credit Rating *

Fund Manager Insights

See all related
KEY RISKS

Past performance does not predict future returns. You may get back less than you originally invested.

We recommend this fund is held long term (minimum period of 5 years). We recommend that you hold this fund as part of a diversified portfolio of investments.

  • All investments will be expected to conform to our social and environmental criteria.
  • Overseas investments may carry a higher currency risk. They are valued by reference to their local currency which may move up or down when compared to the currency of the Fund.
  • The Fund will invest in derivatives but it is not intended that their use will materially affect volatility. Derivatives are used to protect against currencies, credit and interest rate moves or for investment purposes. The use of derivatives may create leverage or gearing resulting in potentially greater volatility or fluctuations in the net asset value of the Fund. A relatively small movement in the value of a derivative's underlying investment may have a larger impact, positive or negative, on the value of a fund than if the underlying investment was held instead.
  • The Fund’s volatility limits are calculated using the Value at Risk (VaR) methodology.  In high interest rate environments the Fund’s implied volatility limits may rise resulting in a higher risk indicator score.  The higher score does not necessarily mean the Fund is more risky and is potentially a result of overall market conditions.
  • Credit Counterparty Risk: the Fund uses derivative instruments that may result in higher cash levels. Outside of normal conditions, the Fund may choose to hold higher levels of cash. Cash may be deposited with several credit counterparties (e.g. international banks) or in shortdated bonds. A credit risk arises should one or more of these counterparties be unable to return the deposited cash.
  • Liquidity Risk: the Fund may encounter liquidity constraints from time to time. Participation rates on advertised volumes could fall reflecting the less liquid nature of the current market conditions.
  • Emerging Markets Risk: the Fund may invest in emerging markets which carries a higher risk than investment in more developed countries. This may result in higher volatility and larger drops in the value of the fund over the short term.
  • ESG Risk: there may be limitations to the availability, completeness or accuracy of ESG information from third-party providers, or inconsistencies in the consideration of ESG factors across different third party data providers, given the evolving nature of ESG.

The issue of units/shares in Liontrust Funds may be subject to an initial charge, which will have an impact on the realisable value of the investment, particularly in the short term. Investments should always be considered as long term.

DISCLAIMER

This material is issued by Liontrust Investment Partners LLP (2 Savoy Court, London WC2R 0EZ), authorised and regulated in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 518552) to undertake regulated investment business.

It should not be construed as advice for investment in any product or security mentioned, an offer to buy or sell units/shares of Funds mentioned, or a solicitation to purchase securities in any company or investment product. Examples of stocks are provided for general information only to demonstrate our investment philosophy. The investment being promoted is for units in a fund, not directly in the underlying assets.

This information and analysis is believed to be accurate at the time of publication, but is subject to change without notice. Whilst care has been taken in compiling the content, no representation or warranty is given, whether express or implied, by Liontrust as to its accuracy or completeness, including for external sources (which may have been used) which have not been verified.

This is a marketing communication. Before making an investment, you should read the relevant Prospectus and the Key Investor Information Document (KIID) and/or PRIIP/KID, which provide full product details including investment charges and risks. These documents can be obtained, free of charge, from www.liontrust.com or direct from Liontrust. If you are not a professional investor please consult a regulated financial adviser regarding the suitability of such an investment for you and your personal circumstances.