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GAM Local Emerging Bond

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GAM Local Emerging Bond is a high conviction, directional local Emerging Market Debt (EMD) strategy focused on local government and quasi-government bonds and FX. It is managed by Gramercy’s EMD investment team, led by portfolio managers Philip Meier and Belinda Hill. Gramercy has a 25+ year track record focused on emerging markets, using a combination of a thematic top-down view and bottom-up research.

At Gramercy, we believe we have a better approach to emerging market debt investing.
Philip Meier, Deputy Chief Investment Officer and Head of EM Debt, Gramercy

Our Edge

Long track record

Gramercy has been running long only, alternative and multi-asset strategies across a broad spectrum of emerging market asset classes for more than 25 years.

Five core pillars

Thematic top-down view, proprietary bottom-up research, integrated risk management, integrated ESG concept, and unique emerging markets experience.

Global platform

Gramercy is a global asset management firm with more than 70 employees in offices across six locations.

Competitive advantages

The investment process, “A better approach to emerging markets”, offers a number of competitive advantages including top-down themes and directional market views by market stalwarts, original research by industry experts, and a broad spectrum public/private issuer approach in analysing capital structures.

Investmentteam

Gramercy’s EMD investment process is guided by Mohamed A. El-Erian, Chair, and Robert Koenigsberger, Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer, who provide high-level macroeconomic leadership and shape portfolio allocation through thematic and directional views.

Philip Meier and Belinda Hill are responsible for the active management of the portfolios, integrating both top-down positioning and bottom-up security selection. They are supported by a team of seasoned corporate and sovereign bond analysts, with an average of 16 years of experience, along with additional investment professionals across the Gramercy platform.

Philosophy and Process

Investment Philosophy

Gramercy’s local emerging markets debt strategy is anchored in five core pillars: thematic top-down view, proprietary bottom-up research, integrated risk management, integrated ESG concept, and unique emerging markets experience. This disciplined framework is designed to deliver strong risk-adjusted returns while remaining focused on client needs through thoughtful and flexible portfolio construction.

Investment Process

A thematic top-down view , led by Mohamed A. El-Erian and Robert Koenigsberger, guides portfolio allocation across rates and FX through directional macro themes. Continuous analysis of global drivers – such as U.S. rates and the dollar – informs positioning. Portfolio management, led by Philip Meier and Belinda Hill, integrates these views with bottom-up sovereign analysis. A proprietary matrix of technical and fundamental scores across EM countries drives security selection and position sizing.

1

Thematic top-down view

  • Gramercy’s top-down view group led by Mohamed A. El-Erian and Robert Koenigsberger generates investment themes and directional market views.
2

Proprietary Bottom-Up Research

  • Original research by industry experts with on-the-ground relationships.
3

Integrated Risk Management

  • Begins at portfolio construction, joining top-down and bottom-up perspectives.
4

Integrated ESG Construct

  • Portfolio construction fully integrates ESG on non-exclusionary basis.
5

Unique EM Expertise

  • A broad-spectrum public/private issuer approach drives Gramercy’s edge in analysing capital structures and assessing relative value.

Reasons to Invest

Too big to ignore

EM economies now account for over half of global GDP. The EM fixed income asset class currently represents almost 30% of the global fixed income market.

Diversification

Provides exposure to a diverse mix of interest rate and currency dynamics that can help improve overall portfolio risk-adjusted returns.

Supportive structural trends

Many EM countries have strengthened macroeconomic frameworks, built up foreign exchange reserves, and improved policy credibility. These structural improvements enhance resilience to external shocks and support the long-term investment case for local currency debt.

Attractive entry point

After a prolonged period of US.dollar strength, many EM currencies appear undervalued on a fundamental and historical basis. As the dollar faces structural headwinds (eg fiscal concerns, political pressure on the Fed), select EM currencies stand to benefit. Also, many EM countries offer meaningfully positive real interest rates, especially compared to developed markets.

Key Risks

Capital at Risk
: All financial investments involve an element of risk. Therefore, the value of the investment and the income from it will vary and the initial investment amount cannot be guaranteed.

Counterparty or Derivatives Risk
: If a counterparty to a financial derivative contract were to default, the value of the contract, the cost to replace it and any cash or securities held by the counterparty to facilitate it, may be lost. The use of derivatives may create leverage, which can magnify both gains and losses; even small market movements can therefore result in proportionally larger changes in the Fund’s value, including the risk of significant loss of capital.

Credit Risk / Debt Securities
: Bonds may be subject to significant fluctuations in value. Bonds are subject to credit risk and interest rate risk.

Currency Risk - Non Base Currency Share Class
: Non-base currency share classes may or may not be hedged to the base currency of the Fund. Changes in exchange rates will have an impact on the value of shares in the Fund which are not denominated in the base currency. Where hedging structures are in place, they aim to reduce but may not fully eliminate currency risk.

Interest Rate Risk
: A rise or fall in interest rates causes fluctuations in the value of fixed income securities, which may result in a decline or an increase in the value of such investments.

Leverage Risk
: Derivatives may multiply the exposure to underlying assets and expose the Fund to the risk of substantial losses.

Market Risk / Emerging Markets
: Emerging markets will generally be subject to greater political, market, counterparty and operational risks.

List Not Exhaustive
: This list of risk factors is not exhaustive. Please refer to the relevant Fund’s prospectus.

Fund Information

Contacts

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Disclaimer: Past performance is not an indicator of future performance and current or future trends. The indications could be based on figures denominated in a currency that may be different from the currency of your residence country and therefore the return may increase or decrease as a result of currency fluctuations. Capital at risk: all financial investments involve an element of risk. Therefore, the value of the investment and the income from it will vary and the initial investment amount cannot be guaranteed. Any reference to a security is not a recommendation to buy or sell that security.