Global Convertibles Strategy

Aiming to provide income and growth from global convertible bonds

Inception DateAugust 2013
IndexRefinitiv Global Focus Convertible Bond Index
US$300mAUM

AUM 31.03.2025

60Holdings
86.49%
i

Figures are representative and are used here for illustrative purposes only.

Active Share
As at 03/31/2025

Strategy Overview

Investment Objective

The Strategy’s investment objective is to generate both income and long term capital growth by investing in a diversified portfolio of securities, primarily in the global convertible market.

Investment Philosophy

  • Target asymmetric, risk-adjusted returns
  • Invest globally, geography and benchmark agnostic
  • Clear focus on limiting drawdowns and identifying re-rating catalysts
  • Maintain portfolio liquidity

The Portfolio Manager targets superior risk-adjusted returns based on extensive fundamental research and convertible bond analysis. The Strategy has a focus on downside protection, income generation, and balanced upside equity participation.

Investment decisions rely heavily upon fundamental credit and equity research, using both quantitative analysis (Convertible bond modelling, company balance sheet & income statement analysis and peer group analysis) and qualitative analysis (Third party research, management meetings and review of economic fundamentals and sector trends).

Key Facts

  • Team of four sector specialists based in London and Connecticut
  • The team has 90 years of combined industry experience
  • Typically 50‑80 positions with geographic and sector diversification
  • Fundamentally-driven convertible analysis. No benchmark constraints
  • Ability to hedge interest rates

Strategy Availability

  • UCITS Fund
  • Separate Account

Management

None

David Keetley

Portfolio Manager
None

Stephen McCormick

Portfolio Manager
None

Jake Collins, CFA

Head of Credit & Convertible Research
None

Michael Provvisionato

Investment Analyst

David Keetley

David joined Polar Capital in October 2010 to establish the Global Convertibles team.

David is an experienced convertible bond specialist, having spent 36 years in the asset class in both investment banking and investment management. Before joining Polar Capital in October 2010 to establish the Convertible team, he was joint CEO of Vicis Capital (UK) Ltd which he joined in 2006 to set up and manage the international convertible portfolio of the New York-based hedge fund. David started his career at Salomon Brothers International and moved to Baii (a subsidiary of BNP Paribas) in 1987, where he first started managing convertibles. He joined Schroders in 1996 and Citigroup in 2000 following the Citi takeover of Schroder Investment Bank.

  • BSc (Hons) in Civil Engineering, University of Glasgow
  • Fellow of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment
  • 38 years

Stephen McCormick

Stephen joined Polar Capital in October 2010 and is co-manager of the Global Convertibles Strategy and the Convertibles Based Absolute Return Strategy.

Prior to moving into convertible trading, Stephen was a research analyst at Tucker Anthony. In 1993 he became a partner in Forum Capital Markets, eventually joining Paine Webber in 1994 where he went on to manage their convertible department until 1998. He was a senior member of the convertible sales team at Morgan Stanley before establishing and managing Valmiki Capital Management in 2005. The following year, he moved to Moore Capital where he, as a member of a three-person team, managed a $1bn global long/short equity portfolio before joining Vicis Capital to manage the US convertible bond portfolio in 2008.

  • BSc in Finance, Providence College, Rhode Island
  • 38 years

Jake Collins, CFA

Jake joined Polar Capital in October 2013 following a summer internship during which he created materials to help in the initial days of marketing the Polar Capital Global Convertible Fund. He joined as an Investment Analyst and was subsequently promoted to Senior Investment Analyst in 2022 and Head of Credit and Convertible Research in 2025.

  • BSc (1st Class Hons) in Mathematics, University of DurhamMSc (Merit) in Finance and Investment, University of Durham
  • CFA Charterholder
  • 11 years

Michael Provvisionato

Michael joined Polar Capital as an Investment Analyst in the Convertible Bond Team in July 2022. He completed a four-month internship with the team earlier in the year, carrying out ESG and sustainability research as the Funds transitioned to be SFDR Article 8 compliant. He graduated magna cum laude in Finance from Providence College, Rhode Island, in summer 2022.

  • BSc (magna cum laude) in Finance, Providence College, Rhode Island
  • 3 years

Risk Considerations

Risks:

  • Capital is at risk and there is no guarantee the Strategy will achieve its objective. Investors should make sure their attitude towards risk is aligned with the risk profile of the Strategy.
  • Past performance is not a reliable guide to future performance. The value of investments may go down as well as up and you might get back less than you originally invested.
  • The value of a Strategy’s assets may be affected by uncertainties such as international political developments, market sentiment, economic conditions, changes in government policies, restrictions on foreign investment and currency repatriation, currency fluctuations and other developments in the laws and regulations of countries in which investment may be made. Please see the Strategy’s Prospectus for details of all risks.
  • The Strategy may enter into a derivative contract. The Strategy’s use of derivatives carries the risk of reduced liquidity, substantial loss and increased volatility in adverse market conditions, such as failure amongst market participants.
  • The use of derivatives will result in the Strategy being leveraged (where market exposure and the potential for loss exceeds the amount the Strategy has invested) and in these market conditions the effect of leverage will magnify losses. The Strategy makes extensive use of derivatives.
  • If the currency of the share class is different from the local currency in the country in which you reside, the figures shown on this webpage may increase or decrease if converted into your local currency.

Important Information: This website is provided for the sole use of the intended recipient and is not a financial promotion. The Polar Capital Global Convertibles Strategy (the “Strategy”) is a Strategy of Polar Capital Funds plc which is authorised by the Central Bank of Ireland as an Undertaking for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities under the European Communities (Undertakings for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities) Regulations 2011 (S.I. 352/2011), as amended. This website does not seek to make any recommendation to buy or sell any particular security (including shares in the Strategy) or to adopt any specific investment strategy. This website does not contain information material to an investor’s decision to invest in the Strategy. Shares in the Strategy are offered only on the basis of information contained in the prospectus, key investor information document (“KIID”), and the latest annual audited accounts. Copies are available free of charge from Polar Capital at the below address or on www.polarcapitalfunds.com. The KIID is available in Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Spanish and Swedish. The prospectus is available in English.

Third-party Data: Some information contained herein has been obtained from third party sources and has not been independently verified by Polar Capital. Neither Polar Capital nor any other party involved in or related to compiling, computing or creating the data makes any express or implied warranties or representations with respect to such data (or the results to be obtained by the use thereof), and all such parties hereby expressly disclaim all warranties of originality, accuracy, completeness, merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose with respect to any data contained herein.

Information Subject to Change: The information contained herein is subject to change, without notice, at the discretion of Polar Capital and Polar Capital does not undertake to revise or update this information in any way.

Benchmark: The Strategy is actively managed and uses the Refinitiv Global Focus Convertible Bond Index as a performance target and to calculate the performance fee. The benchmark has been chosen as it is generally considered to be representative of the investment universe in which the Strategy invests. The performance of the Strategy is likely to differ from the performance of the benchmark as the holdings, weightings and asset allocation will be different. Investors should carefully consider these differences when making comparisons. Further information about the benchmark can be found at https://www.refinitiv.com/en/financial-data/indices/convertible-indices. The benchmark is provided by an administrator on the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) register of benchmarks which includes details of all authorised, registered, recognised and endorsed EU and third country benchmark administrators together with their national competent authorities.

Country Specific Disclaimers: When considering an investment into the Strategy, you should make yourself aware of the relevant financial, legal and tax implications. Neither Polar Capital LLP nor Polar Capital Funds plc shall be liable for, and accept no liability for, the use or misuse of this document.