News

Voya Investment Management, the asset management business of Voya Financial, Inc. (NYSE: VOYA), announced today that it was selected by Allstate (NYSE: ALL) to manage the firm’s $850 million commercial mortgage portfolio effective Nov. 14, 2022. Allstate will retain ownership of the assets, which will transfer to Voya IM under a separately managed account and the existing assets will remain part of Allstate’s portfolio. Voya will be responsible for future originations consistent with maintaining a target allocation to the asset class on behalf of Allstate.

In addition, as part of the agreement, Allstate will transition approximately seven employees who constitute their commercial mortgage team to Voya Investment Management (Voya IM). These employees will be integrated into Voya IM’s commercial mortgage team, led by Greg Michaud, and will help manage Voya’s commercial mortgage mandates, including the Allstate portfolio.

Voya Investment Management, the asset management business of Voya Financial, Inc. (NYSE: VOYA), announced today that Matt Toms, CFA, has been appointed to the newly created role of global chief investment officer (CIO).

Toms, who has served as CIO of fixed income for Voya Investment Management (IM) since September 2016, will now lead the firm’s more than 300 investment professionals who are managing approximately $330 billion in assets under management across fixed income, equities, multi-asset solutions and alternative strategies. He will continue to report to Christine Hurtsellers, chief executive officer, Voya IM.

Voya Investment Management (Voya IM), the asset management business of Voya Financial, Inc. (NYSE: VOYA), announced today that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Czech Asset Management, L.P. (CAM), a leading private credit asset manager dedicated to the U.S. middle market.

“At Voya IM, continuing to build out our range of innovative, private markets and alternative capabilities has been a strategic focus and growth driver for our firm and the industry at large,” said Christine Hurtsellers, chief executive officer, Voya IM. “The team at CAM will complement our leading fixed income platform and accelerate the expansion of our private and leveraged credit franchise across institutional, insurance and retail channels.”

With more than $5 billion of committed capital across four funds since its founding in 2011, CAM specializes in providing privately negotiated first and second lien floating rate senior secured loans primarily to U.S. middle market companies. The CAM team brings to Voya IM strong relationships with a robust group of investment partnerships, including public and private pension funds, endowments, foundations, religious organizations and Taft Hartley plans.

Voya Financial, Inc. (NYSE: VOYA) (“Voya”), announced today that it has completed its previously announced transfer of certain assets and teams comprising the substantial majority of Allianz Global Investors’ (“AllianzGI”) U.S. business (“AGI U.S.”) to Voya Investment Management (“Voya IM”), the asset management business of Voya Financial. AllianzGI and Voya Financial announced on June 13, 2022 that the companies had entered into a definitive agreement regarding the strategic partnership.

Bloomberg reports that “June has been the worst month for U.S. corporate bonds since the start of the pandemic, by at least one measure, but investors like ... Voya Investment Management think it’s too soon to hunt for bargains.” Voya head of U.S. investment-grade corporates Travis King said that with the odds of a recession rising, current corporate debt prices “don’t adequately reflect the risk” of a sustained downturn. King believes that average risk premium spreads below 1.50 percentage points “now feel too low.”

Bloomberg reports that money managers are “being seduced by a relatively rare type of security – so-called recovery bonds – for their attractive spreads, duration and safety.” The bonds are generally issued by utility companies “trying to recapture losses from natural disasters, such as wildfires or storms, through special fees levied on customers’ electric bills. The charges are then bundled up and sold as notes which get classed as asset-backed securities.” Voya Investment Management head of securitized credit David Goodson believes the AAA rated notes make an attractive opportunity for investors who do not usually deal with structured products, saying, “Corporate investors throw in big orders, splashing the pot. That duration and spread at the AAA level makes these bonds look attractive relative value-wise.”

AiThority reports Voya Financial has named Tatyana Kibrik the new Chief Technology Officer of Voya Investment Management. In her new role, Kibrik “will be responsible for providing strategic technical leadership to innovate and implement solutions that enhance Voya’s investment and distribution efforts” by focusing “on investment and trading technologies, while advancing the firm’s investments in robust data science, machine learning, automation and environmental, social, governance capabilities for the benefit of Voya’s clients.” Voya Chief Information Officer Santhosh Keshayan said, “Tatyana brings to the role vast technical knowledge and deep leadership experience to help Voya continue our evolution to become a technology-enabled company and advance our investment and trading technologies in alignment with our business growth plans. Her broad experience will be instrumental as we continue to advance our business strategy to create better outcomes for our stakeholders.”

Bloomberg reports that fund managers “are cranking up the production line for sustainability-linked ETFs as investor demand defies this year’s rates and Russia-driven market turmoil.” Twenty new ESG-focused ETFs have launched in the US so far this year, “roughly double a tally of nine from the same period in 2021, and compares with two in 2020 and just one in 2019.” Voya Investment Management head of ESG research believes the war in Ukraine has “brought new focus to various social and sustainability issues,” with clean energy funds benefitting “from the push to reduce fuel dependence on Russia.”

MarketWatch reports that even though most analysts believe “high-quality bonds should hold up better than stocks” in an inflationary environment, “that hasn’t been the case lately for debt issued by many Fortune 500 companies.” The sector has registered a -10% total return so far this year, one of its worst since the financial crisis, though sentiment may be changing. Voya Investment Management head of investment-grade credit Travis King said, “I think individual investors are still licking their wounds, given the negative total returns. But we think with around 4% yields it starts to look like a better entry point, particularly if there is stability in the Treasury market.”

CEO Magazine (AUS) reports on how companies are leading “the energy transformation that’s currently taking place by investing in green energy initiatives” as they work to transition to a low-carbon world. Voya Investment Management “has put aside $300 million for renewable energy projects,” with more than half devoted to “supporting wind and solar power initiatives, while the remaining half will be directed toward sustainable infrastructure such as battery storage.” Voya Investment Management Co-Head of Direct Infrastructure Edward Levin said of the company’s approach, “We are thrilled to bring our expertise in renewable energy project financing to deliver our clients access to this growing asset class.”