The Aviva Investors Higher Income Plus fund was launched in October 1999 with the aim of paying a high income by investing in a broad range of bonds. The portfolio can invest in global bonds issued by companies, governments and large international organisations in a variety of currencies.
Normally 80 per cent of the bonds in the fund will be priced or hedged to sterling. The team aims to strike a balance between the level of income paid and the value of the fund, as it can invest in both higher- and lower-risk bonds.
The portfolio has been managed by Chris Higham since November 2009, with James Vokins joining the team in June this year.
This fund is one of the few returning members to this year’s 100 Club, and this time has gone one step better by winning the category after the judges took notice of the impressive track record built up by Mr Higham.
Sitting within the IA Sterling Strategic Bond sector, this fund has outperformed its peers across one, three, five and 10-year periods to October 28, with a 12-month performance of 7.8 per cent compared with the sector average of 6.3 per cent, data from FE Analytics shows.
The fund holds 45.3 per cent in UK corporate bonds and a further 40 per cent in international bonds, while 8.8 per cent is held in cash and equivalents as of the end of September.
What the judges say
The manager of this fund has built an impressive track record since taking over in 2009 and has had another strong year.
