Media centre

Print this page

Aim high with Hibernian's High Yield Equity Fund - the consistent  outperformer in Irish market

Thursday 23rd August

In a time of volatility for markets investors should consider buying into Hibernian’s High Yield Equity Fund. In a period that has seen stock markets around the world fall, Hibernian Investment Manager’s actively managed High Yield Fund, with its emphasis on risk management has continued to outperform both competitor funds and global equity markets.

The fund, launched in February 2001 was the first of its type in Ireland and, now holds €1.45 billion of funds under management. Figures by MoneyMate clearly show out performance over all periods.

Performance to 21/08/07 YTD 1 Year 3 years pa 5 years pa
HIM High Yield Equity Fund 3.20% 14.07% 17.50% 10.02%
Eagle Star Dividend Growth -1.78% 9.46% - -
Bloxhams High Yield Fund 2 -3.53% 6.70% 15.11% -
Canada Life CL/Set Equity Dividend -1.57% 7.90% 14.48% -
Irish Life Bloxham High Yield Series -3.75% 6.52% - -
Average of Above Selected Funds -1.49% 8.93% 15.70% -

With stocks limited to 40, the High Yield Equity Fund focuses on inexpensive, quality stocks with high yields and good dividend cover. This style of fund should appeal to investors looking for a degree of protection while still wishing to benefit from the returns equities can provide.

According to Jude O’Reilly, manager of the fund at Hibernian Investment Managers “the stocks that have contributed most significantly to the out performance so far this year include ABN Amro, the global Dutch bank, which has risen 45.8% and Rio Tinto, a mining company that has benefited from booming metal prices, resulting in an increase of 17.3%.”

In times of fluctuating sentiment in global equity markets HIM’s process for the High Yield Equity Fund, driven by a proven strategy of investing based on fundamentals, has demonstrably worked in such environments in the past. Jude O’Reilly added “HIM’s house view based on its current analysis of markets is that the fundamentals for companies, equity valuations and global economic growth remain robust. However, HIM is cognisant of the risk that the current credit concerns may extend to the wider economy and will continue to monitor that closely”.

Available through independent financial advisers and brokers nationwide, customers can access the fund through Hibernian Life & Pensions’ range of Group or Individual Pension products, its non-standard PRSA or through investment products Spectrum Bond and Spectrum Saver.

Media enquiries:

Martina McDonnell @ 01-898 8532, 086-8042727

martina.mcdonnell@hibernian.ie

About Hibernian

Hibernian Group is Ireland’s largest composite insurer, ranked first for general insurance and top three for life and pensions.

  • Hibernian Group is a subsidiary of Aviva plc, the world’s fifth-largest insurance group and the UK’s largest insurance services provider (based on gross worldwide premiums at 31 December 2005), and is one of the leading providers of life and pension products to Europe, with substantial positions in other markets around the world. Aviva employs 58,000 staff worldwide.
  • Aviva’s principal business activities are long-term savings, fund management and general insurance, with worldwide total sales of £41.5 billion and assets under management of £364 billion at 31 December 2006.
  • The product information above is for press release purposes only; full details are contained in the product literature available from Hibernian.
  • The value of property investments is generally a matter of valuer’s opinion rather than fact. In addition, property investments may not always be readily saleable and very occasionally there may be constraints on cashing in units.
  • The value of investments abroad may rise and fall due to exchange rate movements.

Return to the previous page