News

Aviva Investors continues in Australian market

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:21:25 +1000

On 22 June 2009 Aviva announced that its Australian life business and Navigator platform are to be sold to National Australia Bank (NAB). It is important to note that Aviva Investors Australia has not been sold, and will continue to serve retail and institutional clients.

Aviva plc's global business includes three pillars: general insurance, life insurance and asset management. Aviva Investors is the global asset management business of Aviva plc with $500 billion in funds under management*. The company operates with 1,300 employees in 15 countries across Asia Pacific, Europe and North America.

Aviva Investors Australia, the Australian asset management business, has been specifically excluded from the Aviva Australia sale as part of the Aviva group’s commitment to building a global asset management business incorporating the Australian market. In September 2008 the group's asset managers joined together to form one united global business.

As the regional head office for Asia Pacific, the Australian business is of strategic importance to Aviva Investors, particularly given the experience and track record of our local investment team.

Asia Pacific remains one of the key growth opportunities for the global group. We continue to seek ways to expand and strengthen the business, building on our already strong record of outperformance across the equities and fixed income markets. Aviva Investors retail products are listed on a variety of platforms and continue to generate inflows for the firm. We also service a large number of institutional clients and we expect this number to grow.

In continuing to leverage the experience and resources of our global colleagues we plan to bring innovative investment solutions to the Australian market and, in turn, export our high quality Australian products.

We look forward to continuing to provide our clients with a leading range of investment solutions.

*As at 31 December 2008

Aviva Investors High Growth Shares Fund - ASIC lifts short-selling ban

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:05:14 +1000

ASIC has announced that the temporary ban on covered short selling of financial securities has been lifted effective 25 May 2009. As a result there are no short selling bans that are relevant to the Aviva Investors High Growth Shares Fund.

The Aviva Investors High Growth Shares Fund is a long-biased Australian equities fund, which aims to significantly outperform the S&P/ASX 200 Accumulation index by employing a number of techniques, including short selling, active trading and enhanced longs. The fund continued to achieve strong excess returns over the past eight months despite the ban, and importantly has strongly outperformed its benchmark over the long term. Since its inception nearly 10 years ago, the fund has substantially exceeded its investment objective, outperforming its benchmark by more than 7% per annum.*

* Based on the gross return for the Professional Selection unit class the fund outperformed its benchmark by 7.1% p.a. over the period from 7 December 1999 to 30 April 2009. Based on net returns after fees the fund outperformed its benchmark by 5.1% p.a. over the same period. Past performance is not a guide to or indication of future performance.

Money Management Fund Manager of the Year Awards

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 15:30:31 +1000

The Aviva Investors High Growth Shares Fund was named a finalist in the Australian Equities (Long/Short) category of the 2009 Money Management Fund Manager of the Year Awards.

Independent research firm Lonsec judged the prestigious awards, which were announced at a ceremony in Sydney on Thursday 14th May. The awards recognise fund managers that performed strongly in their category and also well positioned to deliver superior performance in the future

Congratulations to Portfolio Manager Richard Dixon and Deputy Portfolio Manager Michael Brown.

Small Companies Fund Awarded 'Four Stars' by S&P

Mon, 18 May 2009 09:38:52 +1000

Research house Standard & Poor's (S&P) has awarded the Aviva Investors Small Companies Fund ‘Four Stars’*, upgrading the fund from a previous ‘Three Stars’ rating. ‘Four Stars’ is S&P's second highest rating and indicates that the research house has high conviction that the fund will consistently generate risk-adjusted returns in excess of its objectives.

*To the extent that any ratings, opinions or other information of Standard & Poor’s Information Services (Australia) Pty Ltd (ABN: 17 096 167 556, Australian Financial Services Licence Number: 258896) (“Standard & Poor’s) constitutes general advice, this advice has been prepared by Standard & Poor’s without taking into account any particular person’s financial or investment objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on any advice, any person using the advice should consider its appropriateness having regard to their own or their clients’ objectives, financial situation and needs. You should obtain a Product Disclosure Statement relating to the product and consider the statement before making any decision or recommendation about whether to acquire the product. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Ratings can change or cease at any time and should not be relied upon without referring to the meaning of the rating. For more information regarding ratings please call S&P Customer Service on 1300 792 553 and also refer to Standard & Poor’s Financial Services Guide at www.assirt.com.au. Each analytic product or service of Standard & Poor’s is based on information received by the analytic group responsible for such product or service. “S&P” and “Standard & Poor’s” are trademarks of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. ã 2009 Standard & Poor’s Information Services (Australia) Pty Limited.

Small Companies Fund Rated 'Recommended' by Lonsec

Thu, 14 May 2009 10:28:13 +1000

Research House Lonsec has again awarded the Aviva Investors Small Companies Fund a 'Recommended' rating. This is the second year in a row the fund has been awarded 'Recommended', Lonsec's second highest rating.

The Lonsec Limited ("Lonsec") ABN 56 061 751 102 rating (assigned May 2009) presented in this document is limited to "General Advice" and based solely on consideration of the investment merits of the financial product(s). It is not a recommendation to purchase, sell or hold the relevant product(s), and you should seek independent financial advice before investing in this product(s). The rating is subject to change without notice and Lonsec assumes no obligation to update this document following publication. Lonsec receives a fee from the fund manager for rating the product(s) using comprehensive and objective criteria.

Small Companies achieves positive Zenith review

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 15:00:55 +1000

Research House Zenith has released their review of the small companies sector for 2009. Pleasingly, the Aviva Investors Australia Small Companies Fund has again been awarded a "Recommend". Congratulations to our fund managers Stuart Wilson, Paul Dewar and Stephen Croft.

Zenith’s ratings are prepared exclusively for clients of Zenith Investment Partners (Zenith). The rating is of a general nature and does not have regard to the particular circumstances or needs of any specific person who may read it. Each client should assess either personally or with the assistance of a licensed financial adviser whether the Zenith rating or advice is appropriate to their situation before making an investment decision. Opinions expressed may change without notice. Zenith accepts no liability, whether direct or indirect arising from the use of information contained in the rating.

High Growth Shares Fund Update - Short Selling Ban

Thu, 12 Mar 2009 09:23:27 +1000

On 5th March ASIC announced the temporary ban on covered short selling of financial securities has been extended until 31 May 2009. The ban was extended in light of continued volatility in global financial markets.

The High Growth Shares Fund is a long-biased Australian equities fund, which may short up to a maximum of 25% of the portfolio. The fund has achieved strong excess returns despite the ban by employing a range of techniques including active trading and enhanced longs. During the six months to 28 February the fund exceeded its investment objective, outperforming its benchmark by 6%*.

The fund is still able to short sell non-financial stocks not covered by the ban.

Morningstar Awards

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 13:19:51 +1000

On 14 February it was announced that Aviva Investors Australia was a finalist in the 2008 Morningstar Fund Manager of the Year Award for Australian Equities.

The awards identify and recognise the Australian-domiciled fund managers who, in Morningstar's opinion, have demonstrated fund management excellence throughout 2008.

Three finalists were selected from more than 60 fund managers entered in this category.

Aviva Investors’ selection as a finalist highlights our position as a market leader in funds management and is recognition of the strong investment performance achieved across the range of our equity products.

The honour was celebrated at a gala event in Sydney on Friday 27 February. Nick Pashias, Richard Dixon, Marina Boetto and Donna Alger attended the ceremony to receive the finalists plaque.

High Growth Shares Fund - Short Selling Ban Extended

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 13:07:41 +1000

ASIC announced yesterday the temporary ban on covered short selling in financial securities has been extended until Friday 6 March 2009.

The ban was extended in light of recent volatility in financial stocks in overseas markets, particularly the UK which recently lifted its short selling ban on certain financial stocks. In its announcement ASIC recognised “short selling as a legitimate mechanism of price discovery and liquidity…”

The High Growth Shares Fund is predominantly a long fund which opportunistically employs a number of techniques including short selling, active trading and enhanced longs to achieve its investment objective. It is worth noting during the December quarter (while the ban was in place) the fund exceeded its investment objective, outperforming its benchmark by 5.3%, illustrating the ability of the fund to achieve excess returns despite the ban.

Since inception in 1999 the fund has consistently achieved strong returns, outperforming its benchmark by 6.6% p.a. The fund continues to be well rated by Research Houses - Lonsec and S&P have both recently reinstated the fund’s “Highly Recommended” and “Four Star” ratings respectively. Please note both these ratings were reinstated late last year while the ban on short selling financial securities was in place.

High Growth Shares Fund - Lonsec reinstates Highly Recommended rating

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:05:52 +1000

In response to ASIC removing the ban on short-selling non-financial stocks Lonsec has reinstated its "Highly Recommended" rating for the High Growth Shares Fund.