Investment Objectives

The Fund aims to maximise the total level of return for investors by investing, mainly in a diversified portfolio of bonds and other similar debt securities. In pursuing this objective, the Investment Manager shall invest primarily in a diversified portfolio of corporate & government bonds maturing in the medium term, with an average credit quality of “BB-” by S&P, although individual bond holdings may have higher or lower ratings. The Fund can also invest up to 10% of its assets in Non-Rated bond issues.

The Fund is actively managed, not managed by reference to any index.

Investor Profile

A typical investor in the High Income Bond Fund Accumulator is:

  • Seeking to earn a high level of regular income
  • Seeking an actively managed & diversified investment in high income bonds.

Fund Rules

The Investment Manager of the High Income Bond Fund has the duty to ensure that the underlying holdings of the funds are well diversified. According to the prospectus, the investment manager has to abide by a number of investment restrictions to safeguard the value of the assets of the funds. 

Below are some rules at a glance, please refer to the offering supplement for full details.

  • The fund may not invest more than 10% of its assets in securities listed by the same body
  • The fund may not keep more than 10% of its assets on deposit with any one credit institution. This limit may be increased to 30% in respect of deposits with an Approved Institution
  • The fund may not invest more than 20% of its assets in any other fund
  • The fund may not carry out uncovered sales (naked short-selling) of securities or other financial instruments

Commentary

May 2025

Introduction

Volatility persisted across global bond markets in May 2025. Initial relief from easing China-US trade tensions helped allay fears of a US recession. However, market attention quickly pivoted to concerns about the sustainability of US fiscal policy, further underscored by the downgrade of the US sovereign credit rating. The ‘Reconciliation Bill’, approved by the House of Representatives and pending Senate approval, was perceived as worsening the country’s debt trajectory, pushing yields on longer-dated US Treasuries higher.

Adding to market unease, the US Supreme Court ruled (near month-end) that the Trump administration had overstepped its authority by invoking emergency economic powers to impose baseline 10% and reciprocal tariffs. This decision complicates ongoing trade negotiations with trade partners during the 90-day extension period, which ends on July 9. While the ruling may help ease some pressure on economic growth, it poses fiscal challenges for the administration’s budget plan, which had relied on tariff revenues to fund proposed tax cuts.

The 10-year US Treasury yield experienced notable intra-month fluctuations: starting around 4.16%, peaking at 4.60% on May 21, and ending near 4.4%. European government bond markets, in comparison, fared better, with only modest yield rises in Germany. Peripheral markets outperformed, with 10-year yields in Italy and Spain tightening by 8 and 2bps, respectively.

Despite lingering uncertainties, corporate credit continued to recover from the early April sell-off. Within investment-grade credit, US performance was largely flat as prices remained largely conditioned by the movements observed across sovereign bonds. European investment-grade credit outperformed, returning 0.52% for the month. In high yield, US markets saw the strongest gains, rising 1.68% in May as investor sentiment improved amid reduced recession risks and a more conciliatory tone on trade. European high yield also performed well, posting a solid 1.33% return, albeit trailing US gains.

Market environment and performance

Earlier concerns about potential headwinds facing the U.S. economy in early 2025, driven by newly implemented tariffs and threats of persistent inflation, were validated by the second estimate of Q1 GDP growth. Although the figure was revised slightly upward to -0.2% from an initial reading of -0.3%, it still confirmed economic contraction. The upward revision was primarily due to stronger-than-expected fixed investment, which helped offset weaker consumer spending and a larger-than-anticipated drag from net trade. Imports of goods and services surged by 42.6% as businesses and consumers rushed to front-load purchases ahead of expected price increases following tariff announcements by the Trump administration. Meanwhile, consumer spending growth slowed to 1.2%.

While earlier leading indicators had pointed to a slowdown, more recent data showed signs of improvement, suggesting a rebound in activity. Notably, the S&P Global U.S. Composite PMI for May 2025 was revised up to 53.0 from a preliminary estimate of 52.1, and well above April’s 19-month low of 50.6. The reading signals solid expansion across both services and manufacturing sectors, underpinned by increased client spending, particularly from domestic customers.

Despite some signs of softening, the U.S. labour market continues to demonstrate resilience. Employment growth, though moderating, added 139k jobs in May, slightly above expectations, even as federal government employment declined by 22k. The unemployment rate remained steady at 4.2%, in line with market forecasts. On the inflation front, pressures continued to ease. Headline inflation declined to 2.3% in April from 2.4% the previous month, while core inflation – which excludes volatile components such as energy and food – remained unchanged at 2.8%.

In the euro area, business activity continued to expand for a fifth consecutive month, though the pace of growth was only marginal, the weakest since February. A decline in new business, particularly within the services sector, marked the most pronounced deterioration in demand in six months.

Inflation across the bloc also moderated, easing to 1.9% year-on-year in May 2025 from 2.2% in April and falling below market expectations of 2.0%, according to a preliminary estimate. This marks the first time inflation has dipped below the European Central Bank’s 2.0% target since September 2024, reinforcing expectations of a 25bps rate cut at the ECB’s upcoming June meeting.

Fund performance

The CC High Income Bond Fund rose 1.33% in May, recovering the losses incurred in April. During the month, the portfolio manager continued to actively manage the fund in-line with its mandate, making progress on the strategy to gradually extend duration by increasing exposure to European assets while trimming holdings in dollar-denominated debt. This strategy reflects the European Central Bank’s advanced stage in its rate-cutting cycle, contrasting with the US Federal Reserve’s stance of holding rates steady, despite pressure from the new Trump administration. 

In an effort to enhance income generation ahead of expected further easing, the manager rotated holdings within the same issuers, executing both investments and divestitures in names such as Volkswagen, BP Capital Markets, and UniCredit. The fund also increased exposure to Carnival and Charter Communications, while reducing its position in Turkcell, the Istanbul-based mobile phone operator.

Market and investment outlook

In May, volatility in the US Treasury market persisted, highlighting the market’s heightened sensitivity to evolving economic and policy signals. Initial calm, spurred by encouraging developments around trade tariffs, gave way to renewed concerns over fiscal sustainability. These were triggered in part by the approval of the Reconciliation Bill in the House of Representatives, which, pending Senate approval, was seen as exacerbating the country’s debt outlook. Despite lingering uncertainties, corporate credit – particularly the lower rated segment – continued to recover from the early April sell-off. US high yield corporates saw the strongest gains.

Looking ahead, fixed income markets are likely to remain reactive to the evolving effects of tariffs. The US Q1 GDP contraction, largely driven by a surge in imports ahead of expected price increases, appears more reflective of temporary distortions than a sustained downturn. However, the longer-term inflationary consequences, stemming from higher input costs and potential supply chain disruptions, could complicate the Federal Reserve’s policy trajectory. Should inflation remain elevated, the Fed may be forced to delay or moderate the pace of rate cuts currently anticipated by markets. At the same time, signs of moderating demand and slowing growth could support the case for eventual policy easing. The current shape of the yield curve – characterized by short-term yields below the Fed’s effective rate and a modest steepening at the long end – highlights market uncertainty, balancing short-term disinflation against longer-term fiscal risks.

On an economic front, the imposition of trade tariffs – exacerbated by the US’s Liberation Day measures – further clouds the macro outlook and adds complexity to the yield curve’s path, as consumers grapple with rising prices and a resurgence in inflationary pressures. In this context, duration positioning and selective credit exposure remain key. While volatility in core rates is likely to persist, credit markets are being supported by stable corporate fundamentals and resilient balance sheets. The interplay between a strong labour market and persistent inflation suggests a cautious, neutral stance on duration, particularly as yield curve dynamics remain uncertain.

We maintain our current preference, which leans towards European credit, underpinned by the prospects of continued monetary easing by the ECB. Nevertheless, the dynamic nature of the current environment, particularly the constantly evolving geopolitical tensions, require a highly proactive and adaptive management style to navigate potential risks and capitalize on emerging opportunities.

Key Facts & Performance

Fund Manager

Jordan Portelli

Jordan is CIO at CC Finance Group. He has extensive experience in research and portfolio management with various institutions. Today he is responsible of the group’s investment strategy and manages credit and multi-asset strategies.

PRICE (EUR)

ASSET CLASS

Bonds

MIN. INITIAL INVESTMENT

€100000

FUND TYPE

UCITS

BASE CURRENCY

EUR

5 year performance*

15.59%

*View Performance History below
Inception Date: 24 Apr 2020
ISIN: MT7000026464
Bloomberg Ticker: CCHIBEE MV
Distribution Yield (%): N/A
Underlying Yield (%): 5.51
Distribution: N/A
Total Net Assets: €44.18 mln
Month end NAV in EUR: 134.04
Number of Holdings: 136
Auditors: Grant Thornton
Legal Advisor: Ganado Advocates
Custodian: Sparkasse Bank Malta p.l.c.

Performance To Date (EUR)

Top 10 Holdings

iShares Fallen Angels HY Corp
3.0%
5.625% Unicredit Spa perp
2.2%
6.529% Encore Capital Group Inc 2028
2.1%
iShares Euro High Yield Corp
2.0%
iShares USD High Yield Corp
1.9%
4.875% Cooperative Rabobank perp
1.8%
4.375% Cheplapharm 2028
1.8%
3.5% VZ Secured Financing 2032
1.7%
5.5% CMA CGM SA 2029
1.6%
6.75% Societe Generale perp
1.6%

Major Sector Breakdown*

Financials
11.5%
Asset 7
Communications
9.1%
Health Care
7.6%
Funds
7.0%
Consumer Discretionary
6.5%
Asset 7
Communications
3.8%
*excluding exposures to CIS

Maturity Buckets*

70.4%
0-5 Years
16.1%
5-10 Years
3.5%
10 Years+
*based on the Next Call Date

Credit Ratings*

Average Credit Rating: BB
*excluding exposures to CIS

Risk & Reward Profile

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Lower Risk

Potentialy Lower Reward

Higher Risk

Potentialy Higher Reward

Top Holdings by Country*

United States
23.6%
France
11.9%
Germany
9.3%
Italy
6.3%
Netherlands
5.4%
Luxembourg
4.6%
Spain
4.2%
Brazil
3.2%
United Kingdom
2.4%
Turkey
2.0%
*including exposures to CIS

Asset Allocation

Cash 3.0%
Bonds 90.1%
CIS/ETFs 7.0%

Performance History (EUR)*

1 Year

5.27%

3 Year

13.98%

5 Year

15.59%

* The Accumulator Share Class (Class E) was launched on the 24th April 2020. The Annualised rate is an indication of the average growth of the Fund over one year. The value of the investment and the income yield derived from the investment, if any, may go down as well as up and past performance is not necessarily indicative of future performance, nor a reliable guide to future performance. Hence returns may not be achieved and you may lose all or part of your investment in the Fund. Currency fluctuations may affect the value of investments and any derived income.
**Returns quoted net of TER. Entry and exit charges may reduce returns for investors.

Currency Allocation

Euro 70.6%
USD 29.4%
Other 0.0%

Risk Statistics

Sharpe Ratio
0.47 (3Y)
0.16 (5Y)
Std. Deviation
4.79% (3Y)
4.65% (5Y)

Interested in this product?

  • Investment Objectives

    The Fund aims to maximise the total level of return for investors by investing, mainly in a diversified portfolio of bonds and other similar debt securities. In pursuing this objective, the Investment Manager shall invest primarily in a diversified portfolio of corporate & government bonds maturing in the medium term, with an average credit quality of “BB-” by S&P, although individual bond holdings may have higher or lower ratings. The Fund can also invest up to 10% of its assets in Non-Rated bond issues.

    The Fund is actively managed, not managed by reference to any index.

  • Investor profile

    A typical investor in the High Income Bond Fund Accumulator is:

    • Seeking to earn a high level of regular income
    • Seeking an actively managed & diversified investment in high income bonds.
    Investor Profile Icon
  • Fund Rules

    The Investment Manager of the CC High Income Bond Funds – EUR and USD has the duty to ensure that the underlying investments of the funds are well diversified. According to the prospectus, the investment manager has to abide by a number of investment restrictions to safeguard the value of the assets

    • The fund may not invest more than 10% of its assets in securities listed by the same body
    • The fund may not keep more than 10% of its assets on deposit with any one credit institution. This limit may be increased to 30% in respect of deposits with an Approved Institution
    • The fund may not invest more than 20% of its assets in any other fund
    • The fund may not carry out uncovered sales (naked short-selling) of securities or other financial instruments
  • Commentary

    May 2025

    Introduction

    Volatility persisted across global bond markets in May 2025. Initial relief from easing China-US trade tensions helped allay fears of a US recession. However, market attention quickly pivoted to concerns about the sustainability of US fiscal policy, further underscored by the downgrade of the US sovereign credit rating. The ‘Reconciliation Bill’, approved by the House of Representatives and pending Senate approval, was perceived as worsening the country’s debt trajectory, pushing yields on longer-dated US Treasuries higher.

    Adding to market unease, the US Supreme Court ruled (near month-end) that the Trump administration had overstepped its authority by invoking emergency economic powers to impose baseline 10% and reciprocal tariffs. This decision complicates ongoing trade negotiations with trade partners during the 90-day extension period, which ends on July 9. While the ruling may help ease some pressure on economic growth, it poses fiscal challenges for the administration’s budget plan, which had relied on tariff revenues to fund proposed tax cuts.

    The 10-year US Treasury yield experienced notable intra-month fluctuations: starting around 4.16%, peaking at 4.60% on May 21, and ending near 4.4%. European government bond markets, in comparison, fared better, with only modest yield rises in Germany. Peripheral markets outperformed, with 10-year yields in Italy and Spain tightening by 8 and 2bps, respectively.

    Despite lingering uncertainties, corporate credit continued to recover from the early April sell-off. Within investment-grade credit, US performance was largely flat as prices remained largely conditioned by the movements observed across sovereign bonds. European investment-grade credit outperformed, returning 0.52% for the month. In high yield, US markets saw the strongest gains, rising 1.68% in May as investor sentiment improved amid reduced recession risks and a more conciliatory tone on trade. European high yield also performed well, posting a solid 1.33% return, albeit trailing US gains.

    Market environment and performance

    Earlier concerns about potential headwinds facing the U.S. economy in early 2025, driven by newly implemented tariffs and threats of persistent inflation, were validated by the second estimate of Q1 GDP growth. Although the figure was revised slightly upward to -0.2% from an initial reading of -0.3%, it still confirmed economic contraction. The upward revision was primarily due to stronger-than-expected fixed investment, which helped offset weaker consumer spending and a larger-than-anticipated drag from net trade. Imports of goods and services surged by 42.6% as businesses and consumers rushed to front-load purchases ahead of expected price increases following tariff announcements by the Trump administration. Meanwhile, consumer spending growth slowed to 1.2%.

    While earlier leading indicators had pointed to a slowdown, more recent data showed signs of improvement, suggesting a rebound in activity. Notably, the S&P Global U.S. Composite PMI for May 2025 was revised up to 53.0 from a preliminary estimate of 52.1, and well above April’s 19-month low of 50.6. The reading signals solid expansion across both services and manufacturing sectors, underpinned by increased client spending, particularly from domestic customers.

    Despite some signs of softening, the U.S. labour market continues to demonstrate resilience. Employment growth, though moderating, added 139k jobs in May, slightly above expectations, even as federal government employment declined by 22k. The unemployment rate remained steady at 4.2%, in line with market forecasts. On the inflation front, pressures continued to ease. Headline inflation declined to 2.3% in April from 2.4% the previous month, while core inflation – which excludes volatile components such as energy and food – remained unchanged at 2.8%.

    In the euro area, business activity continued to expand for a fifth consecutive month, though the pace of growth was only marginal, the weakest since February. A decline in new business, particularly within the services sector, marked the most pronounced deterioration in demand in six months.

    Inflation across the bloc also moderated, easing to 1.9% year-on-year in May 2025 from 2.2% in April and falling below market expectations of 2.0%, according to a preliminary estimate. This marks the first time inflation has dipped below the European Central Bank’s 2.0% target since September 2024, reinforcing expectations of a 25bps rate cut at the ECB’s upcoming June meeting.

    Fund performance

    The CC High Income Bond Fund rose 1.33% in May, recovering the losses incurred in April. During the month, the portfolio manager continued to actively manage the fund in-line with its mandate, making progress on the strategy to gradually extend duration by increasing exposure to European assets while trimming holdings in dollar-denominated debt. This strategy reflects the European Central Bank’s advanced stage in its rate-cutting cycle, contrasting with the US Federal Reserve’s stance of holding rates steady, despite pressure from the new Trump administration. 

    In an effort to enhance income generation ahead of expected further easing, the manager rotated holdings within the same issuers, executing both investments and divestitures in names such as Volkswagen, BP Capital Markets, and UniCredit. The fund also increased exposure to Carnival and Charter Communications, while reducing its position in Turkcell, the Istanbul-based mobile phone operator.

    Market and investment outlook

    In May, volatility in the US Treasury market persisted, highlighting the market’s heightened sensitivity to evolving economic and policy signals. Initial calm, spurred by encouraging developments around trade tariffs, gave way to renewed concerns over fiscal sustainability. These were triggered in part by the approval of the Reconciliation Bill in the House of Representatives, which, pending Senate approval, was seen as exacerbating the country’s debt outlook. Despite lingering uncertainties, corporate credit – particularly the lower rated segment – continued to recover from the early April sell-off. US high yield corporates saw the strongest gains.

    Looking ahead, fixed income markets are likely to remain reactive to the evolving effects of tariffs. The US Q1 GDP contraction, largely driven by a surge in imports ahead of expected price increases, appears more reflective of temporary distortions than a sustained downturn. However, the longer-term inflationary consequences, stemming from higher input costs and potential supply chain disruptions, could complicate the Federal Reserve’s policy trajectory. Should inflation remain elevated, the Fed may be forced to delay or moderate the pace of rate cuts currently anticipated by markets. At the same time, signs of moderating demand and slowing growth could support the case for eventual policy easing. The current shape of the yield curve – characterized by short-term yields below the Fed’s effective rate and a modest steepening at the long end – highlights market uncertainty, balancing short-term disinflation against longer-term fiscal risks.

    On an economic front, the imposition of trade tariffs – exacerbated by the US’s Liberation Day measures – further clouds the macro outlook and adds complexity to the yield curve’s path, as consumers grapple with rising prices and a resurgence in inflationary pressures. In this context, duration positioning and selective credit exposure remain key. While volatility in core rates is likely to persist, credit markets are being supported by stable corporate fundamentals and resilient balance sheets. The interplay between a strong labour market and persistent inflation suggests a cautious, neutral stance on duration, particularly as yield curve dynamics remain uncertain.

    We maintain our current preference, which leans towards European credit, underpinned by the prospects of continued monetary easing by the ECB. Nevertheless, the dynamic nature of the current environment, particularly the constantly evolving geopolitical tensions, require a highly proactive and adaptive management style to navigate potential risks and capitalize on emerging opportunities.

  • Key facts & performance

    Fund Manager

    Jordan Portelli

    Jordan is CIO at CC Finance Group. He has extensive experience in research and portfolio management with various institutions. Today he is responsible of the group’s investment strategy and manages credit and multi-asset strategies.

    PRICE (EUR)

    ASSET CLASS

    Bonds

    MIN. INITIAL INVESTMENT

    €100000

    FUND TYPE

    UCITS

    BASE CURRENCY

    EUR

    5 year performance*

    15.59%

    *View Performance History below
    Inception Date: 24 Apr 2020
    ISIN: MT7000026464
    Bloomberg Ticker: CCHIBEE MV
    Distribution Yield (%): N/A
    Underlying Yield (%): 5.51
    Distribution: N/A
    Total Net Assets: €44.18 mln
    Month end NAV in EUR: 134.04
    Number of Holdings: 136
    Auditors: Grant Thornton
    Legal Advisor: Ganado Advocates
    Custodian: Sparkasse Bank Malta p.l.c.

    Performance To Date (EUR)

    Risk & Reward Profile

    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    Lower Risk

    Potentialy Lower Reward

    Higher Risk

    Potentialy Higher Reward

    Top 10 Holdings

    iShares Fallen Angels HY Corp
    3.0%
    5.625% Unicredit Spa perp
    2.2%
    6.529% Encore Capital Group Inc 2028
    2.1%
    iShares Euro High Yield Corp
    2.0%
    iShares USD High Yield Corp
    1.9%
    4.875% Cooperative Rabobank perp
    1.8%
    4.375% Cheplapharm 2028
    1.8%
    3.5% VZ Secured Financing 2032
    1.7%
    5.5% CMA CGM SA 2029
    1.6%
    6.75% Societe Generale perp
    1.6%

    Top Holdings by Country*

    United States
    23.6%
    France
    11.9%
    Germany
    9.3%
    Italy
    6.3%
    Netherlands
    5.4%
    Luxembourg
    4.6%
    Spain
    4.2%
    Brazil
    3.2%
    United Kingdom
    2.4%
    Turkey
    2.0%
    *including exposures to CIS

    Major Sector Breakdown*

    Financials
    11.5%
    Asset 7
    Communications
    9.1%
    Health Care
    7.6%
    Funds
    7.0%
    Consumer Discretionary
    6.5%
    Asset 7
    Communications
    3.8%
    *excluding exposures to CIS

    Asset Allocation

    Cash 3.0%
    Bonds 90.1%
    CIS/ETFs 7.0%

    Maturity Buckets*

    70.4%
    0-5 Years
    16.1%
    5-10 Years
    3.5%
    10 Years+
    *based on the Next Call Date

    Performance History (EUR)*

    1 Year

    5.27%

    3 Year

    13.98%

    5 Year

    15.59%

    * The Accumulator Share Class (Class E) was launched on the 24th April 2020. The Annualised rate is an indication of the average growth of the Fund over one year. The value of the investment and the income yield derived from the investment, if any, may go down as well as up and past performance is not necessarily indicative of future performance, nor a reliable guide to future performance. Hence returns may not be achieved and you may lose all or part of your investment in the Fund. Currency fluctuations may affect the value of investments and any derived income.
    **Returns quoted net of TER. Entry and exit charges may reduce returns for investors.

    Credit Ratings*

    Average Credit Rating: BB
    *excluding exposures to CIS

    Currency Allocation

    Euro 70.6%
    USD 29.4%
    Other 0.0%

    Risk Statistics

    Sharpe Ratio
    0.47 (3Y)
    0.16 (5Y)
    Std. Deviation
    4.79% (3Y)
    4.65% (5Y)
  • Downloads

Designed and Developed by