On Tuesday (4 July), Bentham confirmed that the fund, which now includes a new product disclosure statement (PDS) and offers a minimum investment of $10,000, is an attractive entry point not only for financial advisers but also for SMSF investors and retirees seeking a reliable income stream.

Launched over six years ago, it now manages over $500 million in funds under management and has posted positive one-, two-, three- and five-year returns.

The actively managed fund also offers investors access to a “diversified, multi-sector portfolio of credit securities that would otherwise be difficult for investors to secure”, according to Bentham.

This includes, but is not limited to, global high-yield bonds, global syndicated loans, investment-grade securities, global capital securities, asset-backed securities and derivatives.

Commenting on the launch, Bentham’s principal and chief investment officer, Richard Quin, said: “The fund has found a receptive audience in the institutional markets since it was launched. Today, due to increased demand for this strategy, we are very pleased to provide a wider range of investors the opportunity to access the fund.”

“We expect investment returns from credit in 2023 to remain bumpy, but the potential returns over the medium term remain attractive, with credit spreads trading above historical averages. With rates normalising and credit spreads at current levels, returns from fixed income and credit look attractive relative to many other asset classes, including listed equity markets.”

Mr Quin explained that Bentham’s goal is to deliver higher income to investors that can generally be achieved in traditional fixed-interest markets or term deposits with lower volatility than equity markets.

“Our investment philosophy is based on a strong credit culture and a systematic investment process, with a focus on the preservation of principal and protection against downside risk,” he said.

“We have [a] rigorous investment approach where our experienced investment team seeks to add value through economic cycles by identifying the most attractive relative value investment ideas on a risk-adjusted basis combined with an opportunistic overlay. This is achieved by combining top-down macro and bottom-up financial analysis.”