Founded in 1868 to bring the benefits of creative and responsible investing to a wider audience, we’re the oldest investment trust in the world. Our approach hasn’t changed since day one: to provide a reliable foundation that aims to deliver steady, long-term capital growth and a healthy dividend income.
- Our diverse portfolio spreads risk.
- Our straightforward approach makes investment easy.
- Our performance speaks for itself – 52 years of continuously increasing dividends.
A balanced, proven strategy
Our investment approach is steady and designed for the long-term. Our focus is on strong companies – including household names like Unilever and GlaxoSmithKline – and powerful newcomers – like Amazon and Tesla. We also tap into the growth prospects of emerging markets, including China and Latin America. We don’t restrict our investments to publicly listed equities. We also consider well managed, high-performing private equity funds.
Our aims
Launched in 1868, we are the world’s oldest collective investment scheme – and have since grown to become one of the largest. Our aim is to generate long-term growth and income by investing primarily in an international portfolio of listed equities. We are highly diversified and cautiously managed. Investing with us gives you exposure to over 400 individual companies worldwide.
Unrestricted vision
Unrestricted vision
We are not limited to investing in specific countries or sectors. Although mainly focusing on publicly listed equities, we also consider other opportunities when the time is right.
Consistently resilient
Consistently resilient
Despite World Wars, the Great Depression and many other global financial crises we’ve flourished. Our success is based on matching responsibility with adaptability and never forgetting to take the long-term view.
Well-balanced
Well-balanced
Rather than making large investments in a small number of companies, we spread our assets across 400+ businesses. By diversifying our investments, we aim to smooth out the highs and lows.
Far-sighted
Far-sighted
By taking a sensible, long-term approach we’ve grown income for our investors and built up substantial reserves. We have increased dividend payments to investors annually for the past 52 years and our returns have consistently outpaced inflation.
Investment Risks
The value of your investments and any income from them can go down as well as up and you may not get back the original amount invested. Changes in rates of exchange may also reduce the value of your investment. Gearing is used for investment purposes to obtain, increase or reduce exposure to an asset, index or investment. The use of gearing can enhance returns to investors in a rising market, but if the market falls the losses may be greater.
Our Board
Our strategies and decisions are guided by an independent, non-executive Board of experienced financial experts.
Beatrice Hollond
Chairman
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Appointed to the Board on 1 September 2017, Beatrice is now Chairman of the Board, the Management Engagement Committee and the Nomination Committee. Beatrice brings to the Board investment knowledge and expertise in regard to both equities and global fixed income. She also brings leadership skills from her time as a Managing Director of Credit Suisse Asset Management, LLC where she spent 16 years in global fixed income. Beatrice is a member of the Board of Brown Advisory in the United States and chairs its international advisory board. She is also the Senior Independent Director at Telecom Plus PLC.
Rain Newton-Smith
Independent Non-Executive Director
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Ms Newton-Smith is Chief Executive of the Confederation of British Industry (‘CBI’). She was previously its Chief Economist, providing business leaders with advice on the UK economic outlook and global risks. Rain has expertise in sustainability, governance on reducing carbon emissions and in developing environmental, social and governance (‘ESG’) reporting. Rain was formerly Head of Emerging Markets at Oxford Economics, where she was the lead expert on China. Prior to that, Rain worked as a research advisor to Monetary Policy Committee at the Bank of England including a secondment to the IMF. She is also a Director of Eynsham Partnership Academy, where she is a trustee for six primary schools and two secondary schools and is chair of the finance committee. In 2012, Rain was nominated a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum and in 2020 she was asked to join their Global Future Council on Monetary and Fiscal Policy to help shape the global economic recovery plan.
Edward Knapp
Independent Non-Executive Director
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Appointed to the Board on 25 July 2016 and is a member of the Audit Committee. Edward brings a combination of investment, operational and general management experience worldwide, with expertise in the digital transformation of large-scale organisations, Portfolio Management, Risk, Strategy and Technology. He is PLC Board Audit and Risk Committee Chairman elect of Ten Group, the technology service platform, where he also serves as a PLC Non-Executive Director, and is a former PLC Board Risk & Compliance Committee Chair in wealth management and financial services. Edward was previously Chief Operating Officer and Global Head of Business Management within the Technology function at HSBC, and prior to that he was a Chief Operating Officer at Barclays Bank. Until 2012 he was at McKinsey & Company, providing board and advisory services to clients worldwide, focusing on growth strategy, technology, risk and transformation, including across asset management, banking and technology organisations. Edward is a Member of the Board of Asia House, a centre of expertise on trade, investment and public policy, and also brings regulatory, policy, competition and innovation board experience including serving on the Board of The Payment Systems Regulator and UK Endorsem*nt Board (Department for Business & Trade), as well as advisor to a range of Fintech and wider portfolio companies.
Stephen Russell
Independent Non-Executive Director
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Appointed to the Board on 1 February 2022. Steve brings the highest level of investment skills and knowledge to the Board. He is Investment Director and a member of the multi asset investment committee at Ruffer LLP, where he helps direct its investment strategy. He joined Ruffer in 2003 and has managed their flagship pooled funds and developed their institutional pension fund offering into one of the largest multi asset/absolute return fund managers in the UK. Steve previously managed segregated pension funds at Sun Life of Canada and advised pension fund managers as a strategist at HSBC.
Meet all the board members
Smart investing made simple
OUR MANAGER, Columbia Threadneedle offer a range of cost-effective Savings Plans
Starting from £25 per month or a lump sum of £100, with the flexibility to start and stop contributions whenever you want.
There are no dealing charges on investments made online or through a monthly direct debit.
There are a number of ways to invest with us, through a financial adviser or a wide range of companies.
Insights and updates
22 November 23
Insights
Paul Niven
Head of Asset Allocation (EMEA) at Columbia Threadneedle Investments
Market snapshot October 2023
Market snapshot October 2023
Market snapshot October 2023
27 October 23
Insights
Paul Niven
Head of Asset Allocation (EMEA) at Columbia Threadneedle Investments
Market snapshot September 2023
Market snapshot September 2023
Market snapshot September 2023
20 September 23
Insights
Paul Niven
Head of Asset Allocation (EMEA) at Columbia Threadneedle Investments
Market snapshot August 2023
Market snapshot August 2023
Market snapshot August 2023
View all insights
AIC Dividend Hero
Awarded to investment companies with increased annual dividend growth for at least 20 consecutive years. (We’ve been achieving that for over 50 years.)
RSMR Investment Trust
We’re rigorously rated and independently researched by RSMR. So your financial advisers can easily find the important information they need.
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As an experienced investment enthusiast with a deep understanding of financial markets and investment strategies, let's delve into the concepts and key information mentioned in the provided article about the investment trust founded in 1868:
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Overview of the Investment Trust:
- Founded in 1868, it claims to be the world's oldest investment trust.
- Focus on creative and responsible investing for a wider audience.
- Core approach: Provide a reliable foundation for steady, long-term capital growth and healthy dividend income.
-
Investment Strategy:
- Diverse portfolio: Spreads risk across various assets.
- Balanced and proven strategy designed for the long-term.
- Invests in strong companies, including household names like Unilever and GlaxoSmithKline, as well as powerful newcomers like Amazon and Tesla.
- Taps into growth prospects of emerging markets, including China and Latin America.
- Considers well-managed, high-performing private equity funds, not limited to publicly listed equities.
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Innovation and Longevity:
- Over 150 years of innovation, adapting to the times.
- New brand design and color scheme inspired by the commitment to innovation.
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Performance:
- 52 years of continuously increasing dividends.
- Consistent resilience despite global crises like World Wars and the Great Depression.
- Well-balanced approach by spreading assets across 400+ businesses to smooth out highs and lows.
-
Vision and Approach:
- Unrestricted vision: Not limited to specific countries or sectors.
- Consistently resilient: Flourished despite historical global challenges.
- Well-balanced: Diversification across 400+ businesses.
- Far-sighted: Sensible, long-term approach, consistently outpacing inflation.
-
Investment Risks:
- Acknowledges potential risks: The value of investments can go up or down.
- Currency exchange rate fluctuations can impact investment value.
- Use of gearing for investment purposes, with potential for enhanced returns but increased risk in a falling market.
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Board Members:
- Independent, non-executive Board with experienced financial experts.
- Examples of board members: Beatrice Hollond (Chairman), Rain Newton-Smith (Independent Non-Executive Director), Edward Knapp (Independent Non-Executive Director), Stephen Russell (Independent Non-Executive Director).
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Meet the Board Members:
- Brief bios of key board members, highlighting their expertise and experience in finance, investment, and related fields.
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Manager and Investment Plans:
- Managed by Columbia Threadneedle Investments.
- Offers cost-effective Savings Plans starting from £25 per month or a lump sum of £100.
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Ways to Invest:
- Provides various ways to invest, including through financial advisers or different investment platforms such as Hargreaves Lansdown, Interactive Investor, AJ Bell Youinvest, etc.
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Awards and Ratings:
- AIC Dividend Hero: Awarded for increased annual dividend growth for at least 20 consecutive years.
- RSMR Investment Trust: Rigorously rated and independently researched.
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Insights and Updates:
- Regular market snapshots provided by Paul Niven, Head of Asset Allocation (EMEA) at Columbia Threadneedle Investments.
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Intellectual Property Rights and Partnerships:
- Collaboration with various financial platforms for investment services.
- Recognition of intellectual property rights reserved by respective owners of brands and logos.
This comprehensive overview showcases the investment trust's long history, commitment to innovation, sound investment strategies, and the expertise of its board members, making it an influential player in the financial landscape.
