Investment Objective and Policy

Investment Objective

To maximise long-term total returns with a minimum objective to maintain the real purchasing power of Sterling capital.

 

Investment Policy

The Investment Policy of the Company is to invest:

• in a wide range of financial assets including equities, unlisted equities, bonds, funds, cash and other financial investments globally with no limitations on the markets and sectors in which investment may be made, although there is likely to be a bias towards equities and Sterling assets, consistent with a Sterling-dominated investment objective. The Directors expect that the flexibility implicit in these powers will assist in the achievement of the investment objective;
• in Lindsell Train managed fund products, subject to Board approval, up to 25% of its gross assets; and
• in Lindsell Train Limited (LTL)  and to retain a holding, currently 24.3%, in order to benefit from growth of the business of the Company's Investment Manager.

The Company does not envisage changing its objective, its investment policy, or its management for the foreseeable future. The current composition of the portfolio may be changed at any time (excluding investments in LTL and LTL managed funds) at the discretion of the Investment Manager within the confines of the policy stated above.

Diversification

The Company expects to invest in a concentrated portfolio of securities with the number of equity investments averaging fifteen companies. The Company will not make investments for the purpose of exercising control or management and will not invest in securities of or lend to any one company (or other members of its group) more than 15% by value of its gross assets at the time of investment. The Company will not invest more than 15% of gross assets in other closed-ended investment funds.

Gearing

The Directors have discretion to permit borrowings up to 50% of the Net Asset Value. However, the Directors have decided that it is the Company's best interests not to use gearing. This is in part a reflection of the increasing size and risk associated with the Company's unquoted investment in LTL, but also in response to the additional administrative burden required to adhere to the full scope regime of the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive ("AIFMD").

Dividends

The Directors’ policy is to pay annual dividends consistent with retaining the maximum permitted earnings in accordance with investment trust regulations, thereby building revenue reserves.

In a year when this policy would imply a reduction in the ordinary dividend the Directors may choose to maintain the dividend by increasing the percentage of revenue paid out or by drawing down on revenue reserves. Revenue reserves are currently twice the annual proposed 2022 ordinary dividend.

All dividends have been distributed from revenue.

 

Distinguishing features

A powerful alignment of interests across the structure created by:

• The Trust's ownership of a stake in Lindsell Train Limited.
• The founder/portfolio managers' personal interest in The Lindsell Train Investment Trust plc via their ownership each of a significant stake.

 

Benchmark

With effect from 1 April 2021 the Company’s performance benchmark is the MSCI World Index in Sterling. 

The Company’s performance benchmark to 31 March 2021 was the annual average running yield on the longest-dated UK government fixed rate bond (currently UK Treasury 1.625% 2071), calculated using weekly data, plus a premium of 0.5%, subject to a minimum yield of 4.0%.

 

Fees

The Investment Management Fee is payable at the annual rate of 0.60 per cent. of the lower of (a) the Market Capitalisation of the Company and (b) the Net Asset Value of the Company, calculated daily.

The Performance Fee is calculated as 10% of the value of any positive relative performance versus the benchmark in a financial year. Relative performance is measured by taking the lower of the NAV or Average Market Price (defined as the average price over the last month of the performance period), taking into account dividends, at the end of each financial year and comparing the percentage annual change with the total return of the benchmark. A performance fee will only be paid out if the annual change is both above the benchmark and is a positive figure. Relative performance will be carried forward in years where the Investment Manager is not eligible for a performance fee based on these two criteria.