What is it called and what sort of savings product is it?
The Bankers Investment Trust plc is a London-based investment trust company.
What is the company behind it?
The fund is managed by London-based Henderson Global Investors. It is dual listed on the Londonand New Zealand stock exchanges, and is promoted in New Zealand by a number of sharebrokers. These include First New Zealand Capital.
Who is the target market?
Investors wanting international shares and a fund with a value focus that is buying companies which are trading at a lower share price than their worth.
What return does it offer?
In New Zealand dollar terms, the fund has seen its share price increase 15.2 per cent annually over the past three years to December 31, and 11.8 per cent over five years.
When was it launched?
1888 - believe it or not.
What other products is it like or is it competing with?
This is up against all the other global share-managed funds. While it is international in focus, it does have a strong bias towards the United Kingdom.
Is it long term, short term or medium term?
International share funds such as this are long-term investments.
What's the unique selling point?
The Bankers Investment Trust is a fund with a long track record, and it seeks growth as well as dividends. It has a record of dividend increases over the past 40 years. Also this fund's value focus is attractive in current market conditions.
How strong a stomach do you need for it?
Reasonably strong.
What's the hitch?
Besides the normal hitch of shares going down as well as up, Bankers has the standard hitch of most listed companies - that is to say its share price is often less than the value of its assets. At the moment, Bankers is trading at an 11 per cent discount.
