Data as at: 27/03/2024

Gearing

Gearing policy

The Company has the power to borrow money in any manner. The Company may utilise leverage when deemed appropriate by the Board. The Company may be required to use its investments as security for any borrowings which it puts in place.

Borrowing limits

The Directors do not intend to borrow more than 25% of the net asset value of the Company determined at the time of drawdown.

Ways in which investment companies can magnify income and capital returns, but which can also magnify losses.

At its simplest, gearing means borrowing money to buy more assets in the hope the company makes enough profit to pay back the debt and interest and leave something extra for shareholders.

Image
how gearing works table

However, if the investment portfolio doesn’t perform well, gearing can increase losses. The more an investment company gears, the higher the risk.

Investment companies can usually borrow at lower rates of interest than you’d get as an individual. They also have flexible ways to borrow – for example they might get an ordinary bank loan or, for split capital investment companies, issue different classes of share.

Not all investment companies use gearing, and most use relatively low levels of gearing.

An indication of the maximum and minimum levels that the company would expect to be geared in normal market conditions.

Morningstar logo Data provided by Morningstar.

FE fundinfo logo Company documents provided by FE fundinfo.