Data as at: 05/12/2024

Gearing

Gearing policy

The level of borrowing will be on a prudent basis for the asset class, and will seek to achieve a low cost of funds.

Borrowing limits

The Company will maintain a conservative level of aggregate borrowings with a medium-term target of 45% of gross asset value and a maximum limit of 50% (in each case, calculated at the time of borrowing).

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.

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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.

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