Press centre
05 February 2009
In a low interest rate environment AIC looks at dividend heroes of investment company world
Investment companies with longest record of annual dividend increases
One fifth of conventional investment companies have increased dividends each year for the last 10 years
Almost a quarter (24%) of conventional investment companies with 20 year records have increased dividends every year
48% of Global Growth companies and 45% of UK Growth & Income companies have increased dividends year on year for at least 20 years
With UK interest rates at their lowest level in living memory, and zero-interest rates almost looking like a possibility, income seekers are finding the current climate increasingly challenging.
With this in mind, the Association of Investment Companies (AIC) has looked at investment companies with unblemished records of annual dividend increases. The AIC has spoken to several investment company fund managers to gauge their views on future dividend payments, to find how they have maintained such a strong dividend record and how they intend to maintain dividend payments in these challenging markets.
Investment companies with longest record of annual dividend increases
Of the investment companies with records of annual dividend increases, City of London Investment Trust has an outstanding 42 year record of annual dividend increases, closely followed by Alliance Trust, Bankers Investment Trust and Caledonia Investments who have a 41 year record of consecutive annual dividend increases (see list of investment companies with longest annual consecutive dividend increases).
Companies with 10 and 20 year records of annual dividend increases
Of all the 159 conventional investment companies with 10 year or longer track records, a fifth (20%) have increased their dividends for each of the last 10 years (see table in notes to editors). Of all the 78 conventional investment companies with 20 year track records, nearly a quarter (24%) have increased their dividends in every single year of the last two decades.
The Global Growth and UK Growth & Income sectors are characterised by particularly strong dividend performance. In the Global Growth sector, nearly half (48%) of companies with 20 year track records have increased their dividends every year for at least the last 20 years. In the UK Growth & Income sector, 45% of companies with 20 year records had increased their dividend annually for at least 20 years.
Annabel Brodie-Smith, Communications Director, Association of Investment Companies (AIC) said: “The investment company sector has an enviable track record of dividend increases and this is particularly relevant at a time when interest rates are falling and yield is much harder to come by. This is because investment companies can retain some of the income they receive each year and transfer this to revenue reserves. This can be contrasted with most open-ended funds, which are required to distribute all their income each year. These revenue reserves can be built up in good years and used to boost dividends to shareholders in difficult years. This is known as "smoothing dividends", and is an advantage of the investment company structure.”
Dividend prospects for 2009
Jonathan Cartwright, Finance Director of Caledonia Investments plc said: “Notwithstanding the current economic climate, we expect to maintain a progressive dividend policy because we have substantial distributable reserves built up over many years. Caledonia has been able to grow its annual dividend each year over the last 41 years as a result of successful, longer term, portfolio investment. This has created the reserves which underpin our dividend policy.
“We cannot predict the future. However, with over £250m of distributable reserves, the company's progressive dividend policy is not so dependent on a constant year on year growth in income. To set this in context, last year’s annual dividend cost £18.7m which, at that level, was covered many times over by existing reserves - even before adding yearly income which might be generated in the future.”
Katherine Garrett-Cox, Alliance Trust Chief Executive, said: "We generate returns for shareholders both from capital appreciation over the medium term and through income represented by a growing dividend. Our record of 41 years of uninterrupted dividend growth is one reason why our shareholders hold Alliance Trust shares for generations. Indeed many of our shareholders reinvest their dividends allowing them to increase substantially the value of their investment over the long term."
Jeremy Tigue, manager of the Foreign & Colonial Investment Trust PLC, said: “Foreign & Colonial has benefited hugely from drawing income from all parts of the world, not just the UK. We have enjoyed strong dividend growth from emerging markets in recent years and we have also benefited from borrowing in currencies with very low interest rates such as the Yen. At the moment the weakness of the pound is having a dramatic impact on the sterling value of our overseas dividends. For example a dividend of $10 was worth £5.00 a year ago and is now worth £7.00. The outlook for individual company dividends is more uncertain than ever but our global spread and large revenue reserves should help us.”
Peter Ewins, manager of F&C Global Smaller Companies PLC, said: “The severe economic slowdown is putting pressure on dividends across the globe. Over the years F&C Global Smaller Companies has targeted those businesses with strong long-term growth prospects. Although initially many of these will have relatively low yields, as these businesses mature and generate positive free cash flows they are better positioned to grow their dividends. We feel this targeting of businesses offering progressive growth in dividends is preferable to buying stocks that may immediately offer a high yield but with limited growth prospects.
“While pressure is on dividends, F&C Global Smaller Companies has a large revenue reserve on which it can draw. This helps the trust protect its ability to maintain its record of increasing dividends through tough times.”
Investment Companies with longest record of year on year dividend increases
| Companies |
Sector |
Number of consecutive years dividend Increased |
|
City of London Investment Trust |
UK Growth & Income |
42 |
|
Alliance Trust |
Global Growth |
41 |
|
Bankers Investment Trust |
Global Growth |
41 |
|
Caledonia Investments |
Global Growth |
41 |
|
Albany Investment Trust |
UK Growth |
39 |
|
F&C Global Smaller Companies |
Global Growth |
38 |
|
Foreign & Colonial Investment Trust |
Global Growth |
38 |
| Brunner Investment Trust |
Global Growth |
37 |
| Lowland Investment Trust |
UK Growth & Income |
37 |
| JPMorgan Claverhouse Investment Trust |
UK Growth |
36 |
|
Scottish American Investment Company |
Global Growth & Income |
34 |
|
Witan Investment Trust |
Global Growth |
33 |
|
Merchants Trust |
UK Growth & Income |
26 |
|
Murray Income |
UK Growth & Income |
25 |
|
Scottish Investment Trust |
Global Growth |
25 |
| Temple Bar |
UK Growth & Income |
25 |
| Candover Investments |
Private Equity |
24 |
|
Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust |
Global Growth |
24 |
|
Value & Income Trust |
UK Growth & Income |
21 |
|
British Empire Securities & General Trust |
Global Growth |
21 |
Source: AIC Members and their Managers
Ends
Notes to Editors
1. For the 10 year annual dividend figures, the dividends are in pence and the dividend is based on the investment companies’ share price. Source: AIC using Fundamental Data. The AIC looked at all conventional investment companies between 1997 – 2008. Where financial year ends were not available for 2008, the AIC looked at the period between 1997– 2007, but otherwise used 1998 – 2008 figures. See table on the following page.
Investment Companies that have increased dividends annually over 10 years in pence
| Fund |
Sector |
1997 |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
current financial year |
| Alliance Trust |
Global Growth |
|
5.90 |
6.25 |
6.45 |
6.65 |
6.85 |
6.95 |
7.05 |
7.18 |
7.35 |
7.58 |
7.90 |
31/01/2009 |
| Bankers |
Global Growth |
5.25 |
5.67 |
6.00 |
6.35 |
6.58 |
6.78 |
7.05 |
7.47 |
8.25 |
9.48 |
10.24 |
|
31/10/2009 |
| Brunner |
Global Growth |
6.50 |
6.70 |
6.90 |
7.10 |
7.30 |
7.50 |
7.80 |
8.10 |
8.80 |
9.70 |
10.70 |
|
30/11/2009 |
| British Empire Securities & General |
Global Growth |
|
1.11 |
1.13 |
1.30 |
1.40 |
1.50 |
1.55 |
1.70 |
2.20 |
4.00 |
5.00 |
5.75 |
30/09/2009 |
| Caledonia Investments |
Global Growth |
|
20.50 |
22.00 |
22.97 |
24.00 |
25.00 |
25.20 |
27.00 |
28.20 |
29.60 |
31.10 |
32.50 |
31/03/2009 |
| F&C Investment Trust |
Global Growth |
2.51 |
2.77 |
2.90 |
3.10 |
3.30 |
3.50 |
3.70 |
4.00 |
4.75 |
5.30 |
5.85 |
|
31/12/2009 |
| F&C Global Smaller Companies |
Global Growth |
|
3.00 |
3.36 |
3.75 |
3.95 |
4.02 |
4.15 |
4.24 |
4.40 |
4.53 |
4.69 |
4.83 |
30/04/2009 |
| Majedie Investments |
Global Growth |
|
7.20 |
7.40 |
7.65 |
7.90 |
8.15 |
8.45 |
8.75 |
9.05 |
9.50 |
10.00 |
10.50 |
30/09/2009 |
| Personal Assets |
Global Growth |
|
245.00 |
255.00 |
262.50 |
270.00 |
280.00 |
290.00 |
310.00 |
340.00 |
370.00 |
410.00 |
460.00 |
30/04/2009 |
| Scottish Investment Trust |
Global Growth |
|
6.50 |
6.65 |
6.90 |
7.05 |
7.50 |
7.80 |
8.10 |
8.40 |
8.72 |
9.10 |
9.50 |
31/10/2009 |
| Scottish Mortgage |
Global Growth |
|
5.35 |
5.50 |
5.65 |
6.00 |
6.25 |
6.60 |
7.00 |
7.35 |
8.50 |
9.50 |
10.30 |
31/03/2009 |
| Witan |
Global Growth |
7.00 |
7.40 |
7.60 |
7.75 |
7.95 |
8.10 |
8.30 |
8.60 |
8.80 |
9.20 |
9.90 |
|
31/12/2009 |
| Scottish American Investment Company |
Global Growth & Income |
5.37 |
5.45 |
5.51 |
5.53 |
5.57 |
5.61 |
5.65 |
6.00 |
6.53 |
7.40 |
8.25 |
|
31/12/2009 |
| Albany |
UK Growth |
|
5.55 |
5.95 |
6.50 |
6.85 |
7.00 |
7.50 |
7.75 |
8.15 |
8.45 |
9.20 |
9.48 |
28/02/2009 |
| Aurora |
UK Growth |
|
2.40 |
2.46 |
2.51 |
2.56 |
2.61 |
2.70 |
2.85 |
2.90 |
2.95 |
3.10 |
3.15 |
28/02/2009 |
| JPMorgan Claverhouse |
UK Growth |
6.80 |
7.00 |
7.30 |
7.80 |
8.50 |
9.65 |
10.20 |
10.65 |
11.50 |
13.50 |
15.30 |
|
31/12/2009 |
| Mercantile |
UK Growth |
|
10.00 |
11.00 |
12.30 |
14.80 |
17.50 |
18.25 |
18.75 |
19.75 |
21.75 |
25.00 |
34.00 |
31/.1/2009 |
| UK Select Trust |
UK Growth |
2.45 |
2.60 |
2.71 |
2.77 |
2.79 |
2.80 |
2.83 |
2.93 |
3.10 |
3.25 |
3.40 |
|
31/12/2009 |
| British & American |
UK Growth & Income |
3.50 |
3.88 |
4.28 |
4.68 |
4.85 |
4.90 |
5.00 |
5.20 |
5.55 |
6.00 |
6.40 |
|
21/12/2009 |
| City of London |
UK Growth & Income |
|
6.70 |
6.94 |
7.18 |
7.50 |
7.94 |
8.07 |
8.33 |
8.62 |
9.36 |
10.30 |
11.60 |
30/06/2009 |
| Dunedin Income Growth |
UK Growth & Income |
|
6.00 |
6.18 |
6.35 |
6.55 |
6.75 |
7.00 |
7.25 |
7.55 |
8.20 |
9.00 |
10.00 |
31/01/2009 |
| F&C Capital & Income |
UK Growth & Income |
|
4.65 |
4.80 |
4.95 |
5.10 |
5.25 |
5.35 |
5.45 |
5.80 |
6.50 |
7.40 |
8.00 |
30/09/2009 |
| INVESCO Income Growth |
UK Growth & Income |
|
3.40 |
3.50 |
6.90 |
3.90 |
4.20 |
4.50 |
4.80 |
5.80 |
6.15 |
7.75 |
8.25 |
31/03/2009 |
| Lowland |
UK Growth & Income |
|
12.00 |
13.00 |
14.00 |
14.75 |
15.50 |
17.00 |
18.00 |
19.25 |
20.75 |
23.50 |
26.50 |
30/09/2009 |
| Merchants Trust |
UK Growth & Income |
|
14.25 |
15.59 |
16.00 |
16.40 |
16.80 |
17.20 |
17.60 |
18.00 |
18.90 |
20.00 |
21.60 |
30/01/2009 |
| Murray Income Trust |
UK Growth & Income |
|
14.60 |
15.35 |
15.75 |
16.20 |
17.00 |
17.75 |
18.25 |
19.15 |
21.60 |
24.25 |
27.00 |
30/06/2009 |
| Schroder Income Growth |
UK Growth & Income |
|
4.85 |
5.10 |
5.40 |
5.70 |
5.85 |
6.00 |
6.25 |
6.52 |
6.90 |
8.10 |
8.70 |
31/08/2009 |
| Temple Bar |
UK Growth & Income |
17.90 |
19.36 |
21.30 |
23.43 |
27.74 |
24.84 |
26.23 |
27.02 |
27.83 |
29.23 |
30.98 |
|
31/12/2009 |
| Value & Income |
UK Growth & Income |
|
4.80 |
5.00 |
5.20 |
5.40 |
5.60 |
5.80 |
6.00 |
6.20 |
6.40 |
6.70 |
7.40 |
31/03/2009 |
| Aberforth Smaller Companies |
UK Smaller Companies |
7.05 |
7.30 |
7.60 |
8.65 |
9.10 |
9.50 |
10.10 |
11.00 |
11.85 |
13.40 |
15.20 |
|
31/12/2009 |
| Candover Investments |
Private Equity |
20.00 |
25.00 |
27.00 |
29.00 |
32.00 |
36.00 |
40.00 |
44.00 |
48.50 |
54.00 |
60.00 |
|
21/12/2009 |
| Northern Investors |
Private Equity |
|
20.. |
2.50 |
3.38 |
3.75 |
4.00 |
4.25 |
4.75 |
5.25 |
6.00 |
6.70 |
7.20 |
31/03/2009 |
| TR Property |
Property Securities |
|
1.12 |
1.27 |
1.32 |
1.40 |
1.65 |
2.05 |
2.50 |
2.65 |
3.40 |
4.10 |
5.60 |
31/03/2009 |
2. The Association of Investment Companies was founded in 1932 to represent the interests of the investment trust industry – the oldest form of collective investment. Today, the AIC represents a broad range of closed ended investment companies which are traded on the London Stock Exchange, AIM and Euronext; incorporating investment trusts and other closed ended investment companies and VCTs. The AIC’s members believe that the industry is best served if it is united and speaks with one voice. The AIC’s mission statement is to help Members add value for shareholders over the longer term. The AIC has 353 members and the industry has total assets of approximately £83.8 billion.
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