More Frequent Dividends from F&C
June has been busy on the news front of the investment trust industry. The most exciting headline was that F&C Investment Trust (FRCL) is moving to quarterly dividends. Not only that, it has also increased its dividend by a record 20%. What’s more, that means the board has increased it every year since 1970. Even at this level, the dividend is covered by the revenue reserve account by more than 2.5 times. That’s one of the reasons we like investment trusts so much. The revenue reserves can really help to smooth out income payments and ensure their reliability for investors. We’ve seen the discount on FRCL move in a little on the back of the announcement, although it’s bang in line with its three-year average discount. FRCL is rated Silver by Morningstar Analysts.
Duopoly on US Equity Investment Trusts
Unfortunately at F&C, it hasn’t all been good news. The firm has scrapped its plans to launch a US equity investment trust, which was going to be run by Barrow Hanley Mewhinney & Strauss, who are based in the US. There are just two US equity investment trusts—JPMorgan American (JAM), rated Bronze, and North American Income Trust (NAIT)—so we’re disappointed to see this fund shelved.
Albany and Grampian Proposal Makes Sense
The boards of Albany (ABNY) and Grampian (GRMP) have put forward plans for a reconstruction, with shareholders offered the option of taking shares in Troy Income & Growth Trust (TIGT). Given Albany’s size of just £30 million and Grampian’s £10 million, compared with TIGT’s £85 million, this proposal makes sense, in our view. A bigger pot of assets will help to reduce costs for shareholders and the enlarged fund should have better liquidity, too.
Olympic Cancellation
Finally, O Twelve Estates (OTE), the investment trust set up in 2006 to invest in property development relating to the 2012 Olympics, has been the target of an unconditional cash offer. It has submitted its application to the London Stock Exchange to cancel the trading of its shares on AIM, to coincide with the start of the London Olympics on 27 July. Let’s hope that’s not an omen of things to come for the British teams at the Games.