Foreign & Colonial Investment Trust (FRCL) is the world’s oldest investment fund, heading towards its 150th birthday. Since 2014, it has been managed by Paul Niven, aiming to generate long-term growth in capital and income from a very broad portfolio of primarily listed global equities, although c 7.5% is invested in private equity. The manager is benchmark aware, but takes active positions versus the index allocations. FRCL has a progressive dividend policy; the board has proposed another annual dividend increase for FY17, which will be the 47th consecutive year. The trust’s NAV has outperformed its benchmark over one, three and 10 years, while performing broadly in line over five years.
