Our approach

Our approach to investing is set out in our investment policy [PDF 68KB], which is reviewed at least every two years by our Board of Governors and Investment Committee. Some of the key aspects of our approach are described below.

Philosophy and competitive advantages

A number of investment beliefs drive our asset allocation in the deliberate absence of any pre-determined strategic benchmark.

Asset allocation

The net value of the Trust’s investment asset base was £14.5 billion at 30 September 2012. We have an extremely diversified portfolio: direct public equity holdings, multi-asset partnerships, illiquid private equity and venture capital interests and directly held property investments now make up almost 60 per cent of our portfolio.

Risk management

We are very focused on both the qualitative and quantitative risks we take on in our investments.

Stewardship

We welcome the introduction of the FRC’s UK Stewardship Code [PDF 72KB], and support the industry's continued efforts to strengthen the role played by institutional investors in corporate governance.

Bondholder information

In July 2006 we became the only UK domiciled non-public sector organisation with an AAA/Aaa credit rating and the first UK charity to issue a listed bond.