Witan, the global growth investment trust, this month reaches its one hundred year milestone. Founded in February 1909, Witan was initially set up to manage the fortune that Alexander Henderson, the first Lord Faringdon, and his brothers amassed through railway engineering and financing during the 19th century. Today, Witan’s investors number some 60,000 either as direct shareholders or through the Trust’s various shareplans.

Although its early investments were focused on opportunities in Latin America and the UK, Witan has evolved into a diversified, global investment trust. In September 2004, this evolution saw the Trust adopting a multi-manager structure, appointing proven fund managers from around the world to run its underlying mandates. This best of breed approach to asset management echoes the meaning of the term “Witan”: a body of counsellors chosen to advise Anglo-Saxon kings.

To mark its centenary, Witan is to sponsor an urban garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, in May 2009 as part of its ongoing support for the RHS. Designed by Nick Dexter, the garden will aim to blend a natural process within a modern geometric framework. In addition to this, Witan remains the principal sponsor of Chemmy Alcott, the UK’s number one female skier, GB Eventing’s Young Rider Team as well as a supporter of Tommy’s, the baby charity.

Chairman of Witan Investment Trust, Harry Henderson said:
“As well as the inception of Witan, 1909 witnessed Manchester United’s first FA Cup victory, the first flight across the English Channel; King Edward VII was on the throne and Asquith was his prime minister. Since then, the Trust has continued to seek out investment opportunities for shareholders through good times and bad: from the roaring twenties to the Great Depression, from World War in the forties to the swinging sixties, the boom years of the eighties to the digital era since the turn of the Millennium. Witan boasts a proud heritage but is always looking to the future: new initiatives such as the Jump Child Trust Fund launched last year, are aimed at keeping the Trust relevant to new generations of investors.

“Although the investment industry faces one of the most challenging sets of circumstances for some time, Witan’s shareholders should take heart from the fact that throughout its history, the Trust has been dedicated to providing good long-term returns for its investors. Its underlying fund managers, each with a demonstrable, strong track-record, have been carefully chosen to create a complementary portfolio of investment expertise to provide optimum results within acceptable risk parameters over the course of an economic cycle.”

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Witan Investment Trust plc

Established in 1909, Witan is one of the UK’s largest investment trusts, managing some £1bn (as at 31.1.09, source AIC) on behalf of some 60,000 investors. Witan is listed in the ‘Global Growth’ sector.

www.witan.com

Witan Investment Services Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Witan Investment Trust plc.

Registered as an Investment Company in England No 101625.

Witan Manager Team

Witan Pacific Investment Trust plc

Witan Pacific Investment Trust is an Asia-Pacific (including Japan) Trust with assets of £104m (as at 31.1.09, source AIC). The Trust moved to a multi-manager structure on 27 May 2005 with Witan Investment Services as Executive Manager. The investment managers are Aberdeen Asset Management and Nomura Asset Management. Each manages 50% of the Trust to the same Asia-Pacific mandate.

Witan Pacific Investment Trust plc is registered as an Investment Company in England No 91798.