Bank of Ireland launches new global equity fund for private clients

• Fund up 18.7%* over a ten-month period

Bank of Ireland Private Banking announced the launch of its new global equity investment fund called the ‘Global Fundamentals Fund’.  Targeted at the Bank’s existing and new private client investors, the fund, which will be actively managed by Leona Nicholson, is made up of 65 global equities with a focus on equities that will deliver quality returns together with sustainable dividend income.

The Global Fundamentals Fund is aimed at private clients who are looking for potential higher returns from the markets as part of their overall investment portfolio.  The fund was successfully seeded and to date has delivered a return of  18.7% for investors since its inception in September 2011.

Commenting on the launch of the new fund, Kevin Quinn, Investment Director, Bank of Ireland Private Banking said:  “Over recent years, clients have understandably moved to more conservative investment portfolios and we have seen reduced risk appetite amongst clients as they moved to cash based products..  However, as deposit rates continue to fall in 2012, many clients are now looking at the full range of investment based opportunities with appropriate levels of risk.  With the ability to access higher potential returns in blue chip global equities, we see this fund as complementing our existing range of investment offerings”.

Leona Nicholson, who will actively manage the fund said:  “The response to the fund has been very positive to date, despite the various challenges in the investment markets at present.  Many investors agree that quality global companies look cheap relative to their own history and to other asset classes.  My focus in this fund will be on stock selection using fundamental valuation criteria and where I see sustainable growth in terms of stock price and dividends over the next few years.

The fund is an open ended fund and the minimum investment is €100,000, with no upper limit.  There is an annual management fee of 1.10%.

Private clients looking to learn more about the fund should contact their Private Banking Manager or Bank of Ireland Private Banking at their offices in Dublin, Cork and Galway.

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