Investment - Articles - Woodford Patient Capital Trust raise £800m for UK launch

 Ian Sayers, Chief Executive, Association of Investment Companies (AIC), said:

 “It’s encouraging to see that Woodford Patient Capital is by far the largest UK investment company launch. It’s a testament to the investment company sector that this distinctive company is taking advantage of the benefits of the closed-ended structure, such as the ability to invest in specialist, small, less liquid assets.”

  

 Largest UK investment company launches

 Before the launch of Woodford Patient Capital Trust, the biggest UK investment company new issue was Mercury European Privatisation, which launched in March 1994 having raised £549million. This broke the record set just one month earlier by Kleinwort European Privatisation, which raised £481million. More recently in April 2010, Fidelity China Special Situations was the third largest UK investment company raising £460m.

 

  

 Largest non-UK investment company launches

 The largest non-UK investment company was Prodesse, which launched having raised £1,479million in April 2005. MW Tops is the second largest non-UK launch, raising £1,015million in December 2006. F&C Commercial Property is the third largest non-UK launch raising £967m in March 2005.