Witan Investment Trust (Witan) a multi-managed, global equity investment trust, with a portfolio diversified by geographical region, industrial sector and individual stock. The firm was created in 1909 to manage the estate of Alexander Henderson, 1st Baron Faringdon.
First listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1924, it established Henderson Administration (now Henderson Global Investors) to manage its funds in 1932, and then sold its remaining stake in Henderson in 1997.
In 2004, Witan became self-managed, appointed its first CEO and adopted a multi-manager approach. Its portfolio is managed by ten third-party managers.
The in-house team, based in London, consists of the CEO and a director of investment, responsible for the selection and monitoring of the managers, management of direct investments and the company's gearing policy.
The Witan Investment Trust has appointed boutique firm Heronbridge to manage a £75m UK equity mandate.
The £1.3bn Witan investment trust, managed by Andrew Bell, has handed an Asia Pacific mandate equivalent to 9% of its portfolio to Matthews Asia.
The £1.2bn Witan investment trust has appointed UK-based hedge fund specialist Lansdowne Partners to manage a global equity portfolio.
Witan's Andrew Bell will become chairman of the Association of Investment Companies (AIC) early next year, replacing Sarah Bates, who has stepped down after a two year spell in charge.
Witan has restructured the management line-up of its £160m Pacific investment trust, bringing in Matthews International Capital Management and MW GaveKal Asia Ltd to replace Nomura Asset Management.
Andrew Bell, chief executive of the £1.1bn Witan investment trust, has joined the chorus of disgruntled shareholders who are demanding radical change at private equity firm 3i.
Andrew Bell's £1.1bn Witan investment trust has conceded it was too highly leveraged last year, after reporting a sharp drop in its NAV for 2011.