Brunner provides a “one-stop shop” investment solution for investors looking for global growth opportunities and dividends that rise over time.
Brunner provides a “one-stop shop” investment solution for investors looking for global growth opportunities and dividends that rise over time.
Jeff Prestridge's Fund Focus column also looks at the Trust's decision to pay off expensive borrowings and reduce the size of holdings.
Learn moreThe Brunner Investment Trust is not restricted to any one country or sector and has been investing for the long term since 1927. We invest in companies all over the world, seeking out the best opportunities for growth and reliable dividends wherever they may be.
As an investment trust, Brunner is able to draw on revenue reserves in order to support dividend payments in tough times. Our global approach and this ability to manage payouts have enabled Brunner to pay rising dividends to our shareholders for 46 consecutive years, although past performance is no guide to the future.
Brunner is run by an independent board of directors and the investment portfolio is managed by Allianz Global Investors, part of one of the world’s foremost financial services providers. Together, we aim to provide Brunner investors with an efficient, competitive and cost-effective way to invest globally through a single fund.
We believe that it’s the quality of the company that matters, not its location.
Through Brunner, investors can access a spread of high-quality growth companies operating in different sectors and countries via a single portfolio. Managed by global Chief Investment Officer Lucy Macdonald, the Trust favours large, well-financed businesses with global reach, pricing power and corporate liquidity.
The Brunner Investment Trust has a long and distinguished history and was established as an investment vehicle by the Brunner family in 1927. Today, they remain significant shareholders in the Trust which aims to provide a 'one-stop shop' solution for investors looking for global growth opportunities and a quarterly dividend that has risen over time.
The image of the fountain is inspired by the Arms of the Brunner family. The family originated from Switzerland and ’Brunnen’ is German for fountain. John Brunner was born in Canton Zürich and migrated to Lancashire in 1832. His son, Sir John Brunner, Bart, was the co-founder of Brunner Mond & Co, the largest of the four companies which came together to form ICI in 1926. The family’s interest in ICI was used in the following year to establish The Brunner Investment Trust.
Sir John Tomlinson Brunner, 1st Baronet, (8 February 1842 - 1 July 1919) was a British chemical industrialist and politician. In 1873 Brunner formed a partnership with Mond and together they founded Brunner Mond & Company.
The company was formed to make soda ash by the new ammonia soda process, for the cotton industry. It manufactured alkalis from the vast salt deposits in northwest England, and ammonia and fertilisers in the northeast of the country.
The partnership was converted into a limited company and the founders became managing directors.
Sir John Brunner became the Chairman and retained that position until April 1918, 14 months before his death. However by then his duties were being increasingly performed by his son.
Brunner Mond merged with three other British chemical companies to form Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI), which grew to become one of the world's largest and most successful companies.
The family's interest in ICI was used in the following year to establish The Brunner Investment Trust which was managed by Kleinwort Benson, predecessor of Allianz Global Investors. The Brunner family remained active in the investment decisions and a family member is still on the Board today. Sir Felix Brunner became the Chairman of the Trust and retained this position until 1972.
Start of Brunner's track record of growing dividends by paying 0.48 pence per share dividend to its shareholders. Barnabus Brunner became the Chairman of the Trust and retained this position until 1998.
Brunner's investment policy includes overseas investments in the portfolio for the first time.
The Trust’s investments are divided equally between the UK and overseas.
Brunner Investment Trust re-registered as a Public Limited Company.
John Trott became the Chairman of the Trust and retained this position until 2005.
Lucy Macdonald joined Allianz Global Investors as CIO for Global Equities and co-manager of Brunner. Lucy is the Chief Investment Officer of Global Equities at Allianz Global Investors. The Global Equity team is responsible for international mandates from clients around the world. Lucy is a member of the European Management Committee, and joined Allianz in 2001 from Baring Asset Management, where she was a director and senior portfolio manager. Lucy graduated from Bristol University, and is an Associate of the Society of Investment Professionals (ASIP).
Keith Percy elected as Chairman and retained his position until 2016.
Carolan Dobson elected as Chairman.
Brunner's UK equities and overseas equities portfolios are merged to form one global equity portfolio.
Brunner celebrates its 90th birthday and its 45th consecutive year of increasing dividends. It is recognised as one of the AIC's 'Dividend Heroes'.
Following a decision to invest a higher proportion of the Brunner portfolio in overseas equities, Brunner's benchmark changes to 70% FTSE World-ex UK and 30% FTSE All-Share Index.
June 2018: Brunner announces a refinancing exercise, in order to achieve a balance of finance sources and maturities and to lock into a long-term rate at pricing levels the Trust considers to be attractive. Following this exercise, Brunner’s weighted average interest on all structural borrowings and preference stock is 2.9%, compared with 7.7% previously.
Brunner increases its dividend for the 46th consecutive year, maintaining its status as an AIC ‘Dividend Hero’.
