Barclays Wealth Target Growth Plan offers up to 55% return

Barclays Wealth's new tactical five-year offering - the Target Growth Plan (open between 2 February and 27 March) - will return 55% and repay investors' original capital as long as the FTSE 100 does not fall, at any time during the term, below 50% of its starting level.

This means the index can fall up to 50% from its starting level at any time without putting either the return or capital at risk.

If the index does fall below 50% during the investment term and, at maturity, is lower than its starting point, both capital and the 55% return will reduce on a 1:1 basis with the index. For example, if the index falls below 50% of its starting level and ends at 64.5% of this level by maturity, investors will receive back the sum that they originally invested through a combination of capital and reduced return (64.5% of their original capital and 64.5% of the target 55% return).

For enhanced tax efficiency, all returns are treated as capital gains rather than income. As Target Growth is structured to mature early in the tax year 2014/15, investors have the maximum duration period between crystallising any gain and the latest tax payment date.

Full details of the Target Growth Plan can be found at barclaysinvestors.com/ifa

Colin Dickie, director, Barclays Wealth, says: "At a time when net interest on cash deposits is offering an increasingly reduced return, we believe investors will soon begin the process of assuming a little more risk, albeit in a controlled fashion, and put in place strategies to recover the substantial losses they made in 2008. As Target Growth has such a large safety margin before capital and return is put at risk - the FTSE 100 would need to plunge to 1989 levels - this investment might feature highly in the implementation of such strategies, particularly given such an attractive, and tax efficient, return.

"This is an investment which enables investors to claw back 2008 losses without requiring the market to stage any kind of a recovery. We believe that is a compelling proposition in today's market."