Standard Life to offer 0% initial on investment trust range

Standard Life Investments, a leading fund manager, is to offer investors 0% initial charge on investments in its range of award-winning Investment Trusts during this year's ISA season.

Those who invest in a Trust managed by Standard Life Investments through a Standard Life Savings ISA or Savings Scheme, or transfer existing ISA or PEP investments, will enjoy 0% initial charge on their investment. The offer runs from now to 31 May 2011.

Standard Life Investments manages approximately £765m in investment trusts across a diverse range of asset classes - the Standard Life Equity Income Trust PLC, the Standard Life UK Smaller Companies Trust PLC, the Standard Life Investments Property Income Trust Limited and the Standard Life European Private Equity Trust PLC.

In 2010, the Standard Life UK Smaller Companies Trust won the "UK Smaller Companies" award at the Moneywise Investment Trusts Awards, for the fourth consecutive year. The Trust also won the "UK Smaller Companies" category at the 12th annual Investment Week Investment Trust of the Year Awards.

Gordon Humphries, Head of Investment Companies, Standard Life Investments, said: "This represents an excellent opportunity to gain access to Standard Life Investments' award winning investment expertise across a wide range of assets. Investment Trusts are set to become increasingly popular in the run up to the Retail Distribution Review due to their consistent long term track record and competitive charging structure. In addition, the combination of an independent board of directors, the ability to gear to enhance returns and a longer-term investment horizon means that more IFAs are recommending investment trusts."