The Split Capital Investment Trust Crisis

Split capital investment trusts (splits) became fashionable in the late 1990s, but the splits boom led to some spectacular collapses as the bear market unfolded. Despite warnings from certain analysts, academics and journalists, over twenty splits have gone bust leaving many private investors seeking redress. A major FSA investigation is continuing.
This book, with contributions from specialists intimately involved with the crisis, provides an in–depth and authoritative review of splits, discussing their history, what went wrong, and lessons for the future. The contributors express a wide range of views.
The Split Capital Investment Trust Crisisprovides an historical background to the crisisdescribes the underlying reasons for the crisis and the media, regulatory and political responseoutlines theoretical models for the risk assessment and valuation of shares in splitsconsiders key management issues highlighted by the crisisdiscusses the main lessons to be learned"Andy Adams, with his impressive team of authors has put together a lucid critique of this highly complex subject. Whose fault – managers, advisers, investors or whoever? The evidence and commentary thereon are here for you to decide. Essential reading for the student of any age."
—Lord Remnant, Former Chairman AITC
"Andrew Adams has compiled the definitive account of not just the splits crisis, its political impact and the lessons for the future, but also the history of splits and the most up to date ways in which they can be valued. The chapters are written in contrasting styles by experts and are self–contained so that readers will be able to dip in and out of whatever interests them. The book is required reading for all those with an interest in financial markets and what happens when they fail."
—Christopher Brown, Head of Investment Companies Research, Cazenove

Spis treści:
List of Co ntributors.
About the Contributors.
Foreword.
Acknowledgements.
1 Introduction, Andrew Adams.
1.1 Aims of the book.
1.2 The investment trust industry.
1.3 Types of splits.
1.4 The crisis and its significance.
1.5 Overview of the five parts of the book.
PARTONE: THE CRISIS.
2 Past Financial Crises, John Newlands.
2.1 Introduction.
2.2 The trust boom of 1888–89.
2.3 The 1920s’ trust boom and the Wall Street crash.
2.4 The 1970s’ trust boom.
2.5 The trust boom of 1993–94.
2.6 The hurdle–rate warning of 1872.
2.7 Conclusion.
2.8 References.
3 Evolution of the Split Trust Sector, John Newlands.
3.1 Introduction.
3.2 The first investment trust.
3.3 The second milestone.
3.4 Edinburgh, 1873 – the split capital concept is born.
3.5 The first major crisis – Sykes v. Beadon, 1878.
3.6 1929 to 1965 – back to basics.
3.7 The birth of Dualvest.
3.8 Splits terminology.
3.9 Other early splits.
3.10 Tax changes after 1979.
3.11 New boost to the attractions of splits.
3.12 The hybrid, or quasi–split capital trust.
3.13 1997 – beginnings of the new splits era.
3.14 Technical developments and structural changes.
3.15 Aberdeen New Preferred breaks the mould.
3.16 Key figures in the history of splits.
3.17 Conclusion.
3.18 References.
4 The Crisis Unfolds, Andrew Adams.
4.1 Introduction.
4.2 Aggressive structures.
4.3 Barbells.
4.4 Big fees.
4.5 Lack of information.
4.6 The zero market expands.
4.7 Mounting concern.
4.8 “For whom the barbell tolls . . .”
4.9 “Barbells unbalanced”
4.10 Change in market sentiment.
4.11 Aberdeen’s half–day forum.
4.12 Suspensions and liquidations.
4.13 Conclusion.
4.14 References.
PART TWO: RISK AND VALUATION MODELS.
5 The Impact of the Structures, Peter Moles.
5.1 Introduction.
5.2 Future values for a trust with a prior claim.
5.3 Valuing the claims.
5.4 Value of shares in a traditional split.
5.5 Traditional split with prior claim.
5.6 Effect of the different structures on projected returns.
5.7 Value sensitivity.
5.8 Conclusion.
5.9 References.
6 The Risks, James Clunie.
6.1 Introduction.
6.2 Major influences on risk: asset allocation and capital structure.
6.3 Risk for different share classes.
6.4 Increasing risks and the onset of the splits crisis.
6.5 Liquidity risk.
6.6 Reputational risk.
6.7 Traditional risk assessment measures.
6.8 Traditional risk assessment measures became misleading.
6.9 Improvements to traditional statistics.
6.10 Using Monte Carlo simulation outcomes to illustrate risk.
6.11 Conclusion.
6.12 References.
7 Valuing the Shares, James Clunie.
7.1 Introduction.
7.2 Background to valuing splits using closed–form option pricing.
7.3 Problems with closed–form option pricing.
7.4 A worked example using closed–form option pricing.
7.5 Monte Carlo simulation.
7.6 Pricing during the splits crisis.
7.7 Pricing of splits compared with conventional investment trusts.
7.8 Conclusion.
7.9 References.
PART THREE: RESPONSE TO THE CRISIS.
8 The Media Response, Andrew Adams.
8.1 Introduction.
8.2 Favourable view.
8.3 The early warnings.
8.4 Stronger warnings.
8.5 Rupert Walker steps out of line.
8.6 Increasing concern over zeros.
8.7 The FSA steps in.
8.8 More bad news.
8.9 The men who wiped out billions.
8.10 The Treasury Select Committee hearings.
8.11 Bust–up in the trust industry?
8.12 Adverse sentiment goes too far.
8.13 Comparison with other mis–selling disasters.
8.14 Implications for the media’s personal finance columns.
8.15 Conclusion.
8.16 References.
9 The Regulatory Respon se, Peter Gardner and Geoffrey Wood.
9.1 Introduction.
9.2 The Financial Services Authority.
9.3 The FSA’s approach to regulation.
9.4 The regulations.
9.5 The tasks and impact of the FSA.
9.6 Financial market background.
9.7 The FSA’s initial response.
9.8 The FSA proposals and questions.
9.9 Objections from the investment trust sector.
9.10 The FSA’s powers and investigations.
9.11 The FSA’s response.
9.12 Conclusion.
9.13 References.
10 The Political Response, John McFall MP.
10.1 Introduction.
10.2 The Committee’s enquiry.
10.3 Misleading impressions.
10.4 Responsibility within the industry.
10.5 Compensation.
10.6 Looking to the future.
10.7 Conclusion.
10.8 References.
PARTFOUR: MANAGEMENT ISSUES.
11 Corporate Governance, Robin Angus.
11.1 Introduction.
11.2 What legislation can – and cannot – do.
11.3 The splits crisis really was different.
11.4 How much could directors have been expected to foresee?
11.5 The new AITC Code of Corporate Governance.
11.6 How can directors provide an “objective view”?
11.7 Monitoring managers, communicating with shareholders.
11.8 Initial involvement and continuing information flow.
11.9 Changes to the Listing Rules.
11.10 Conclusion.
11.11 References.
12 Some Ethical Considerations, Andrew McCosh.
12.1 Introduction.
12.2 The existence of senior debt.
12.3 Pressing the press.
12.4 Peddling the paper.
12.5 Forced sales of assets.
12.6 Charges.
12.7 Mutual assistance programme.
12.8 It pays to advertise.
12.9 If it isn’t working, reconstruct it.
12.10 Why did the shareholders not rebel?
12.11 Conclusion.
12.12 References.
13 Reputational Risk, Piers Currie.
13.1 Introduction.
13.2 Reputational risk.
13.3 The downward slide of reputation.
13.4 The rise and fall of equity funds&