Perpetual launches Japan investment trust

PERPETUAL, the award-winning unit trust group, is to launch its first investment trust, a Japanese trust, writes Maria Scott. This week's political uncertainty in Japan has not dented its enthusiasm.

The minimum subscription to the Perpetual Japanese Investment Trust will be pounds 500 and there will be a savings scheme, expected to accept minimum contributions of pounds 20 a month.

The trust will be managed by Scott McGlashan, who manages Perpetual's Japanese Growth Fund. This trust ranked third out of 66 Japanese trusts over five years. The trust will invest mainly in smaller Japanese companies. Perpetual aims to

raise pounds 60m and the deadline for applications is 2 July.

Prospectuses are available from Perpetual Portfolio Management, 48 Hart Street, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire RG9 2AZ and Cazenove & Co, 12 Tokenhouse Yard, London EC2R 7AN.