Outperformance and income

Under the leadership of its manager, Carl Harald Janson, International Biotechnology Trust (IBT) is building a track record of outperformance of both its benchmark, the Nasdaq Biotechnology Index and the average of its peer group (see page 13 of this note for the figures). The biotech sector, which IBT focuses on, benefits from long term structural growth drivers (listed on page 3) such as ageing populations in the developed world and an emerging middle class in developing markets. After a weak start in 2018, the Nasdaq Biotechnology Index has now recovered. The manager believes that the “American Patients First” document released by the US government on May 11 reduced investors’ concerns over drug pricing. IBT pays a regular dividend (4% of the NAV, payable in two instalments – see page 14 for more detail). This was introduced to widen IBT’s appeal, beyond capital growth, to investors that may also have an income requirement.