Last updated: 11/10/2016
The recent decision made by the UK to leave the European Union has unsurprisingly forced many investors to reconsider their options, especially since there remains so much uncertainty around the potential impact of this decision on our economic growth and stability. Regardless of whether you were for remaining or leaving, taking a view on what might happen to the FTSE in the short to medium term is certainly something on the minds of many. With this in mind, we take a look at a selection of defensive investments to find out exactly what they have to offer and how the risk versus reward might be appealing for those who are concerned about the impact Brexit may have on future investment opportunities.
What is a defensive plan?
Defensive plans offer the potential for investment level returns, even if the stock market goes down, in some cases by up to 50%. Partly as a result of the FTSE continuing at historically high levels in recent years, there has been an increase in the number of plans that offer a competitive return even in the event that the market fails to rise. These are commonly known as defensive investment plans and for those who are not confident that the market will continue to rise in the medium term, they have become an increasingly popular investment opportunity.
Different types
Although each plan has its own features, collectively they are growth investments which offer the potential for either a fixed return for every year invested (not compounded), or a fixed return at the end of the full term, both of which are dependent on the performance of the underlying investment, usually the FTSE 100 Index. Each of these investments will be structured to offer a defined return for a defined level of risk, and as such you will know from the outset exactly what must happen in order to receive the stated returns on offer.
A middle ground
Defensive investments therefore try and offer the best of both worlds by offering the potential for investment level returns, even if the underlying investment only rises by a small amount, stays flat, or goes down slightly. This means they are designed for investors who have a neutral or negative outlook of what could happen to the stock market in the coming years, and yet who would still like the opportunity to receive the potential for investment level returns. Here is a selection of the current range of defensive plans on offer:
Returns even if the FTSE falls up to 10%
If the FTSE had fallen by 5% in 3 years time and yet you still received 24.0% growth plus a return of your initial capital, would you consider this a good investment? The Investec FTSE 100 Defensive Kick Out Plan has a maximum term of six years but will kick out (mature early) at the end of each year from year 3 onwards, provided the FTSE is above 90% of its value at the start of the plan. If it is, then you will receive 8.0% for each year invested (not compounded). If the Index has fallen by 10% or more, your investment continues.
If the plan does not produce a return, your initial capital is returned in full unless the Index has fallen by 50% or more, measured at the end of the plan term. If it has, your capital will be reduced by 1% for each 1% fall and so you could lose some or all of your initial investment.
Returns even if the FTSE falls up to 20%
Our next defensive plan is another kick out plan, the FTSE Defensive Kick Out from Focus, and will kick out and return your initial investment along with 7.15% for each year invested (not compounded) provided the FTSE 100 is at the required level at the end of each year, from year 2 onwards. The required level is 100% of its starting value at the end of year two, reducing by 5% in each of the following years down to 80% in the final year. So the FTSE could fall up to 20% and you would still receive 7%+ returns on your investment.
If the Index closes below the required level each year, no growth return will be paid and your initial capital will be returned in full unless the FTSE has fallen by more than 40% at the end of the term. If it has, your initial investment would be reduced by 1% for each 1% fall, and so you could lose some or all of your investment.
Returns even if the FTSE falls up to 50%
Our final defensive investment is the Investec FTSE 100 Defensive Growth Plan, which offers a fixed return of 34% at the end of the investment term provided the value of the FTSE is more than 50% of its value at the start of the plan (subject to averaging). Therefore, the FTSE can fall up to 50% and investors would still receive a 34% growth return, along with a full return of their original capital. The 34% return is equivalent to 5.0% compound annual growth.
If the Index has fallen by 50% or more at the end of the term, no growth will be achieved and your initial capital will be reduced by 1% for each 1% fall, so you could lose some or all of your initial investment.
Fair Investment view
Commenting on defensive investment plans, Oliver Roylance-Smith, head of savings and investments at Fair Investment Company said: “Despite the recent volatility in the FTSE the Index currently remains at historically high levels, but for those investors who are not confident that the market will rise in the medium term, knowing that you can achieve investment returns regardless of whether the market goes up, remains flat, or even falls slightly, could be an attractive opportunity.”
He continued: “Markets don’t like uncertainty, and so it is understandable that investors are going to consider, perhaps more than normal, the potential impact of leaving the EU on the FTSE in the medium term. Since the market can fall up to 40% before your initial investment is at risk, defensive plans also offer some capital protection against a falling market, and allow potential investors to consider the risk versus reward of the plan prior to investing, which could be appealing in the current investment climate.”
More information on the Investec FTSE 100 Defensive Kick Out Plan »
More information on the Focus FTSE Defensive Kick Out Plan »
More information on the Investec FTSE Defensive Growth Plan (ISA only) »
Click here to compare defensive investment plans »
No news, feature article or comment should be seen as a personal recommendation to invest. Prior to making any decision to invest, you should ensure that you are familiar with the risks associated with a particular investment. If you are at all unsure of the suitability of a particular investment, both in respect of its objectives and its risk profile, you should seek independent financial advice.
Tax treatment depends on your individual circumstances and is based on current law which may be subject to change in the future. Always remember to check whether any charges apply before transferring an ISA.
These are structured investment plans that are not capital protected and are not covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) for default alone. There is a risk of losing some or all of your initial investment. There is also a risk that the company backing the plan or any company associated with the plan may be unable to repay your initial investment and any returns stated. In addition, you may not get back the full amount of your initial investment if the plan is not held for the full term. The past performance of the FTSE 100 Index is not a guide to its future performance.