
Barclays boosts structured range
Barclays, voted Best Structured Product Provider at the 2006 RealAdviser Awards (see pages 42-48), has added a five-strong tranche of funds to its structured products growth range.
The vehicles, available until 29 December 2006, include Protected FTSE Plans over three and five-year periods and a six-year Minimum Return Plan, which all offer full capital protection while allowing investors the chance of some potential growth in the FTSE 100 index over their set periods
The three-year vehicle offers 66.67% of any percentage growth in the Footsie over three years, subject to averaging over the final six months, while the five-year plan offers 110% of the index's growth in that period. Returns on the five-year plan are subject to final-year averaging, while there is also a potential early maturity option that delivers a 20% return for investors if the index is up by 20% or more after two-and-a-half years.
The six-year Minimum Return Plan operates on a slightly different basis, offering a fixed minimum return of 25% growth on the initial investment or 50% of any rise in the FTSE 100 index, if higher. The group is also offering a five-year Guaranteed Plan, with capital protection and a gross payment of 110% of the rise in the index
Barclays has also launched a five-year FTSE Super Tracker, a structured capital-at-risk product that gives investors five times the rise in the FTSE 100 over that time, up to a maximum of 50%. Capital is repaid in full unless the FTSE 100 falls by more than 50% and fails to recover to its starting level at maturity.
The products have new commission flexibility, which is not usually found in the structured products arena, according to Colin Dickie, director of Barclays Investor Solutions, who adds: "It makes life a whole lot easier for the adviser in terms of rebate flexibility as what clients see, they get."
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