Private Equity Investment Trusts

Private Equity Investment Trusts (PEITs) are investment vehicles which are quoted on a Stock Exchange and which invest principally in a range of unquoted companies. The types of companies in which they invest are not restricted by legislation and they offer no special tax incentives for private investors. PEITs offer shareholders the opportunity to gain exposure to a diversified portfolio of private equity investments for the price of a share.

Further information on PEITs can be obtained from two organisations, LPEQ and the Association of Investment Companies (AIC).

LPEQ, is a group of private equity investment trusts and similar vehicles listed on the London Stock Exchange and other major European stock markets, formed to raise awareness and increase understanding of what listed private equity is and how it enables all investors - not just institutions - to invest in private equity.

LPEQ provides information on private equity in general, and the listed sector in particular, undertaking and publishing research and working to improve levels of knowledge about private equity among investors and their advisers. For further information visit www.lpeq.com. To access the article 'Eight Steps for Analysing Listed Private Equity Companies' please click here.

The AIC is the trade organisation for the closed-ended investment company industry. The AIC represents a broad range of closed-ended investment companies, incorporating investment trusts, offshore investment companies and venture capital trusts (VCTs) which are traded on the London Stock Exchange, AIM and Euronext. For further information visit www.theaic.co.uk.

Below is a list of PEITs and other investment vehicles which invest, directly or indirectly, principally in unquoted companies whose share prices are listed under "Investment Companies, Conventional - Private Equity" in the Financial Times.

Private Equity Investment Trusts and other similar investment vehicles managed by BVCA members and quoted on the London Stock Exchange: