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Barclays Wealth Launches Two Structured Investments

Joseph Milton London 17 June 2011

Barclays Wealth Launches Two Structured Investments

Barclays Wealth has launched two new structured investments as it aims to appeal to a wider range of investors.

The firm announced the new Wealthbuilder fixed-term deposit and Defined Returns Plan, both of which are available immediately.

Wealthbuilder is aimed at investors seeking an alternative to traditional deposit accounts, said Barclays. Wealthbuilder locks in a 5.15 per cent return on each anniversary where the FTSE 100 is at or above its starting level, potentially returning a maximum of 30.9 per cent over six-years. The firm said investors’ capital will be fully returned at maturity, irrespective of market performance. However, investors may lose capital if they withdraw from the deposit before maturity, capital may be lost.

The Defined Return Plan offers a potential return of 18 per cent, 30 per cent or 45 per cent after three, four or five years respectively, depending on the options chosen by the investor. The return is paid at maturity providing the FTSE 100 Index is at or above 90 per cent of its starting level. However in the event that the FTSE falls below 50 per cent of its starting level during the term and fails to recover by the maturity date, capital will be lost on a 1-for-1 basis.

Barclays said the Defined Return Plan is ideal for investors who have moderate or even negative expectations for the potential future growth of the FTSE, as operating the defensive barrier at 90 per cent does not require a rise in the underlying index to pay out at maturity. Even if the index does not move from its current location the client will receive the enhanced coupon.

“We believe the launch of these two new structured investments highlights Barclays Wealth’s commitment to offering clients a variety of competitive investment solutions. We’ve launched the Wealthbuilder for those investors who don’t want to keep a constant track on the ups and downs in the market,” said Richard Henry, director of investor solutions at Barclays Wealth. “The Defined Return Plan on the other hand will prove attractive to investors who are already sceptical about prospects for future FTSE growth, and want to ensure returns even if they are proved right."

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