20 March 2020: notice of temporary dealing suspension
Important information about the TPEN Property Fund (“the Fund”).
To protect the interests of investors in the Fund, Columbia Threadneedle Investments has temporarily suspended dealing in the Threadneedle Pensions (TPEN) Property Fund (“the Fund”) from 12 noon on 20 March 2020. This means policyholders are temporarily unable to buy or sell shares in the Fund. Any requests to transact after the 11am dealing cut-off on 19 March have not been actioned and new requests will not be accepted. This decision has been taken by the TPEN Board. The Prudential Regulatory Authority (PRA) and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) have been informed.
Columbia Threadneedle aims to ensure the fair treatment of all investors in our funds, whether they are transacting now or investing for the longer term.
We have suspended the TPEN Property Fund due to the fact that our independent property valuer, CBRE, has deployed a ‘market uncertainty clause’, which means that they are unable to provide an accurate valuation of the Fund’s assets in the current exceptional market environment. This is consistent with the approach being taken across the broader industry. In response, we have suspended the TPEN Property Fund until such time that an accurate valuation can be ascertained.
We are monitoring the situation closely and will formally review this decision regularly.
Nathan Hargreaves, fund manager for the TPEN Property Fund, said: “We appreciate that suspending the TPEN Property Fund may cause some inconvenience for our pension clients. Our objective is to protect the interests of investors in the Fund by ensuring the fair treatment of all, whether they are transacting now or investing for the longer term. Our decision to suspend dealing will prevent any policyholders being disadvantaged as a result of those redeeming from the Fund or newly investing in it at an inaccurate price. We believe this is an appropriate measure to take to manage the Fund during this period of exceptional uncertainty and we are committed to reviewing our decision regularly.”
The TPEN Property Fund invests in physical UK commercial property. We continue to believe property should form a part of a balanced portfolio for a long-term investor.
We thank our clients for their understanding and patience and will keep them informed via our website www.columbiathreadneedle.com/changes.
