(Alliance News) - Edinburgh Investment Trust PLC on Tuesday lifted its annual payout, as net asset value rose and its total return beat the FTSE All-Share index.

The FTSE 250-listed trust invests primarily in large-cap UK securities. Shares were up 0.2% to 736.64 pence, giving a market capitalisation of GBP1.11 billion.

Edinburgh Investment Trust said net asset value with debt at fair value was 779.97 pence per share on March 31, up 9.3% from 713.75p a year before. NAV with debt at par value was 749.25p, up from 688.52p.

The company declared a final dividend of 6.90p, up 3.0% from 6.70p a year before, giving a total annual dividend of 27.20p, up 3.8% from 26.20p.

Including the dividend, total return for the recent financial year was 13.4%, beating the 8.4% return of the FTSE All-Share index.

Among the trust's holdings, out-performers were Marks & Spencer Group PLC, BAE Systems PLC and Centrica PLC, it said. M&S shares are up 68% over the past 12 months, while BAE is up 47% and Centrica up 19%.

Edinburgh Investment Trust contracts Liontrust Asset Management PLC to be its manager. At Liontrust, Imran Sattar and Emily Barnard recently took over from James de Uphaugh and Chris Field as portfolio managers for Edinburgh Investment Trust.

By Tom Waite, Alliance News editor

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