About Us - Our History

Electric & General was formed on 20 May 1890, and responsible for the flotation of many electric companies. Out of the various tramway and bus companies it originally floated on the stock market, it was the issuing house which formed the British Electric Traction group. This became the leading manufacturer and operator of electric railway tram systems in England during the early 20th century.

In the early 1920s, William Shearer, the Chairman of the British based construction and civil engineering company Balfour Beatty, acquired Electric and General as an investment vehicle for his family funds. Then, in 1948 Henderson Administration Limited made an offer to purchase the shares of the company which was then recapitalised.

Freddie Grant was appointed Chairman in 1954 when Edward (Teddy) Butler Henderson joined the board. Under their direction the company grew and diversified into lucrative international equity investment. On 17 April 1997 the name of the company changed from Electric and General Investment Company plc to Henderson Electric and General Investment Trust plc.

Coming from a strong background in financial investment and successful plc directorships, Lindsay Bury was appointed Chairman of Electric & General on 21 September 2000. On 10 September 2004, Taube Hodson Stonex Partners Limited (THS) replaced Henderson Global Investors Limited as the company's Investment Manager, and that November the name was changed to Electric & General Investment Trust plc. In 2008, investment management responsibility passed to Taube Hodson Stonex Partners LLP.

The Board remains firmly committed to the virtues of a policy to invest in an international portfolio of companies, selected for their prospective above average capital growth. We believe that the long term interests of shareholders are best served through this medium, and we endeavour to continue developing our investment trust in order to maintain the ultimate global growth stock selection.